''Aglaia'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of 121 recognised species of woody

dioecious Dioecy ( ; ; adj. dioecious, ) is a characteristic of certain species that have distinct unisexual individuals, each producing either male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproduction is ...

trees in the mahogany family

Meliaceae Meliaceae, the mahogany family, is a flowering plant family of mostly trees and shrubs (and a few herbaceous plants, mangroves) in the order Sapindales. They are characterised by alternate, usually pinnate leaves without stipules, and by syncarp ...

. They occur in the

subtropical The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical zone, geographical and Köppen climate classification, climate zones immediately to the Northern Hemisphere, north and Southern Hemisphere, south of the tropics. Geographically part of the Ge ...

and

tropical forest Tropical forests are forested ecoregions with tropical climates – that is, land areas approximately bounded by the Tropic of Cancer, tropics of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, Capricorn, but possibly affected by other factors such as prevailing ...

s of Southeast Asia, northern Australia and the Pacific. Some species are important timber trees; others have scented flowers, or medicinal properties (the edible fruits duku or langsat have now been placed in the genus '' Lansium''). Many have complex biological relationships with their dispersal agents.

Phytochemistry

Species in the genus ''Aglaia'' synthesize a unique class of highly bioactive chemical compounds known as flavaglines. Over 50 unique compounds of this class have been described so far, including rocaglamide, aglafoline, silvestrol, pannellin, episilvestrol, and ponapensin. They are known for their

anti-cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal ...

, anti-fungal,

anti-inflammatory Anti-inflammatory is the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation, fever or swelling. Anti-inflammatory drugs, also called anti-inflammatories, make up about half of analgesics. These drugs reduce pain by inhibiting mechan ...

and

insecticidal Insecticides are pesticides used to kill insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against insect eggs and larvae, respectively. The major use of insecticides is in agriculture, but they are also used in home and garden settings, in ...

properties. Several of these compounds have been shown to be exceptional therapeutic agents for cancer chemotherapy, however further research is needed to develop medicines.

Species

, there are 121 species are accepted by

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. History Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...

, as follows: *'' Aglaia aherniana'' *'' Aglaia amplexicaulis'' *'' Aglaia angustifolia'' *'' Aglaia apiocarpa'' *'' Aglaia archboldiana'' *'' Aglaia argentea'' *'' Aglaia australiensis'' *'' Aglaia barbanthera'' *'' Aglaia basiphylla'' *'' Aglaia beccarii'' *'' Aglaia brassii'' *'' Aglaia brownii'' *'' Aglaia bullata'' *'' Aglaia ceramica'' *'' Aglaia chittagonga'' *'' Aglaia conferta'' *'' Aglaia cooperae'' *'' Aglaia coriacea'' *'' Aglaia costata'' *'' Aglaia crassinervia'' *'' Aglaia cremea'' *'' Aglaia cucullata'' *'' Aglaia cumingiana'' *'' Aglaia cuspidata'' *'' Aglaia densisquama'' *'' Aglaia densitricha'' *'' Aglaia edulis'' *'' Aglaia elaeagnoidea'' *'' Aglaia elliptica'' *'' Aglaia erythrosperma'' *'' Aglaia euryanthera'' *'' Aglaia evansensis'' *'' Aglaia eximia'' *'' Aglaia exstipulata'' *'' Aglaia fellii'' *'' Aglaia ferruginea'' *'' Aglaia flavescens'' *'' Aglaia flavida'' *'' Aglaia forbesii'' *'' Aglaia foveolata'' *'' Aglaia fragilis'' *'' Aglaia glabrata'' *'' Aglaia gracilis'' *'' Aglaia grandis'' *'' Aglaia heterotricha'' *'' Aglaia hiernii'' *'' Aglaia ijzermannii'' *'' Aglaia integrifolia'' *'' Aglaia korthalsii'' *'' Aglaia lancilimba'' *'' Aglaia lawii'' *'' Aglaia laxiflora'' *'' Aglaia lepidopetala'' *'' Aglaia lepiorrhachis'' *'' Aglaia leptantha'' *'' Aglaia leucoclada'' *'' Aglaia leucophylla'' *'' Aglaia luzoniensis'' *'' Aglaia mabberleyi'' *'' Aglaia mackiana'' *'' Aglaia macrocarpa'' *'' Aglaia macrostigma'' *'' Aglaia malabarica'' *'' Aglaia malaccensis'' *'' Aglaia mariannensis'' *'' Aglaia membranifolia'' *'' Aglaia meridionalis'' *'' Aglaia monocaula'' *'' Aglaia monozyga'' *'' Aglaia monticola'' *'' Aglaia multinervis'' *'' Aglaia nyaruensis'' *'' Aglaia odorata'' *'' Aglaia odoratissima'' *'' Aglaia oligophylla'' *'' Aglaia pachyphylla'' *'' Aglaia palembanica'' *'' Aglaia pannelliana'' *'' Aglaia parksii'' *'' Aglaia parviflora'' *'' Aglaia penningtoniana'' *'' Aglaia perviridis'' *'' Aglaia pleuropteris'' *'' Aglaia polyneura'' *'' Aglaia puberulanthera'' *'' Aglaia pyriformis'' *'' Aglaia ramotricha'' *'' Aglaia rimosa'' *'' Aglaia rivularis'' *'' Aglaia rubiginosa'' *'' Aglaia rubrivenia'' *'' Aglaia rufibarbis'' *'' Aglaia rufinervis'' *'' Aglaia rugulosa'' *'' Aglaia saltatorum'' *'' Aglaia samoensis'' *'' Aglaia sapindina'' *'' Aglaia saxonii'' *'' Aglaia scortechinii'' *'' Aglaia sessilifolia'' *'' Aglaia sexipetala'' *'' Aglaia silvestris'' *'' Aglaia simplicifolia'' *'' Aglaia smithii'' *'' Aglaia soepadmoi'' *'' Aglaia speciosa'' *'' Aglaia spectabilis'' *'' Aglaia squamulosa'' *'' Aglaia stellatopilosa'' *'' Aglaia subcuprea'' *'' Aglaia subminutiflora'' *'' Aglaia subsessilis'' *'' Aglaia taiwaniana'' *'' Aglaia taynguyenensis'' *'' Aglaia tenuicaulis'' *'' Aglaia teysmanniana'' *'' Aglaia tomentosa'' *'' Aglaia unifolia'' *'' Aglaia variisquama'' *'' Aglaia vitiensis''

References

External links

* * * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q734343 Meliaceae genera Dioecious plants