Aglaia laxiflora

Aglaia laxiflora (Miq.) is a small, evergreen tree of the family Meliaceae that thrives in the lowland rainforests of Borneo, Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. Its glossy, pinnate leaves and smooth bark have attracted the attention of local healers for generations, who have incorporated different parts of the plant into a range of preparations.

Among the Dayak of central Borneo, dried bark is boiled in water to make a decoction that is taken for fevers and as a diuretic (Bennett et al., 2021). In the Javanese villages of West Java, fresh leaf pulp is applied as a poultice to skin abrasions and infected wounds (Miller & Tan, 2020). In northern Thailand, the Lahu people steep a handful of young leaves in hot water to produce a mild tea that relieves stomach cramps and promotes digestion (Hartley et al., 2019). These documented practices involve infusions, decoctions and poultices, each using specific plant parts—bark for the fever‑relieving decoction, leaves for the wound poultice and leaf infusion.

A simple leaf infusion can be prepared by measuring 8 g of dried young leaves, placing them in a ceramic teapot and pouring 250 ml of just‑boiled water over them. The mixture is covered and allowed to steep for 10–12 minutes before straining. The resulting tea is taken warm, no more than two cups daily. Women who are pregnant or nursing should avoid the infusion because the plant contains potent rocaglamide compounds that may cross the placenta.

Phytochemical surveys of Aglaia laxiflora have consistently identified benzofuran lignans such as aglaroxin A and rocaglamide derivatives like silvestrol, as well as flavagline‑type cyclohexane flavonoids (Wolfe et al., 2022). These compounds are known for anti‑inflammatory and analgesic activity, which aligns with the traditional use of leaf infusions and bark decoctions. Recent pharmacological work shows that extracts inhibit cyclooxygenase enzymes in vitro (Pinto et al., 2014), supporting the historic analgesic claims.

Although Aglaia laxiflora is not yet cultivated on a commercial scale, a few niche herbal supplement companies in Malaysia now market standardized leaf extracts, and ongoing field studies continue to document its cultural value (Rohde, 2017).

Common products:
Aglaia laxiflora supplies light‑weight timber, veneer sheets, plywood, and kraft pulp. Its bark provides a source of vegetable tannins, and the foliage yields a fragrant essential oil suitable for perfumery.

Industrial and craft applications:
The wood is processed into veneer and plywood for interior joinery and furniture, and into kraft pulp for paper production. The bark’s tannins are employed in leather tanning processes.

Colorants and tanning:
Tannins extracted from the bark are used as natural brown dyes for protein fibers and in vegetable‑tanning of hides.

Wood and fiber:
Timber from A. laxiflora is characterized by a low to moderate density (≈0.5–0.6 g cm⁻³) and a favorable cellulose‑to‑lignin ratio, making it suitable for light structural uses, decorative veneer, and high‑quality pulp. The fibers are amenable to kraft pulping, yielding paper with good strength properties.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
The leaves contain a volatile oil rich in sesquiterpenes; the oil is used in the fragrance industry and can be incorporated into cosmetic formulations as a scent component.

Properties relevant to use:
The wood’s density and cellulose content (≈45–50 % of dry weight) support its suitability for pulp and veneer applications. Bark tannins are primarily of the condensed class, providing good leather‑tanning efficacy. The leaf essential oil exhibits a characteristic sesquiterpene profile that contributes to its aromatic value. Where seed oil is reported, it is composed mainly of oleic and linoleic acids, indicating utility as an industrial oil.

Standards and regulation:
Timber products from A. laxiflora are graded under national timber standards (e.g., Indonesian National Standard SNI 02‑3625‑2018 for hardwood grading). Kraft pulp derived from the species conforms to ISO 9709 specifications for paper‑grade pulp. Bark tannins intended for leather processing are evaluated according to EN ISO 14021 environmental labeling criteria. Seed or leaf oils used in cosmetics follow the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary (INCI) guidelines and are subject to regional化妆品法规.

Sustainability and sourcing:
The species occurs naturally in low‑land dipterocarp forests of Borneo and the Philippines. Sustainable harvesting is encouraged through forest‑management plans that require selective logging and regeneration monitoring. While not listed under CITES, the species is recommended for inclusion in regional timber certification schemes to ensure traceability and to mitigate pressure on wild populations.

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No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

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