Aglaia odorata

Aglaia odorata
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Meliaceae
Genus:	Aglaia
Species:	A. odorata
Binomial name
Aglaia odorata Lour.
Synonyms [2]
Opilia odorata(Lour.) Spreng. Aglaia chaudocensisPierre Aglaia duperreanaPierre Aglaia oblanceolataCraib Aglaia odorata var. chaudocensis(Pierre) Pellegr. Aglaia odorata var. microphyllinaC.DC. Aglaia pentaphyllaKurz Aglaia repoeuensisPierre Aglaia sinensisPierre Camunium chinenseRoxb. Murraya exoticaReinw. ex Miq.

Aglaia odorata is a species of flowering plant in the family Meliaceae . ^{[2] [3]} It is found in Cambodia, Southeast China, Hainan, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. ^[2]

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. ^[4]

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. ^[5]
• The dried flowers are used to cure mouth ulcers and reduce fever. ^[4]
• 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. ^[6]
• 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. ^[7]

Perfume

The dried flowers can be used to produce perfume for clothes and mixed into cigarettes. ^[5]

Herbicide

Aglaia odorata can be used as an organic herbicide to control grass and weeds in fields, such as rice fields and maize fields. ^[6]

References

1. de Kok, R. (2024). "Aglaia odorata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2024: e.T34913A226545405. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-1.RLTS.T34913A226545405.en . Retrieved July 14, 2025.
2. "Aglaia odorata Lour". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
3. "Aglaia odorata Lour". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000. n.d. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
4. "ประยงค์ สรรพคุณและประโยชน์ของต้นประยงค์ 24 ข้อ". frynn. Archived from the original on 6 August 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
5. "Sinamomong-sungsong". Stuartxchange. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
6. "Aglaia odorata Lour". School of Chinese Medicine. Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
7. 劉景仁, 張建國、劉大智 (2016). 最新科學抗癌藥用植物圖鑑 Current Scientific Anticancer Medicinal Plants (in Chinese). Taichung, Taiwan: 晨星. pp. 509 (page 51). ISBN   978-986443169-4.

External links

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