 Gen info
- The genus Aglaia currently consists of about 105 species.
- Within Malesia, the largest number is found in Borneo (50), followed by Peninsular Malaysia (48), Sumatra (38), Philippines (35), and New Guinea (33).
(8)
- Etymology: The genus name derives from Greek mythology Aglaia, one of the three Graces (minor goddesses of grace, charm, and beauty who were daughters of Zeus) in reference to the sweetly-scented flowers of the tree. The specific epithet edulis derives from Latin, meaning 'edible', referring to the fruit aril. (11)
Botany
Aglaia edulis is a small tree growing to a height 8-15 meters and 42 cm in diameter; bole buttressed; outer bark reddish-brown or grayish-green; inner bark pink or brown; exudation white; young parts covered with reddish-brown stellate hairs and scales. Leaves imparipinnate, alternate, estipulate, rachis10-12.5 cm long, slender, swollen at the base, covered with hairs or reddish-brown lepidote scales; leaflets 5-13, opposite or subopposite, estipellate; petiolule 5-18 mm long, grooved above; lamina 4.5-23 X 2-8 cm, elliptic, elliptic-oblanceolate, elliptic-obovate, or ovate, base oblique-cuneate, acute or attenuate, apex acuminate or obtusely acuminate, margin entire, membranous to coriaceous, glabrous, papillate above; lateral nerves 7-16 pairs, slender, pinnate, prominent, intercostae scalariform. Flowers polygamodioecious, yellow or orange, axillary inflorescence; male inflorescence up yo 38 cm long, covered with brown stellate hairs; calyx cup-shaped; lobes 4-6, covered with scales; petals 4-6; staminal tube cup-shaped, thick, crenulate at the mouth, anthers 5-6; female inflorescence 5 cm long, peduncle 2.5 cm, calyx lobes 5, ovate, covered with hairs, petals 5, ovary superior, up to 1mm long, covered with scales, 3-celled, 1-2 ovules in each locule. Fruit is a capsule, 3.2 X 3.8 cm, subglobose, brown, containing 1-3 seeds. (Dr. N N Sasidharan, Kerala Forest Research Institute). (3)
Aglaia edulis is a tall tree: crown dense; bark grayish-brown, smooth; leaves 19-35 cm long; leaflets 5-9; 7-17 x 2.5-4.5 cm, lanceolate, oblanceolate, oblong-lanceolate, acute or subacute, base acute to rounded, entire, glabrescent at maturity, rusty tomentose when young; nerves obscure above; panicles rusty tomentose; flowers minute, yellow, 1-2 mm across; calyx lobes minute, ovate; petals ovate-oblong; fruits subglobose, yellowish, pulpy, grayish-green when fully ripe, 18-50 mm long. (12)
Distribution.
- Native to the Philippines.
- Also native to Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China, Himalaya, India, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Maluku, Myanmar, Nicobar Is., Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand, Vietnam.
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Widely distributed from Luzon to Mindanao, in dipterocarp forest and lower elevations at low and medium altitudes.
- Distributed from southern India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Indo-China, Thailand, Borneo, Malaysia, Sumatra, northern Australia, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Samoa. (2)
- IUCN status: Near-threatened.
 Constituents
- Studies have isolated alkaloids piriferine, aglaedithioduline, and aglaiduline.
- Study of leaves isolated a new bisamide, aglaiduline, along with two new sulfur-containing bisamides, aglaithiodulie and aglaidithioduline
(see study below) (4)
- Nutrition analysis of fruit showed % moisture 8.43, % ash 5.51, % crude fiber 24.79, % calcium 9.40, % phosphorus 4.24,
% potassium 1.30. (Catibog, 1978) (5)
- Study of bark isolated two new cyclopenta[b]benzofurans, aglaroxin A 1-O-acetate (2) and 3'- methoxyaglaroxin A 1-O-acetate (3), a new benzo[b]oxepine, 19,20- dehydroedulisone A (4), and five new cyclopenta[bc]benzopyrans, edulirin A (5), edulirin A 10-O-acetate (6), 19,20-dehydroedulirin A (7), isoedulirin A (8), and edulirin B (9), along with one known cyclopenta[b] benzofuran, aglaroxin A (1). From the leaves and/or twigs, four new amides were isolated i.e., aglamides A-D (10-13), along with three known compounds, aglalactone, scopoletin, and 5-hydroxy-3,6,7,4'-tetramethoxyflavone. (see study below) (6)
- Study of fruits isolated eleven previously undescribed limonoids, Agledulines A-K, including 8 biogenic A/D-rings-seco limonoids analogs (agledulines A-H), one D-ring-seco limonoids (agleduline I) and two A-ring-seco limonoids with a rare Δ4,28 moiety (agledulines J-K), together with 12 reported limonoids. (see study below) (9)
- Study of fruits isolated eight biogenic A/D-rings-seco limonoid analogs (agledulines A-H), one D-ring-seco limonoid (agleduline I) and two A-ring-seco limonoids with a rare Δ4,28 moiety (agledulines J-K), together with twelve reported limonoids. (see study below) (10)
Properties
Studies have suggested antiviral, antibacterial, larvicidal, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory properties.
Parts used
Fruits, bark, leaves.
Uses
Edibility
- Fruits are edible, raw or cooked, sweet with a tinge of sourness. Fruits can be dried.
Folkloric
- No reported folkoric medicinal use in the Philippines.
-
Pericarp used for treatment of diarrhea.
Others
- Wood: Most Aglaia species are known for their hardwood, which is mostly used for construction. (2) Used for making house posts, carts, boats, furniture, window sills, agricultural implements. Also used for firewood.
Studies
• Bisamides / Antiviral / Leaves: Study of leaves isolated a new bisamide, aglaiduline, along with two new sulfur-containing bisamides, aglaithiodulie and aglaidithioduline. The sulfur containing amides showed slight antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2. (4)
• Cytotoxic Flavaglines and Bisamides / Bark and Leaves: Study of bark isolated two new cyclopenta[b]benzofurans, aglaroxin A 1-O-acetate (2) and 3'- methoxyaglaroxin A 1-O-acetate (3), a new benzo[b]oxepine, 19,20- dehydroedulisone A (4), and five new cyclopenta[bc]benzopyrans, edulurin A A (5), edulirin A 10-O-acetate (6), 19,20-dehydroedulirin A (7), isoedulirin A (8), and edulirin B (9), along with one known cyclopenta[b] benzofuran, aglaroxin A (1). The isolates were evaluated for cytotoxicity against several human cancer cell lines (Lu1, LNCaP, and MCF-7) and a non-tumorigenic (HUVEC) cell line. Of the isolates, the compounds 1-3 exhibited potent in vitro cytotoxic activity with ED50 ranging from 0.001 to 0.8 µg/mL. (see constituents above) (6)
• Larvicidal against Aedes aegypti: Study evaluated Aglaia edulis, Jasminum brevifolium, and Pogostemon auricularis for bioactive compounds and their mode of action with special inference on ROS production and microbial inhabitants. The isolated bioactive compounds induced excessive production of reactive oxygen species thereby leading to oxidative stress and death. All the isolated compounds showed strong inhibitory effect against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Proteus mirabilis with MICs ranging from 0.08 to 1.65 mg/ml. They also showed promising larvicidal efficacy against Aedes aegypti larvae. (7)
• Cytotoxicity / Anti-Inflammatory / Agledulines / Fruit: Study of fruits isolated eleven previously undescribed limonoids, Agledulines A-K, among others. Agleduline C exhibited significant cytotoxic activities with IC50 of 10.05 µM, and 11α-acetoxygedunin showed notable anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 4.70 µM. Agleduline I and 11-α-acetoxygedunin reversed multidrug resistance with IC50s of 5.05 and 1.49 µM in MCF-7/Dox cells. (see constituents above) (8)
• Limonoids / Cytotoxicity / Anti-Inflammatory / Fruit: Study of fruits isolated eight biogenic A/D-rings-seco limonoid analogs (agledulines A-H), one D-ring-seco limonoid (agleduline I) and two A-ring-seco limonoids with a rare Δ4,28 moiety (agledulines J-K), together with twelve reported limonoids. Agleduline C exhibited significant cytotoxic activities with IC50 of 10.05 µM and 11α-acetoxygedunin showed notable anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 4.70 µM. Agleduline I and 11α-acetoxygedunin reversed multidrug resistance with IC50s of 5.05 and 1.49 µM in MCF-7/Dox cells. (10)
Availability
Wild-crafted. |
