Abstract

As a traditional medicinal herb and valuable natural spice in China, Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg has many significant pharmacological effects. Agarwood is the resinous heartwood acquired from wounded A. sinensis trees, and is widely used in pharmaceuticals owing to its excellent medicinal value. In this study, the chemical composition of volatile components and alcohol extracts from different organs of A. sinensis and agarwoods grown in different regions were investigated using GC-MS. The results showed that Vietnam agarwood had the highest moisture content, which was attributed to the local climate, while the fruit and bark of A. sinensis had higher moisture contents than the other organs. The volatile components of A. sinensis organs included 3-ethyl-5-(2-ethylbutyl)-octadecane, oleic acid 3-(octadecyloxy) propyl ester, and docosanoic acid 1,2,3-propanetriyl ester, while the alcohol extracts of A. sinensis organs contained benzoic acid ethyl ester, hexadecanoic acid ethyl ester, oleic acid, and n-hexadecanoic acid. Furthermore, the main active ingredients in agarwood from different habitats were sesquiterpenoids, aromatic species, and chromone compounds. The role of chromone compound 2-phenylethyl-benzopyran as an elicitor and the mechanism of agarwood formation were also investigated. Antioxidant tests showed that essential oils from agarwood and A. sinensis had antioxidant capacities by comparison with butylated hydroxytoluene and vitamin E. An antibacterial activity test showed that the inhibition effect of the essential oil was better against Gram-positive bacteria than against Gram-negative bacteria.

Highlights

  • Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg (A. sinensis) is a tropical evergreen tree native to China that has been widely used as traditional medicine in East and Southeast Asia for hundreds of years

  • Agarwood is secreted as a black resin with an aromatic fragrance only when A. sinensis is stimulated by external stimuli, such as physical or chemical damage or endophytic bacteria [3,4]

  • A. sinensis agarwood is mostly grown in areas near the Tropic of Cancer, which has a humid tropical and subtropical monsoon climate with high temperatures and abundant rainfall

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Summary

Introduction

Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg (A. sinensis) is a tropical evergreen tree native to China that has been widely used as traditional medicine in East and Southeast Asia for hundreds of years. The resinous portion of A. sinensis branches and trunks, known as agarwood, is widely used in traditional medicine as a digestive, sedative, and antiemetic, and is used in incense and perfume [1,2]. Agarwood is a resinous material collected from A. sinensis. Agarwood is secreted as a black resin with an aromatic fragrance only when A. sinensis is stimulated by external stimuli, such as physical or chemical damage or endophytic bacteria [3,4]. Agarwood resin is widely used in medicine, cosmetics, Molecules 2018, 23, 2168; doi:10.3390/molecules23092168 www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules

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