Gen info
- Aglaia is a genus of over 120 species of tropical trees and shrubs in the mahogany family, Meliaceae. As of 2024, POWO listed 121 accepted species.
- Etymology: The genus name Aglaia derives from the Greek word Αγλαιη, meaning splendor or beauty. The specific epithet odorata refers to the fragrance exuded by the flowers.
- Mythological snippets: In Greek mythology, Aglaia refers to the goddess of beauty, splendor, glory, and magnificence, the youngest of the Charites (Graces). Also, there is the Saint Aglaia of Rome, 4th century, a companion of Saint Boniface of Tarsus.
 Botany
- Sinamomong-sungson is a small, much-branched, smooth tree growing from 4 to 7 meters high. Leaves are 5 to 12 centimeters long, with the rachis slightly winged. Leaflets are five, obovate to oblong, 2 to 7 centimeters long, the lower ones being smaller than the upper. Flowers, borne on axillary, lax panicles, 5 to 10 centimeters long, numerous, yellow, very fragrant, and about 3 millimeters in diameter. Fruit is ovoid or subglobose, about 12 millimeters long.
- Aglaia odorata is a small tree that retains its green leaves throughout the year, and can reach a height of 2 to 5 meters. It is multiple branched and its leaves are 5 to 12 centimeters long. It has small golden yellow raceme oval-shaped flowers with 6 petals. The fruit is red, about one centimeter long and egg-shaped, containing one to two seeds.
- Growth form: Large shrub or small tree with highly branched crown, able to grow up to about 20 - 30 m tall. Foliage: Compound leaves measuring about 5 - 12 cm long are composed of 3-7 typically obovate leaflets (egg-shaped with the wider end at the tip). Leaflet are paired with the terminal leaflet larger than the others and each leaflet measuring about 6 cm long. Flowers: Yellow, fragrant flowers (2 mm wide) are arranged in an inflorescence known as a thyrse. The inflorescence is located in the leaf axils (the space between the upper surface of the leaf and the stem). Male and female flowers occur on separate individuals. Fruit: Indehiscent fruit is egg-shaped to approximately round (1-1.2 cm wide). The seeds are surrounded by fleshy tissue known as an aril. (Flora & Fauna Web)
Distribution
- Cultivated as an ornamental tree for its fragrant flowers.
- Introduced from southeastern Asia.
- Native to Cambodia, China Southeast, Hainan, Laos, Malaya, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam. (12)
Constituents
- Branches and leaves yield triterpenoids (aglaiol, aglaiondiol, aglaitrioland aglaione), alkaloids (odorine and odorinol). Flowers yield volatile oil consisting of a-humulene, ß-caryophyllene, ß-cubebene, ß-gurjunene.
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Essential oils from the flowers of Aglaia odorata yielded 21 components: hendecane, linalool, decyladehyde, copaene, β-caryophyllend, β-humulene, β-elemene, β-selinene, humuladienone, humulene epoxide Ⅰ, tridecanic acid methyl ester, β-humulene-7-ol, β-humulene-7-ol acetate, juniper camphor, heptadecane, khusol acetate, octadecane, nonadecane, eicosane, heneicosane and docosane, among which β-humnlene-7-ol is expressive of a graceful odor of Aglaia odorata. (6)
- Study isolated of one new coumarino-lignoid, 8-(7′,8′,9′-propanetriol-4′-methoxy-3′-O-phenylpropanoid)-7-hydroxy-6-methoxycoumarin (1), and nineteen known compounds (2–20).
(13)
- Study of leaves yielded a new dammarane triterpene, 3-acetoxy aglinin C, and a new aglain, 10-oxo-aglaiflorin D, along with five known compounds, 3-7. (see study below)
(15)
- GC-MS analysis of essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation of stems identified 39 compounds, representing 76.4% of the oil. Major components were germacrene D (20.3%), α-humulene (12.7%) and ß-caryophyllene (10.2%). Ar-turmerone (1) and eichlerlalactone (2) were isolated from the stem oil and ethanolic stem extract, respectively. (see study below) (18)
- Study isolated 3 new aglain derivatives (1-3), one known derivative (4), two known rocaglamide derivatives (5,6), four known trit4rpenoids (7-10) and three steroids (11-13). (see study below) (22)
- Study of whole tree of Aglaia odorata and bark of A. elaeagnoidea isolated two new rocaglamides, 8b-O-5-oxohexylrocaglaol (1) and elaeagnin (2) along with 12 known compounds. (see study below) (23)
- Study of Aglaia odorata flower extract (AOFE) for volatile components detected 59 volatile components, which were classified into 8 categories: 9 alcohols, 7 aldehydes, one acid, 26 terpenoids, 7 ketones, 5 alkanes, 2 heterocyclic compounds, and 2 esters. (24) Terpenoids are the key components that give AOF its distinctive aroma, and the high concentration reflects AOF's inherent flavor characteristics.
 Properties
- Roots and leaves considered pectoral, stimulant, febrifuge, tonic and anti-convulsive.
- Flowers are very fragrant in the evening. -
- Studies have shown anti-viral, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, anticancer, herbicidal, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging properties.
Parts used
Roots, flowers, leaves.
Uses
Edibility
- Dried flowers used for scenting tea.
- Tender young leaves cooked and eaten as vegetable.
Folkloric
- In the Philippines, decoction of roots and leaves used as a tonic.
- Dried flowers used for treatment of mouth ulcers and fever.
(21)
- Infusion of flowers given as a cooling drink for eruptive fevers.
- Sino-Annamites used the roots and leaves as pectoral, febrifuge, and tonic; also used for convulsions.
- In China, flowers, leaves, and roots used as a tonic. Branches and leaves used for rheumatic pains, toxic swelling, and superficial infections.
- In Java, infusion of leaves taken as tonic for excessive menses and for venereal diseases.
- In Malaysia, infusion of flowers used to reduce fevers.
Others
- Herbicide: Flower pellets show potential as organic herbicide for control of barnyard grass weed, weeds in rice fields and maize fields.
- Perfume: Tiny yellow, rice-like flowers are intensely fragrant during warm, sunny, or humid conditions. Dried flowers are used to perfume clothes and cigarettes, and to scent teas.
 Studies
• Cyclopentabenzofuran Lignan Protein Synthesis Inhibitors: Study isolated rocaglaol, known compound pyrimidinone and the novel compound aglaiastatin from the CHCl3 extract of leaves. The three were potent inhibitors of the growth of K-ras-NRK cells. (2)
• Dolabellane Diterpenoids / Cytotoxicity: Study yielded 5 dolabellane diterpenoids; two showed weak cytotoxicity against human myeloid leukemia HL-60, hepatocellular carcinoma, and lung cancer A-549 cells.
• Anti-Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1: Of 20 Thai medicinal plants evaluated for anti-herpes simplex virus 1 activity, eleven, including A odorata, inhibited plaque formation of HSV-1 more than 50%. AO was also effective against thymidine-kinase-deficient HSV-1 and phosphonoacetate-resistant HSV-1 strains. It showed a potential as anti-HSV1 agent. (3)
• Elemene & Cisplastin Synergy / Anti-Cancer: Elemene (1-methyl-1-vinyl-2.4-diisopropenylcyclohexane) has been extracted from numerous plants, including the flowers and leaves of Aglaia odorata. Article describes the synergy of the combination of cisplastin with b-elemene in in vitro assays against androgen-insensitive prostate cancer cells. B-elemene as an anticancer drug has anti-tumor activity against a broad spectrum of cancers, with low level of toxicity. (4)
• Insecticidal / Rocaglamide: Organic extracts of the twigs and leaves of Aglaia odorata yielded eight insecticidal cyclopentatetrahydrobenzofuran rocaglamide derivatives. The isolated rocaglamide derivatives exhibited strong insecticidal activity towards neonate larvae of the polyphagous pest insect Spodophera littoralis when incorporated into artificial diet. (5) Rocaglamide, a highly substituted benzofuran, an active insecticidal constituent in the twigs of A. odorata, inhibits larval growth and is insecticidal to both variegated cutworms, Peridroma saucia and Asian armyworms, Spodopteraa litura. (19)
• Herbicidal Efficiency: Study evaluated eighteen species of Thai local plants as botanical herbicides for reducing the use of harmful herbicides in agricultural pest management. Aglaia odorata leaf extracts demonstrated the highest germination inhibitory effect against Mimosa seedling. Results suggest A. odorata leaf extract may be a potential natural resource as a botanical herbicide to reduce the use of harmful ones.
(8)
• Cyclopentabenzofuran / Lignan Protein Synthesis Inhibitors: A CHCl3 extract of leaves yielded Ras function inhibitors, rocaglaol and related compounds, pyridinone and the novel aglaiastatin. The three compounds were potent inhibitors of growth of K-ras-NRK cells. They also specifically inhibited protein synthesis. Aglastatin reduced the amount of Ras, possibly through inhibition of de novo synthesis. (9)
• Insecticidal Active Constituents / Twigs: Study evaluated the insecticidal active constituents from twigs. Seven compounds were isolated: rocaglamide, desmethyl rocaglamide, 8-methoxymarikarin, 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-coumarin, 3′-hydroxy-methylrocaglate, 3′-hydroxyrocaglamide, and marikarin. (10)
• Diterpenoids and Triterpenoids / Anti-Inflammatory / Leaves: Study of leaves isolated five compounds: two dolabellane diterpenoids, two dammarane triterpenoids, and a protostane triterpenoid, along with 20 known compounds. On evaluation for anti-inflammatory activity, eleven compounds exhibited potent nitric oxide inhibitory activity with IC50 ranging from 2.1 to 14.2 µM, and three compounds showed significant activity against PGE1 release with IC50 of 2.6, 16.1 and 23.0 µM. (14)
• Cytotoxicity / Human Cancer Cell Lines / Leaves: Study yielded a new dammarane triterpene, 3-acetoxy aglinin C, and a new aglain, 10-oxo-aglaiflorin D, along with five known compounds, 3-7. Compounds 1-7 were assayed for cytotoxicity towards human lung cancer cell line (AGZY83-a) and human liver cancer cell line (SMMC-7721). Compound 6, rocaglaol, exhibited distinctive antiproliferative activities against the two cell lines with IC50 of 0.03 µM and 3.62 µM, respectively. Compound 7 showed strong activity against SMMC-7721 cells with IC50 of 10.69 µM. (15)
• Phytotoxic Substance / Rocaglaol: Study investigated the allelopathic properties and phytotoxic substances in A. odorata. Aqueous EtOH extracts of leaves have inhibited root and shoot growth of garden cress, lettuce, alfalfa, timothy and ryegrass. Study isolated rocaglaol which showed an inhibitory effect on weed species E. crus-galli much greater than that of abscisic acid. Results suggest rocaglaol may be a major contributor to the allelopathic effect of A. odorata and the bioherbicide PORGANIC. (16)
• Odorine and Odorinol / Cancer Chemopreventive: Study isolated aminopyrrolidine-diamides, odorine and odorinol from Aglaia odorata. The compounds exhibited potent anti-carcinogenic effects in a two-stage carcinogenesis test of mouse skin induced by DMBA as an initiator and TPA as a promoter. Study showed odorine and odorinol inhibited both the initiation and promotion stages of two-stage skin carcinogenesis. (17)
• Antimicrobial / Essential Oil / Stem: GC-MS study of essential oil from stems yielded 39 compounds. Essential oil and ethanol extract were tested against gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains including B. cereus, S. aureus, A. baumannii and E. coli, as well as three rice fungal pathogens. The oil and ar-turmerone (1)exhibited significant activity against the three rice pathogens. Eichlerlalactone (2) exhibited good antibacterial activity against Gram-positive test pathogens. (see constituents above) (18)
• Cytotoxic Aglain Derivatives: Study isolated 3 new aglain derivatives (1-3), one known derivative (4), two known rocaglamide derivatives (5,6), four known trit4rpenoids (7-10) and three steroids (11-13) Five compounds (1 and 4-7) exhibited cytotoxic activities on human leukemia cells (HEL) and human breast cancer cells with IC50s ranging from 0.03-8.40 µM. Compound 5 was six times stronger than positive control Adriamycin in HEL cell lines. (22)
• Anticancer Aglain Derivatives / Whole Tree: Study of whole tree of Aglaia odorata and bark of A. elaeagnoidea isolated two new rocaglamides, 8b-O-5-oxohexylrocaglaol (1) and elaeagnin (2) along with 12 known compounds. Three rocaglamide derivatives, dehydroaglaiastatin (13), 8b-O-5-oxohexyl-rocaglaol (1) and rocaglaol (5) exhibited significant cytotoxicity effects against HeopG2 human liver cancer cells with IC50s of 0.69, 4.77 and 7.37 µM, respectively. (23)
• Aroma Profile of Flowers: Study of Aglaia odorata flower extract (AOFE) for volatile components detected 59 volatile components, which were classified into 8 categories: 9 alcohols, 7 aldehydes, one acid, 26 terpenoids, 7 ketones, 5 alkanes, 2 heterocyclic compounds, and 2 esters. The aroma profile is formed by the interaction of various compounds. Terpenoids and alcohols provide the primary volatile flavor compounds, while ketones and aldehydes enriched the overall aroma profile of AOFs. Study suggests UAE (ultrasound assisted extraction) had better extract effect on specific volatile compounds in AOFs. (24)
• Anti-Dog Tick Shampoo: Studies have shown that rocaglamide, acts as an antifeedant and growth inhibitor, which are highly substituted benzofurans with active insecticidal constituents in the twigs. It has also exhibited contact toxicity against insects. Study formulated an anti-tick dog shampoo based on the foliar extracts of A. odorata, in concentrations of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100%. Most effective shampoo concentrations based on number of tick deaths ranged from 20% to 40%. LD50 of 21% extracts showed best effect after 1 hour. Study results suggest potential for an Aglaia odorata-based anti-tick dog shampoo as alternative to commercial dog shampoos. (25)
• Cerebro-Neuroprotective / Leaves: Studies evaluated the cerebral protection effect of leaf extracts of A. odorata (ELA) on induced ischemic cerebral stroke by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model and potential mechanisms in vivo and in vitro. Results showed the ELA exhibited effective neuroprotection. In vivo, ELA exerted significant protective effect by reducing cerebral infarction area against MCAO insult. ELA showed protective effect on OGD/R-induced PC12 cells by reducing the number of apoptotic cells, increasing mitrochondrial membrane potential, and reducing superoxide aggregation, further suppressing mitochondrial caspase-9/3 apoptosis pathway. The protectiive effect on mitochondrial function may be via inhibition of p53/Puma signal pathway. (26)
• Anti-Inflammatory / Leaves: Study of leaves isolated four constituents:hesperetin-7,3′-O-dimethyl-ether, 5α-dammar-20-ene- 3β,24,25-triol, odorine, and odorinol. All compounds suppressed LPS-induced TNF-α expression in rat immortalized microglia HAPI cells. Hesperetin-7,3'-O-dimethylether showed most potent inhibitory effect. (27)
• Anti-Aging / Antioxidant / Leaves: Study evaluated the anti-aging effect of Chinese perfume (A. odorata) and Indian camphorweed (Pluchea indica) leaf extracts on Saccharomyces cerevisiae as model of antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds. The antioxidant enzyme activities of SOD, APX, and CAT in Chinese perfume leaves were 393.96 units/min/g FW, 215 µmoles H2O2/min/g FW, and 5.6 µmoles H2O2 decomposed/min/g FW, respectively. Antioxidant activity o Ch8inese perfume was 577.2 µg/mL. Bioactive compounds included n-hexadecanoic acid, ß-turmerone, and 2-propenoic acid, 3-phenyl-,methyl ester (methyl cinnamate). Study suggested promising potential as ingredients for anti-aging cosmetics. (28)
Availability
- Wild-crafted.
- Perfumes, essential oils in the cybermarket.
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