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Kenanga (Canangium odoratum)

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Common names

- kenanga, chenanga, kenanga utan (Malay)

- Ylang-ylang, cananga, perfume tree (English)

- guo luo shi, xiang shui shi, jia na kai, yi lan xiang (Chinese)

- apurvachampaka, chettu sampangi, karumugai (Tamil)

Description

- an evergreen tree that can grow to a height of 12-16 m

- has a drooping appearance, as the branches are pendant at the tips

- the leaves are simple and arranged alternatively

- the shape of the leaf is elliptic with a slightly heart-shaped base and gradual tapering to the tip

- the flowers are about 5-7.5 cm long with narrow, wavy petal

- the flowers are green when young, turning to dull yellow when mature and produce strong fragrance

- fruits greenish black in color, 1.5–2.5 cm in length, oblong and indehiscent with 3-13 pale brown seeds embedded in a yellow and oily pulp

- seed is flattened, ellipsoid, 9 mm × 6 mm, with thickness of 2.5 mm, pale brown in colour, surface pitted, hard and with a rudimentary aril

Chemical constituents

By methanol extract of C. odorata flowers: volatile compounds (p-cresyl methyl ether, methyl benzoate, linalool, benzyl acetate and geranyl acetate, β-caryophyllene, (+)-germacrene, and (E,E)-α-farnesene

By chloroform and diethyl ether extract of C. odorata flowers: volatile compounds (anisole, linalool, geraniol, α-copaene, trans-caryophyllene, α-humulene, α-bergamotene, α-cadinol and benzyl benzoate)

By ethyl acetate extract of C. odorata flowers: phenolics (caffeic acid) and volatile compounds (β-thujene, α-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, α-terpinene, p-cresol methyl ether, trans-β-ocimene, β-ocimene, γ-terpinene, terpinolene)

Traditional uses

  • used for festive celebration

  • useful in calming rapid breathing and heartbeat

  • used as hair oil

  • used to treat malaria

  • used as remedy for headaches, high blood pressure, coughs, dizziness, skin irritations, to treat gonorrhoea and back pain

  • used as poultice to relieve itch from insect bites

  • useful in curing intermittent fever

  • used to treat asthma

  • used as antidepressant to treat depression, nervousness, lowering blood pressure effect

Preparation/ parts of plants used

Flowers: (scent) decoration, personal adornment

Flower

Oil: mixed with coconut oil

Dried flower

Flower

Leaves

Seeds

Fresh flowers: pounded paste

Flower

  • to treat rheumatism, phlegm, ophthalmia, ulcers, and fevers

Bark: decoction

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