Eagle wood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Agarwood
• Aloeswood
• Eaglewood
• Lign-aloes
• Indian aloewood
• Malayan eaglewoodtree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cynometra agallocha
• Agallochum officinarum
• Agallochum praestantissimum
• Aloexylum agallochum
• Aloexylum verum
• Agallochum malaccense
• Aquilaria secundaria
• Aquilaria ovata
• Aquilariella malaccensis
• Agallochum sylvestre
• Aquilaria agallocha

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is situated in the order Malvales and the family Thymelaeaceae. It is specifically identified by its genus, Aquilaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range across parts of South and Southeast Asia. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in Assam and throughout Bangladesh. Its distribution also extends into the mountainous regions of the East Himalaya. Moving into the Indo-China region, the species is present in Myanmar. Finally, its habitat encompasses various areas within Thailand.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Aquilaria malaccensis is characterized by a highly specific niche within tropical lowland ecosystems, where it thrives under precise altitudinal constraints. This species is strictly limited to a narrow elevational range, occurring at a constant altitude of approximately 200 m AMSL. This specific positioning suggests a preference for lowland dipterocarp forests, where it occupies the mid-canopy or understory layers, depending on light availability and forest structure. The habitat requirements of the plant are closely tied to the humid, high-temperature environments typical of these low-lying tropical zones, where consistent moisture and specific soil compositions support its growth and the specialized fungal interactions necessary for its unique chemical properties.

Elevational range max:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Aquilaria malaecensis is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its ecosystem through multiple growing seasons. As an evergreen plant, it maintains its foliage throughout the year, providing a consistent photosynthetic capacity that supports its long-term survival and growth. This continuous leaf presence is a key component of its physiological strategy within its native tropical habitats.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Aquilaria malaccensis is characterized by its significant stature and robust structure, typically growing as a large, woody tree. It is a self-supporting organism that reaches an average height of approximately 20 m, though it can achieve a maximum height of up to 36 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic or aquatic tendencies, maintaining an independent existence without relying on other plants for support or acting as a parasite. Its growth form is consistently that of a woody tree, providing a stable and perennial physical framework.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

36 m

Plant height mean:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Aquilaria malaccensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its natural tropical rainforest habitats. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the enzyme Rubisco to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly into the Calvin cycle, a process that typically requires high moisture availability and specific light intensities to optimize energy conversion. Furthermore, the species is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms; consequently, its growth and physiological development are heavily dependent on the availability of nitrogenous compounds within the soil substrate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Aquilaria malaccensis has 3 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, leaf, stem.

Root

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)
2. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Leaf

1. The Malaysian journal of medical sciences : MJMS

Stem

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Aquilaria malaccensis has 33 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Agarospirol, Benzyl acetone, Chromones, Sesquiterpenes, 1,5-diphenylpent-1-en-3-one.

Agarospirol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current computer-aided drug design
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Benzyl acetone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chromones

1. Journal of separation science
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Sesquiterpenes

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. International journal of analytical chemistry

1,5-diphenylpent-1-en-3-one

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

2-(2-Phenylethyl) chromone

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

2-(2-Phenylethyl)chromone

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

4-Hydroxydihydroagarofuran

1. Dr. Duke

6,7-Dimethoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl) chromone

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

6-Methoxy-2-(2-phenylethyl) chromone

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Activities

Aquilaria malaccensis has 23 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidepressant, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anxiolytic, Cytotoxic.

Antidepressant

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. Biomedical reports
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Antioxidant

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of oleo science
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Molecular medicine reports

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of oleo science
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Anxiolytic

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Biomedical reports
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of natural products

Sedative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Antianxiety

1. Biomedical reports

Antidermatophytic

1. Dr. Duke

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Aquilaria malaccensis has 10 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Aeromonas caviae, anxiety, breast cancer, cancer, cervical cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations