fragrant rosewood

Dalbergia odorifera · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Moderate (145 studies) · ★★★☆☆

Fragrant rosewood, scientifically known as Dalbergia odorifera, is a precious medicinal and aromatic timber tree native to East Asia. Renowned for its exquisite scent and deep red wood, it holds significant value in traditional medicine, where its extracts are utilized for their calming, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory therapeutic properties.

Family
Fabaceae
Native range
Asia-Temperate
Parts used
Flower · Leaf
Common names
Fragrant Rosewood
Scientific synonyms
Dalbergia Changhuagensis

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Dalbergia odorifera

Synonyms

Regional and Traditional Names

French:

  • Huanghuali
  • Jiangxiang huangtan
  • Dalbergia hainanensis
  • Xinhuali

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. Its taxonomic identity is further defined by its placement in the genus Dalbergia.

Rank Classification
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Streptophyta
Class Equisetopsida
Subclass Magnoliidae
Order Fabales
Family Fabaceae
Genus Dalbergia

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Dalbergia odorifera, exhibits a specific range within its natural habitat. Its geographical presence is notably concentrated in the southeastern regions of China. Within this broader area, it can be found growing across China Southeast. Furthermore, the species is specifically documented to inhabit the island of Hainan. These localized distributions highlight the unique environmental requirements necessary for its growth.

Region Area
China Hainan
China China Southeast

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Morphology

The morphology of Dalbergia odorifera is characterized by a robust and woody structure, functioning as a self-supporting tree rather than a climber or vine. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte, whether in a holoepiphytic or hemiepiphytic capacity; instead, it maintains an independent existence without parasitic dependencies. Its growth form is strictly defined as a woody tree, lacking any herb, shrub, or graminoid characteristics, and it develops as a stable, self-supporting organism within its terrestrial habitat.

Aquatic :
terrestrial
Climber :
self-supporting
Epiphyte :
terrestrial
Growth form :
tree
Parasite :
independent
Woodiness :
woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dalbergia odorifera is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under varying environmental conditions. This metabolic strategy influences its water-use efficiency and growth patterns within its native habitat. In addition to its biochemical processes, the plant exhibits significant structural characteristics reflected in its wood density, with a mean stem specific density (SSD) of 940 mg/cm³. This high density indicates a robust cellular architecture and a substantial accumulation of biomass within the stem, contributing to its overall physical resilience and structural integrity.

Photosynthetic pathway :
C3
Stem specific density (SSD) mean:
940 mg/cm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Dalbergia odorifera has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf.

Plant parts reported in Dalbergia odorifera
Plant part Supporting sources Consensus
Flower 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Leaf 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Flower

  1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Leaf

  1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Dalbergia odorifera has 67 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include formononetin, Flavonoids, Sativanone, 3'-O-Methylviolanone, Fisetin.

Chemicals reported in Dalbergia odorifera
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
formononetin 6 supporting sources ★★★☆☆
Flavonoids 5 supporting sources ★★★☆☆
Sativanone 5 supporting sources ★★★☆☆
3'-O-Methylviolanone 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Fisetin 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Liquiritigenin 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Volatile oil 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
isoliquiritigenin 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
(3R)-4'-Methoxy-2',3,7-trihydroxyisoflavanone 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Dalbergin 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

formononetin

  1. Planta medica
  2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
  3. Journal of separation science
  4. Archives of pharmacal research
  5. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
View 1 additional sources
  1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

  1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
  2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
  3. Journal of separation science
  4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
  5. Genes

Sativanone

  1. Planta medica
  2. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry
  3. Journal of separation science
  4. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
  5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

3'-O-Methylviolanone

  1. Planta medica
  2. Journal of separation science
  3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Fisetin

  1. Planta medica
  2. Nutrition and cancer
  3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Liquiritigenin

  1. Planta medica
  2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
  3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Volatile oil

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
  2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
  3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

isoliquiritigenin

  1. Planta medica
  2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
  3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

(3R)-4'-Methoxy-2',3,7-trihydroxyisoflavanone

  1. Planta medica
  2. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Dalbergin

  1. Planta medica
  2. Journal of separation science

Activities

Dalbergia odorifera has 8 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiallergic, Antibacterial, Antiplatelet, Antithrombotic, Cytotoxic.

Activities reported in Dalbergia odorifera
Activity Supporting sources Consensus
Antiallergic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antibacterial 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antiplatelet 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antithrombotic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Cytotoxic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Repellent 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Stimulant 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Vasorelaxant 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Antiallergic

  1. Planta medica

Antibacterial

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antiplatelet

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antithrombotic

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Cytotoxic

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Repellent

  1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Stimulant

  1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Vasorelaxant

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Conditions

Dalbergia odorifera has 12 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, blood circulation, cardiovascular diseases, myocardial ischemia, pain.

Conditions investigated for Dalbergia odorifera
Condition Supporting sources Consensus
Cancer 3 supporting sources ★★☆☆☆
Blood circulation 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Cardiovascular diseases 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Myocardial ischemia 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Pain 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Antiallergic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Coronary heart disease 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Endotoxemia 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Inflammation 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Ischemia 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Cancer

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
  2. Journal of Asian natural products research
  3. Nutrition and cancer

Blood circulation

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

Cardiovascular diseases

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
  2. International journal of molecular sciences

Myocardial ischemia

  1. Journal of separation science
  2. International journal of molecular sciences

Pain

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

Antiallergic

  1. Planta medica

Coronary heart disease

  1. Scientific reports

Endotoxemia

  1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Inflammation

  1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Ischemia

  1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Preparations

Dalbergia odorifera has 8 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include heartwood, volatile oil, Dalbergia odorifera extract, Dalbergiaodorifera extract, Ethanol extract.

Preparations reported for Dalbergia odorifera
Preparation Supporting sources Consensus
Heartwood 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Volatile oil 2 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Dalbergia odorifera extract 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Dalbergiaodorifera extract 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Ethanol extract 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Acetone extracts 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Aqueous extracts 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Ethanolic extracts 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Heartwood

  1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications
  2. Journal of Asian natural products research

Volatile oil

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

Dalbergia odorifera extract

  1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Dalbergiaodorifera extract

  1. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Ethanol extract

  1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

Acetone extracts

  1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Aqueous extracts

  1. Life sciences

Ethanolic extracts

  1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry