Aglaia odorata explained

Aglaia odorata is a species of plant in the family Meliaceae. It is found in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and possibly Laos.

It is occasionally sold as a house plant under the name "Chinese perfume plant." It can be grown outdoors in USDA zones 9 and 10.

Description

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.^[1]

Uses

Traditional medicinal use

Many parts of Aglaia odorata - roots, leaves, flowers and branches - can be used as medicine.

• The roots are boiled with water to make a drink to increase appetite. In the Philippines, the roots and leaves can be used as a tonic.^[2]
• The dried flowers are used to cure mouth ulcers and reduce fever.^[1]
• In China, the dried branches and leaves are boiled in water and used to reduce pain from rheumatic joints, injuries from falls, superficial infections and toxic swelling.^[3]
• According to research on branches by Yunnan Agricultural University and research on roots by Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Aglaia odorata has anti-cancer components: rocaglaol, molecular weight 434.48 g/mole and rocaglamide, molecular weight 505.55 g/mole. These components have significant cytotoxicity against blood cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer.^[4]

Perfume

The dried flowers can be used to produce perfume for clothes and mixed into cigarettes.^[2]

Herbicide

Aglaia odorata can be used as an organic herbicide to control grass and weeds in fields, such as rice fields and maize fields.^[3]

External links

• Aglaia odorata Lour. Medicinal Plant Images Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University)

Notes and References

1. Web site: ประยงค์ สรรพคุณและประโยชน์ของต้นประยงค์ 24 ข้อ. frynn . 30 August 2015.
2. Web site: Sinamomong-sungsong. Stuartxchange . 30 August 2015.
3. Web site: Aglaia odorata Lour. . School of Chinese Medicine . 30 August 2015. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150510023028/http://libproject.hkbu.edu.hk/was40/detail?channelid=1288&lang=en&searchword=herb_id%3DD00922 . 10 May 2015 .
4. Book: 最新科學抗癌藥用植物圖鑑 Current Scientific Anticancer Medicinal Plants . zh. 978-986443169-4. 劉景仁, 張建國、劉大智. 2016. 晨星. Taichung, Taiwan. 509 (page 51).