Aquilaria sinensis
Incense tree
Aquilaria sinensis, commonly known as Chinese agarwood, is a prestigious medicinal plant prized for its fragrant, resinous heartwood. Renowned in traditional medicine, it is used to calm the spirit, relieve pain, and regulate Qi. This precious species remains a cornerstone of botanical healing and luxury perfumery worldwide.
- Scientific name: Aquilaria sinensis
- Family: Thymelaeaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malvales, it is classified under the family Thymelaeaceae and is identified by the genus Aquilaria.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malvales | WCVP |
| Family | Thymelaeaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Aquilaria | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Aquilaria sineensis, is known by various names across different languages and regions. In Simplified Chinese, it is referred to as 土沉香 (zh-hans), while in Traditional Chinese (zh-hant) and specifically in Hong Kong (zh-hk), it is commonly called 牙香樹. In Vietnam, the species is known as Bạch mộc hương (vi), and in Lithuania, it is called Kininis agarmedis (lt).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 土沉香 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 牙香樹 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 牙香樹 | Wikidata |
| vi | Bạch mộc hương | Wikidata |
| lt | Kininis agarmedis | Wikidata |
| zh | 土沉香 | Wikidata |
| ar | عود صيني | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 土沉香 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 牙香樹 | Wikidata |
| arz | عود صينى | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across specific regions within East and Southeast Asia. In China, its presence is noted in the tropical island province of Hainan. It can also be found throughout the diverse landscapes of China Southeast. Beyond Chinese borders, the species extends into the Indo-China peninsula. Specifically, it is well-documented as growing within the country of Vietnam.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Aquilaria sinensis, is highly valued for its complex anatomical structures that contribute to its medicinal and aromatic properties. While the leaves and stems are integral parts of the plant's biological growth, the most significant components are found within the woody tissue. When the tree becomes infected, it produces a dark, aromatic substance known as agarwood, which is primarily concentrated in the resinous heartwood. This precious Agarwood is the result of the plant's defense mechanism, making the dense, resin-infused center of the trunk the most sought-after part for therapeutic and cultural uses.- Total parts
- 24
- Scientific sources
- 45
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| agarwood | 13 | ★★★★★ |
| Agarwood | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| stems | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| resinous heartwood | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| heartwood | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| branches | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| xylem ray | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wounded branches | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wood matrix | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Aquilaria sinensis has 66 reported phytochemicals identified across 90 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include sesquiterpenes, sesquiterpene, flavonoids, agarotetrol, chromones.
- Total chemicals
- 66
- Scientific sources
- 90
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| sesquiterpenes | 11 | ★★★★★ |
| sesquiterpene | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
| flavonoids | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| agarotetrol | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| chromones | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methyl jasmonate | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| resin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-bornyl ferulate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1-hydroxy-1,5-diphenylpentan-3-one | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-(2-Phenylethyl)chromone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Aquilaria sinensis has 5 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antidepressant, Antioxidant, Neuroprotective.
- Total activities
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anticancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidepressant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Neuroprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Aquilaria sinensis has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Antidepressant, Aspergillus, antioxidant, cancer, oxidative stress.
- Total uses
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antidepressant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aspergillus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wound | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |