Chemotaxonomy Studies on the Genus Aquilaria

Abstract:

In order to understand taxonomy position of Aquilarioideae, belonging to Thymelaeceae, the chemical constituents extracted from the genus Aquilaria was summarized, and the chemotaxonomy of subfamily Aquilarioideae was discussed by comparing the chemical constituents from other subfamilies in Thymelaeceae. It was regarded that the evolution status of subfamily Aquilarioideae was lower than that of subfamily Thymelaeoideae according to the types of diterpenoid and flavonoid, but higher than that of subfamily Gonystyloideae according to the type of triterpenoid. At the same time, 2-(2-phenylethyl) chromones and dibenzophenones were taken as the characteristic components of the genus Aquilaria, or even subfamily Aquilarioideae. Therefore, the status of subfamily Aquilarioideae was approved and regarded as the lower evolution group in Thymelaeceae, exiting between subfamily Thymelaeoideae and subfamily Gonystyloideae.

Key words:Aquilaria;Chemical constituent;Chemotaxonomy