Chinese Perfume Tree

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.^[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.

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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.^[2]

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.^[3]
• The dried flowers are used to cure mouth ulcers and reduce fever.^[2]
• 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.^[4]
• 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.^[5]

Perfume

The dried flowers can be used to produce perfume for clothes and mixed into cigarettes.^[3]

Herbicide

Aglaia odorata can be used as an organic herbicide to control grass and weeds in fields, such as rice fields and maize fields.^[4]

References