Botany

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines. (1) (2)
- Throughout the Philippines, in lowland and medium elevation thickets and forests and coastal thickets, 0-1400 m.
- Also native to Andaman Is., Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, India, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Maluku, Myanmar, Nepal, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam. (1)
- In mixed deciduous forest and in open localities in evergreen forest, up to 1400 m altitude. (4)

Constituents
- GC-MS study for volatile compounds of EO obtained a yield of 4.75% (v/w) on dry weight basis, detecting 14 volatile compounds, with predominant components including elimicin (91.06%), methyl eugenol (3.69%), 4-allyl-2.6-dimethoxyphenol (1.16%), and whiskey lactone (0.55%). (see study below) (6)

Properties
- Volatile parts have a pleasant aroma.
- Studies have suggested wound and burn healing, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, anti-malanogenic, anti-Alzheimer's properties.

Parts used
Leaves, branches, essential oil.

Uses
Edibility
- No info found on edibility except for use of root as masticatory.
Folkloric
- No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines,
- In Java, poultice of leaves used for treatment of scabies and fever. In Peninsular Malaysia, leaf poultice used for varicose veins and nervous disorders. (3)
- Root used as anthelmintic. (4)
- In China, powdered crushed resin-rich woody vine stem used for treatment of wounds, bruises, burns, snake and insect bites and other traumatic injuries. (5)
Others
- Binding: In Indo-China, branches are used for binding. (3)
- Masticatory: Root used as masticatory. (4)

Studies
• Effect on Wound Healing and Burns: Study evaluated the therapeutic effect of D. pinnata extracts on wound healing and scar resolution in measures of percentage wound contraction and period of epithelization. Results showed better wound healing, suppressed inflammatory factors, more neovascu-larization, and newly formed collagen in the ethyl acetate (EAE) and petroleum ether extract (PEE) treatment groups Ratio of Collagen I and Collagen III was lower in the EAE and PEE groups, suggesting potential for reduced scarring. Results showed the EAE and PEE showed accelerated wound repair and like inhibitory effect on generation of scars. The mechanism may be related to generation of TGF-ß1 secretion, inhibition of excessive inflammation, stimulation of fibroblast proliferation and migration, promotion of neovascularization and collagen synthesis. Results provide experimental basis for development of D. pinnata topical formulations for treatment of burns. (5)
• Antioxidant / Antimicrobial / Anti-Tyrosinase / Anti-Melanogenesis / Essential Oils: GC-MS study for volatile compounds of EO obtained a yield of 4.75% (v/w) on dry weight basis, detecting 14 volatile compounds, with predominant components including elimicin (91.06%), methyl eugenol (3.69%), 4-allyl-2.6-dimethoxyphenol (1.16%), and whiskey lactone (0.55%). The EO could scavenge DPPH (IC50 of 0.038 mg/mL) and ABTS (IC50 of 0.032 mg/mL) free radicals, suggesting strong antioxidant activity. On antimicrobial testing, Staphylococcus aureus was most sensitive to the EO with MIC of 0.78 µL/mL. The EO also reduced tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis of zebrafish embryos in a dose-dependent manner. The EO exhibited more obvious anti-melanogenic effect compared with positive control arbutin at the same dose (30 mg/L). The potent inhibitory effect on pigmentation provides theoretical basis for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. (6)
• Effect of Essential Oil Aroma on Human EEG Activity: The volatile parts of D. pinnata have a pleasant aroma. Study evaluated the effects of aroma and sound on human electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. GC-MS study showed the EO to be mainly composed of ethers (84.95%) and phenols (11.19%). EEG power spectrum values changed significantly when the EO was inhaled. In silent and white noise environment, inhalation of EO can make people relax and enhance delta waves buy 20%. In pink noise and traffic noise, EO inhalation can reduce anxiety and induce relaxation and calmness. Under stimulation of EOs, women's theta wave energy significantly increased. Women were found more likely to relax and get sleepy compared to men. (7)
• Therapeutic Potential in Alzheimer's Disease / Essential Oil: There is limited research on the potential neurological effects of aromatherapy, particularly in Alzheimer's disease. The pathogenesis of AD involves amyloid-beta (Aß) deposition and Tau protein in hyperphosphorylation leading to neuronal dysfunction and inflammation. Study evaluat4d the changes in brainwave power following inhalation of D. pinnata essential oil (DPEO). Inhalation of DPEO enhanced δ, θ, α and β wave powers in the frontal and parietal lobes, with a rising trend in the β/α ratio in the temporal lobe, which suggested alleviation of anxiety and enhancement of cognitive functions. Treatment of AD SH-SY5Y (human neuroblastoma cells) cell model with DPEO decreased intracellular levels of Aβ, GSK-3β, P-Tau, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, COX-2, OFR, and HFR, alongside reduced AchE and BchE activities and increased SOD activity. Network pharmacology indicated a potential pharmacologic mechanism involving JAKA-STAT pathway. Study supports a supporting role for DPEO in modulating anxiety and slowing AD pathological progression. (8)

Availability
- Wild-crafted.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Dalbergia pinnata / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(2)
Fabaceae: Dalbergia pinnata / Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines
(3)
Dalbergia pinnata / Ning Wikan Utami / PROSEA
(4)
Dalbergia pinnata / Ken Fern: Tropical Plants Database / Useful Tropical Plants
(5)
Advantage effect of Dalbergia pinnata on wound healing and scar formation of burns / Zhuoyue Song, Tian Yu, Chengcheng Ge, Shije Li et al / Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2023; Volume 317: 116872 /
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023/116872
(6)
Chemical composition and evaluation of antioxidant activities, antimicrobial, and anti-melanogenesis effect of the essential oils extracted from Dalbergia pinnata (Lour.) Prain / Wei Zhou, Yunxia He, Yuhuan Liu, Roger Ruan, Jihua Li et al / Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2020; Vol 254: 112731
(7)
Study on the Effect of Dalbergia pinnata (Lour.) Prain Essential Oil on Electroencephalography upon Stimulation with Different Auditory Effects / Xin He, Sheng Qin, Genfa Yu, Songxing Zhang, Fengping Yi / Molecules, 2024; 29(7): 1584 / DOI: 10.3390/molecules29071584
(8)
The Therapeutic Potential of Dalbergia pinnata (Lour.) Prain Essential Oil in Alzheimer’s Disease: EEG Signal Analysis In Vivo, SH-SY5Y Cell Model In Vitro, and Network Pharmacology / Sheng Qin, Jiayi Fang, Xin He, Genfa Yu, Fengping Yi, Guangyong Zhu / Biology, 2024; 13(7): 544 /
DOI: 10.3390/biology13070544

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