Agarwood

 

Agarwood, eaglewood, oud, aloeswood, and gaharu are some of the names of the highly valuable fragrant heartwood used for non-timber purposes and produced by the Aquilaria species, which belongs to the Thymelaeaceae family.

Ex: Aquilaria sinensis, A. malaccensis, A. filaria, and Gyrinops versteegii

Agarwood is formed when Aquilaria trees are wounded and exposed to biotic and abiotic stresses.

The infection triggers the trees’ defense mechanism, causing resin to be produced, which aids the trees in suppressing the growth of the microbes infecting the trees in a process known as tylosis 

From the infection, the tree undergoes a biochemical reaction that produces oleoresin, which causes the color of the wood to eventually change from a lighter to a darker color, becoming what is commonly referred to as agarwood

Wild-type agarwood takes years to produce, and few traders are willing to wait so long. Furthermore, only a small number of Aquilaria are infected in the wild and produce agarwood, and the only way to be certain that the tree contains the desired resin is to cut down the trees

Biological inoculation is also another alternative method to agarwood formation and has been proven by many researchers to help induce agarwood formation. It is necessary for the tree to first be wounded before it can be infected by microbes to induce agarwood formation. However, not all fungi can promote agarwood production; some of the species identified in agarwood-producing trees are Fusarium, Lasiodiplodia, Penicillium, and Aspergillus, amongst others

Inoculation of endophytic fungi on Aquilaria trees has also been proven to produce resin in as fast as 6 months

Agarwood and its products, either as oil, smoke, or powder admixtures, are well known for their bioactivity in controlling various fungal pathogens and their unique medicinal properties globally

Several chemical compounds have been reported to be identified from agarwood such as chromone derivates, terpenoids, flavonoids, benzophenones, lignans, benzenoid derivates, phenolic compounds, triterpenes, steroids, and other chemical compounds

Chromones  act as potential and remarkable pharmacological compounds containing various bioactivities such as antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, antifeedant, antidepressant, antiobesity, and antihypersensitive properties, including antagonistic activity in melanin-concentrating hormone receptor-1 

India’s North-Eastern Region (NER) in India  is characterised by rich ecological diversity, undulating landscapes, and abundant biodiversity. The region serves as an important hub for high-value plantation and agroforestry crops, among which Agarwood holds particular economic and cultural significance as a premium aromatic resource. As of January 2026, India hosts nearly 150 million agarwood trees, with about 90 percent located in the North-Eastern states, where cultivation is integrated into plantation and agroforestry programmes. 

Agarwood, also known internationally as oud or agar, is a highly valued resinous wood widely used in traditional medicine, religious practices, and luxury perfumery. 

The plant is primarily harvested for agarwood chips, powder (churan), and essential oil, while other value-added products include agarwood beads and, occasionally, carved artefacts.

 In addition, the leaves are used to prepare agarwood tea. 

North-Eastern states in India have been encouraged to develop area-expansion plans supported by geospatial mapping initiatives, particularly in Tripura and Assam.

 Export promotion measures have also been strengthened through enhanced annual export quotas under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), with limits set at 151,080 kg for agarwood chips and 7,050 kg for agarwood oil. 

Due to its importance in culture, religion, and value, agarwood is highly sought after, and the trees are often overexploited and traded illegally, which has placed it on the list of endangered species in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) in 1995