Agarwood, the fragrant resinous wood distilled for perfumes and incense, has long been valued in many cultures across the globe. Its scent is alluring and its mystical properties have inspired elaborate traditions and religious ceremonies, particularly in Japan, where it was introduced around the sixth century CE and is still an important element of the elegant rituals known as the Kodo ceremony. The wood also has numerous medicinal qualities and is considered a rare and precious commodity, fetching millions of dollars per kilogram in the markets of China, Vietnam, and elsewhere.
Agarwood can be obtained from the trunks of certain trees infected by a special species of fungal pathogen, Ochromonas purpureum, which causes them to secrete a dark, thick resin called agar. This substance is used as a base for incense and other products and is highly valued in many cultures as a spiritual offering or as a status symbol among wealthy individuals.
Despite its great cultural Trầm hương significance, agarwood is endangered in nature. In India, it is protected under the Indian Forest Act of 1927 and is on the verge of extinction due to overexploitation from its natural habitat in northeastern India. Additionally, the agarwood production process is complex and unpredictable, making it difficult for commercial agarwood producers to maintain a steady supply.
Researchers have been working for decades to improve agarwood production and its quality, as well as finding alternative methods of producing the oil. They have found that fungi can be artificially inoculated into the trees through holes, wounds, or other openings to trigger resin formation. Agarwood produced through these techniques can be ten times more valuable than naturally-formed agarwood.
In recent years, scientists have been trying to understand the chemical makeup of agarwood. This includes identifying the chemical compounds in the resin, as well as exploring the biosynthesis of these compounds. They have discovered that the most prominent metabolites in agarwood are chromones, which are responsible for its unique fragrance, and sesquiterpenoids, which are the chemical components of agarwood essential oils. These chemicals can be distilled to produce perfumes, which are increasingly popular in the world market.
The research team analyzed the ethanol-extracted oils from 12 artificially induced agarwood samples from different treatment conditions, including fire drill treatment (F), fire drill + brine treatment (FS), cold drill treatment (D), and cold drill + brine treatment (DS). They found that F and FS resulted in higher abundances of chromatones than the other two treatments, while DS showed a greater enrichment of sesquiterpenoids. These findings suggest that agarwood production can be improved by using methods other than drilling the trees, which can increase yields while reducing the risks of infection and damage to the tree. The results of this study can help agarwood producers identify the best cultivation and processing methods to ensure sustainable and responsible agarwood production in the future. These findings are published in the journal Scientific Reports.
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