Distinguishing the Geographical Origins of Aquilaria malaccensis “Barri” in the Philippines using XRF-Based Multi-Element Profiling
Document Types
Paper Presentation
School Name
De La Salle University
Track or Strand
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
Research Advisor (Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial)
Garcia, Joel, E.
Start Date
25-6-2025 10:30 AM
End Date
25-6-2025 12:00 PM
Zoom Link/ Room Assignment
https://zoom.us/j/95105828267?pwd=ovLmRN9qIWA4Uc2879ZugGKVR684na.1 Meeting ID: 951 0582 8267 Passcode: 513959
Abstract/Executive Summary
Aquilaria malaccensis is a highly valued species due to its diverse applications in medicine, perfumery, religious rituals, luxury goods, and scientific research. However, its high value has led to overharvesting, resulting in its classification as an endangered species. Furthermore, it has also become subject to illegal harvesting, counterfeit products, and misrepresentation of the product’s origin to falsely enhance quality claims. This study aims to determine whether the geographical origin of A. malaccensis plants influences their leaves' elemental composition, to discover whether elements show differences among Aquilaria samples from Cavite and Leyte, and to correlate the effect of environmental or regional factors to their elemental composition. The study utilized portable X-ray Fluorescence (pXRF) technology to identify chemical fingerprints unique to samples sourced from Cavite and Leyte. By establishing distinct elemental profiles for A. malaccensis from these regions, the research sought to support the authentication of product origin and help safeguard the integrity of agarwood products in the market. The study explored whether the geographical location of A. malaccensis affected the elemental composition by analyzing 15 leaf samples from Leyte and Cavite using pXRF. Twenty-two elements were detected, and PCA revealed distinct regional groupings. K, Mg, S, P, and Al were higher in Cavite, while Si, Mn, Rb, and Sr were in Leyte. Overall, the XRF and PCA results confirmed that elemental composition differed significantly between regions, underscoring the strong influence of geographical origin. These findings highlight the potential of elemental profiling as a tool for geographic authentication, contributing to the conservation, regulation, and traceability of A. malaccensis and its derived products.
Keywords
portable x-ray fluorescence (pXRF); agarwood, Aquilaria malaccensis; elemental profiling; leaves spectrometry
Research Theme (for Paper Presentation and Poster Presentation submissions only)
Sustainability, Environment, and Energy (SEE)
Initial Consent for Publication
yes
Statement of Originality
yes
Distinguishing the Geographical Origins of Aquilaria malaccensis “Barri” in the Philippines using XRF-Based Multi-Element Profiling
Aquilaria malaccensis is a highly valued species due to its diverse applications in medicine, perfumery, religious rituals, luxury goods, and scientific research. However, its high value has led to overharvesting, resulting in its classification as an endangered species. Furthermore, it has also become subject to illegal harvesting, counterfeit products, and misrepresentation of the product’s origin to falsely enhance quality claims. This study aims to determine whether the geographical origin of A. malaccensis plants influences their leaves' elemental composition, to discover whether elements show differences among Aquilaria samples from Cavite and Leyte, and to correlate the effect of environmental or regional factors to their elemental composition. The study utilized portable X-ray Fluorescence (pXRF) technology to identify chemical fingerprints unique to samples sourced from Cavite and Leyte. By establishing distinct elemental profiles for A. malaccensis from these regions, the research sought to support the authentication of product origin and help safeguard the integrity of agarwood products in the market. The study explored whether the geographical location of A. malaccensis affected the elemental composition by analyzing 15 leaf samples from Leyte and Cavite using pXRF. Twenty-two elements were detected, and PCA revealed distinct regional groupings. K, Mg, S, P, and Al were higher in Cavite, while Si, Mn, Rb, and Sr were in Leyte. Overall, the XRF and PCA results confirmed that elemental composition differed significantly between regions, underscoring the strong influence of geographical origin. These findings highlight the potential of elemental profiling as a tool for geographic authentication, contributing to the conservation, regulation, and traceability of A. malaccensis and its derived products.
https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/conf_shsrescon/2025/paper_see/24
