Aquilaria cumingiana (PROSEA)
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Introduction |
Aquilaria cumingiana (Decne.) Ridley
- Protologue: Journ. Straits Br. Roy. As. Soc. 35: 80 (1901).
- Family: Thymelaeaceae
- Chromosome number: 2n= unknown
Synonyms
- Gyrinopsis cumingiana Decne. (1843).
Vernacular names
- Indonesia: giba kolano (Halmahera)
- Philippines: palisan (Tagalog), bago (Manobo), binukat (Aklan Bisaya).
Origin and geographic distribution
A. cumingiana occurs in the Philippines, southern Borneo (Sampit region) and the Moluccas (Morotai and Halmahera).
Uses
In the Philippines the bark and roots of A. cumingiana are applied to wounds to stop bleeding, whereas bark, wood and fruits are used as a substitute for quinine.
A. malaccensis Lamk (synonym: A. agallocha Roxb.) is more commonly used medicinally. However, its most important product is the famous agar wood: resin-containing heartwood produced from old and diseased trees, which is highly esteemed as incense for ceremonial purposes. The incense is also used against cancer, especially of the thyroid gland, and in China as a sedative against abdominal complaints, asthma, colics and diarrhoea, and as an aphrodisiac, carminative and insect repellent. Grated wood enters into various preparations used especially during and after childbirth, and to treat rheumatism, smallpox and abdominal pains. It is used as a blood and heart tonic in Thailand. Wood of A. crassna Pierre ex H. Lecomte is considered to be stomachic and tranquillizing in traditional medicine in Vietnam, and is prescribed as a powder, aqueous preparation or tincture against gastralgia, nausea, vomiting and anxiety.
Properties
No information is available on phytochemistry or pharmacological properties of A. cumingiana.
A benzene extract of A. malaccensis wood showed neuroleptic properties in tests with mice; jinkoh-eremol and agarospirol were identified as the active principles. Tests with rats suggest that an aqueous extract inhibits the immediate hypersensitivity reaction by inhibition of histamine release from mast cells. A hot water extract of the wood exhibited smooth muscle relaxant activity on acetylcholine and histamine induced motility activities.
Cytotoxic compounds have also been demonstrated in the bark and wood of A. malaccensis. A wood extract exhibited significant activity in the Eagles’ carcinoma of the nasopharynx test system. A bark extract showed distinct activity in the P-388 lymphocytic leukaemia system in vitro, but was inactive against the same system in vivo; the cytotoxic compounds from the bark were identified as 1,3-dibehenyl-2-ferulyl glyceride and 12-O-n-deca-2,4,6-trienoylphorbol-13-acetate. An alcoholic extract of the wood has been reported to exhibit mild cardiotonic activity. Decoctions of the wood of A. malaccensis are said to have antimicrobial properties, e.g. against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Shigella flexneri.
Botany
- A shrub or small tree up to 5 m tall; bark grey, mottled, smooth, bast consisting of silky fibres; young branches initially densely pubescent but glabrescent.
- Leaves alternate, simple and entire, oblong-lanceolate to elliptical-oblong or ovate-oblong, 14-18 cm × 5.5-8.5 cm, usually cuneate at base, acute or acuminate at apex, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, usually glabrous, pinnately veined with 12-18 pairs of veins; petiole 4-6 mm long; stipules absent.
- Inflorescence usually axillary, often simple and umbelliform; peduncle c. 5 mm long.
- Flowers bisexual, regular, usually 5-merous, 13-16 mm long, whitish; pedicel c. 3 mm long, articulated at base; calyx tube cylindrical, puberulous, lobes 2-3 mm long; petaloid appendages usually 10, united into a ring and inserted near apex of the calyx tube; stamens usually 10, inserted near petaloid appendages, sessile; ovary superior, short-stiped, 2-loculate, style short, stigma capitate.
- Fruit a globose to ellipsoid loculicidal capsule, protruding laterally from the split floral tube, c. 2 cm long, orange-red, 1-2-seeded.
- Seeds broadly ovoid, plano-convex, c. 1 cm long, with a short appendage.
Aquilaria consists of approximately 15 species and occurs in tropical and part of subtropical Asia. It is most closely related to Gyrinops, which differs in its 5 stamens.
Ecology
A. cumingiana occurs in primary forest at low and medium altitudes.
Genetic resources
The extremely high prices paid for high quality agar wood and for the essential oil and the indiscriminate felling of diseased and healthy trees threaten natural stands of several Aquilaria species including A. malaccensis with extinction. A. malaccensis is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES). A. cumingiana with its shrubby habit does not seem to be exploited for this purpose, but its preference for lowland primary forest and the high pressure on this type of habitat in its area of distribution warrant attention for protection measures.
Prospects
Research is needed to confirm the reputed medicinal properties of A. cumingiana . This seems worthwhile in the light of the pharmacological activity demonstrated in other Aquilaria species.
Literature
247, 760.
Other selected sources
300, 482, 671, 699, 711, 1058.
Main genus page
Authors
Cheksum S. Tawan
