Ylang-ylang tree
Cananga odorata · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (270 studies) · ★★★★★
Ylang-ylang tree, scientifically known as Cananga odorata, is a tropical evergreen prized for its intoxicatingly fragrant yellow blossoms. Widely used in perfumery, its essential oils offer calming aromatherapy benefits. Beyond its scent, this versatile plant holds significant medicinal value in traditional practices for treating skin ailments and anxiety.
Names
Common Names
- Cananga tree
- Macassar oiltree
- perfumetree
- woolly-pine
- ylang-ylang-tree
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Canangium odoratum
- Ylang-Ylang
- Ylang Ylang
- Uvaria odorata
- Unona odorata
- cadmia
German:
- Ylang-Ylang
- Ylang
- Ylang-Ylangbaum
French:
- Ylang-ylang
- Ilang ilang
- Ilang-ilang
- Ylang ylang
- canang odorant
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Cananga odorataSynonyms
- Unona odorata
- Uvaria odorata
- Canangium odoratum
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Magnoliales, it is further categorized into the family Annonaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Cananga.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Magnoliales | WCVP |
| Family | Annonaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Cananga | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is noted in Guinea and Senegal. Its range extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically around the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Moving toward the eastern side of the continent, it can be found in East Tropical Africa. Within this eastern region, the species is documented in both Kenya and Tanzania.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Gulf of Guinea Is. | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Tanzania | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Comoros | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Seychelles | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Ylang-ylang, utilizes its fruits as a notable component of its biological structure. The fruits are small, capsule-like structures that develop from the flowers and eventually split open to release seeds. While the fragrant petals are the primary source for essential oil extraction, the fruits play a vital role in the plant's reproductive cycle and are studied for their specific chemical properties within the species.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| fruit | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Cananga odorata has 57 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include BENZYL ACETATE, BENZYL BENZOATE, (+)-ushinsunine-beta-N-oxide, 2-methyl-but-3-en-2-ol, 3-methyl-but-2-en-1-ol.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| BENZYL ACETATE | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| BENZYL BENZOATE | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (+)-ushinsunine-beta-N-oxide | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2-methyl-but-3-en-2-ol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3-methyl-but-2-en-1-ol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3-methyl-but-3-en-1-ol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| BENZYL SALICYLATE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Butyl acetate | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CADINENE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CANANODINE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
BENZYL ACETATE
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
BENZYL BENZOATE
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
(+)-ushinsunine-beta-N-oxide
- Journal of natural products
2-methyl-but-3-en-2-ol
- Dr. Duke
3-methyl-but-2-en-1-ol
- Dr. Duke
3-methyl-but-3-en-1-ol
- Dr. Duke
BENZYL SALICYLATE
- Dr. Duke
Butyl acetate
- Dr. Duke
CADINENE
- Dr. Duke
CANANODINE
- Journal of natural products
Activities
Cananga odorata has 186 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Acaricide, Acidulant, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | Scientific reports (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acaricide | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Acidulant | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Allelochemic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Allergenic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anaphrodisiac | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anesthetic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Cananga odorata has 19 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, HBsAg, Hepatitis B Virus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Candida albicans | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Escherichia coli | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HBsAg | The Kobe journal of medical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatitis B Virus | The Kobe journal of medical sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Salmonella infection | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Salmonella typhimurium | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| acne | BioMed research international (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anxiety | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| autism | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| EOs | Galen medical journal (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| essential oils | Tropical biomedicine (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| plant extracts | Parasitology research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |