| Status | LC |
|---|---|
| Status system | IUCN3.1 |
| Genus | Aglaia |
| Species | odorata |
| Authority | Lour. |
Aglaia odorata is a species of flowering plant in the family Meliaceae.[1][2] It is found in Cambodia, Southeast China, Hainan, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.[1]
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.[3]
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.[4]
- The dried flowers are used to cure mouth ulcers and reduce fever.[3]
- 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.[5]
- 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.[6]
Perfume
The dried flowers can be used to produce perfume for clothes and mixed into cigarettes.[4]
Herbicide
Aglaia odorata can be used as an organic herbicide to control grass and weeds in fields, such as rice fields and maize fields.[5]
References
- ^ "Aglaia odorata Lour.". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
- ^ "Aglaia odorata Lour.". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000. n.d. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
- ^ "ประยงค์ สรรพคุณและประโยชน์ของต้นประยงค์ 24 ข้อ". frynn. Archived 6 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
- ^ "Sinamomong-sungsong". Stuartxchange. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
- ^ "Aglaia odorata Lour.". School of Chinese Medicine. Archived 10 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
- ^ 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 978-986-443-169-4.
External links
- Aglaia odorata Lour. Medicinal Plant Images Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University) (in Traditional Chinese) (in English)