The document discusses three species of mahogany trees - Swietenia mahagoni, Swietenia humilis, and Swietenia macrophylla. It provides details on their native environments, physical descriptions, uses of different parts of the trees, and potential applications of mahogany seeds. Specifically, it notes that mahogany seeds contain compounds that can act as insect repellents and deterrents, and may help strengthen the body against insect-borne diseases.

1. MAHOGANY TREE
Mahogany wood has a beautiful reddish color and straight grains which makes for
beautiful carvings. When we use a common name, such as 'mahogany tree,' there
can be a lot of confusion as to what we are actually referring to. Wood workers
have specific rules to ensure wood is truly mahogany. When we look at these rules
there are three trees that fit the bill: Swietenia mahagoni, Swietenia humilis,
and Swietenia macrophylla.
Fig: Mahogany tree
Some General Information On The Mahogany Tree

2. Systematic position:
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Sapindales
Family: Meliaceae
Genus: Swietenia
Swietenia mahagoni
The Swietenia mahagoni is native to southern Florida, the Caribbean, and the West
Indies. This is the 'original' mahogany tree. Swietenia mahagoni is a tall tree, up to 30 m
high, with a short, buttressing base, up to 1 m in diameter and a large, spherical crown,
many heavy branches and dense shade. The bark is smooth grey on young trees, turning
to scaly dark reddish-brown on large trees. Development from flower to mature fruit
takes about 8-10 months. Flowers are unisexual and the tree is monoecious. Pollination
is by insects. The bark is considered an astringent and is taken orally as a decoction for
diarrhoea, as a source of vitamins and iron, and as a medicine to induce haemorrhage.
When the bark is steeped to a red liquid, it is taken to clear blood, increase appetite, and
restore strength in cases of tuberculosis.
Swietenia macrophylla
The Swietenia macrophylla is native to Mexico and South America. This species has
commonly been planted in Asia for a wood source. Bengali (bara mahauni, bara-
mahagoni, mahagni) Swietenia macrophylla is a very large tree, reaching a height of 30-
40 m and a girth of 3-4 m; in favourable conditions it can reach 60 m high and 9 m girth.
‘Swietenia’ commemorates Gerard von Swieten (1700-1772), botanist and physician to
Maria Theresa of Austria. The specific name, ‘macrophylla’, means large leaved and
comes from Greek words ‘makros’ (large) and ‘phyllon’ (leaf). Flowering mahogany trees
have male and female flowers but the flowers of both sexes are similar. Trees are
sometimes functionally dioecious. In mixed inflorescences, male flowers open 1st, but

3. self-pollination may occur. Flowering and fruiting are distinctly seasonal. Farmers have
planted S. macrophylla among subsistence crops such as corn, beans, bananas, sweet
potatoes and cassava.
Swietenia humilis
The Swietenia humilis is the dwarf mahogany, which only grows to about 20 feet tall. Bole
short, often crooked, unbuttressed, from 30-50 cm in diameter and with a dark-grey or
brownish-black, longitudinally fissured bark and in older specimens rough and flaking. S.
humilis hybridizes with S.macrophylla and S. mahagoni. Hybridization has been confirmed
by cytological studies. The flowers are unisexual. Uesd in apiculture by which the faintly
fragrant flowers are visited by bees. The bark and seeds possess a stringent alkaloid,
reputed to be very poisonous. The extracts significantly inhibited the growth and feeding
of third instar larvae of Tenebrio molitor. The seeds of S. humilis are used in traditional
medicine to treat chest pains, coughs, cancer and amoebiasis, and for their anthelmintic
properties. The tetranortriterpenoids humilinolide A from the S. humilis seeds induces
smooth muscle (ileal and uterine) contraction.
Mahogany Tree Types: List of Different Types of Mahogany Tree

4.  African Mahogany Tree
 American Mahogany Tree, also known as Kentucky Coffee Tree
 Big Leaf Mahogany Tree - Honduras Mahogany Tree
 Brazilian Mahogany Tree
 Caribbean Mahogany Tree, this type of mahogany tree is extremely rare.
 Chinesse Mahogany Tree
 Hawaiian Mahogany Tree, also known as Koa
 Honduras Mahogany Tree, often called true or genuine mahogany
 Indian Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni) grows to height of 30 -40 feet
 Mexician Mahogany Tree
 Philippine Mahogany Tree
 Santos Mahogany Tree
 Spanish Mahogany Tree
 West Indies or Cuban Mahogany Tree
The high cost of synthetic pesticides, the danger of pesticide misuses and toxic residues
in food concerns, have resulted in the increase in the search for plant botanicals which
can serve as good alternatives for the control of stored products pests. In many storage
systems, fumigation is the most effective method of protecting stored foods, feedstuffs
and other agricultural commodities from insect infestations. Lately, however, the number
of fumigants used for insect control has decreased drastically due to the development of
resistance by the target insects and accordingly the mounting social pressures against the
use of toxic chemicals have limited the introduction of new compounds .The high cost of
synthetic pesticides, the danger of pesticide misuse and of toxic residues in food has
resulted in a rapid development and assessment of botanicals as alternatives for chemical
control of stored product pests.
Mahogany Seeds as IPM

5. Mahogany Seeds come from the Mahogany Tree that grows in almost all the
tropical areas of the world including the Caribbean, Central America, South
America, Asia and even in Florida and have many health benefits.
Fig: Seeds of mahogany tree
Mahogany Seeds can be broken down with a hammer and then ground into a
fine powder that contains lots of wonderful flavonoids/antioxidants plus
amazing amounts of protective saponins. Mahogany Seeds are jam packed full
of lots of amazing antioxidants that work to fight against free radicals, thus
helping to slow the aging process and prevent disease plus colds and flues.
Mahogany Seeds contain a wealth of minerals, fatty acids, proteins... and the
tress are distantly related to the ginseng plant and neem tree.
Mahogany Seeds are antibacterial and antimicrobial thus helping to treat malaria
and other diseases. And some studies have been done showing that Mahogany
Seeds may be great for treating Hepatitis C. Plus the tea has been used for
increasing libido in men and women and for strengthening the body.
Mahogany Seeds if taken in the powder form serve to keep bugs from attacking.
If you live in bug infested areas with lots of mosquitoes and malaria is a problem,
then taking Mahogany Seed powder can help prevent insect bites.

6. Insect repellent
The efficacy of the third mahogany seed is as an insect repellent. When the
mahogany seed is made into a powder, it can serve as an insect spray.for those
who live in the tropics or where there are enough insects, can use mahogany
powder as an additional intake to help strengthen the body against diseases
caused by insects or transmitted by insects.
Bug Deterrent
Taken in a powdered form, the mahogany seeds can serve as a sort of
internal bug spray. Specifically, the saponins in the seeds tend to deter
insects. For people living in a tropical climate or who cannot avoid contact with
insects such as malaria-bearing mosquitoes, powdered mahogany seed can
be used as a supplement to increase protection against insect-borne disease.
Mahogany seeds is also effective for treating the following diseases
- Lack of appetite
- Hypertension
- Fever
- Eczema / Hives
- Diabetes
- Rheumatism
- Sign Wind
- Fever
Mahogany Seed as a Termiticide to Kill Termites

7. Mahogany used in multi storey systems in the Philippines, boat and ship building and
patternmaking. Logs are used for the manufacture of veneers and for paneling. It is also
used as shade for coffee and cacao. Mahogany is regarded as the world finest timber for
high-class furniture and cabinetwork. Its popularity is especially due to its attractive
appearance in combination with ease of working, excellent finishing qualities and
dimensional stability. Mahogany is also often used for interior trim such as paneling,
doors and decorative borders. It is used for boat building, often as a decorative wood
for luxury yatch and ocean liners, although it is also used when a medium-weight timber
with other good qualities is required. It is sometimes applied make it particularly suitable
for precision woodwork such as models and patterns, instrument cases, clocks, printer's
block and parts of musical instruments; for these purposes, uniform straight-grained
material is used. Other minor uses include burial caskets, woodcarvings, novelties, toys
and turnery.
Nowadays, people usually choose new innovations (features) to kill termites or any other
pests. Pesticides are usually used to kill a particular target pest, many will also kill or harm
species that the farmer or other user is not targeting. For example, pesticides applied
to crops might be washed into streams or lakes and harm fish, beneficial insects, birds, or
even find their way into drinking water
Sources. With this regard topic it includes improvement in human quality of life and
lower food costs. Contributed significantly to improving the quality of life and
safeguarding the environment.
Mahogany a large tropical tree with a symmetrical appearance, best-known for its
valuable heartwood. The tree is also appreciated as a beautiful and useful street tree.
A fast-growing, graceful, straight-trunked, semi-deciduous tree growing to 30-70ft. Most
trees, particularly planted street trees grow to 30-40ft. It loses its leaves just as new leafs
sprout, so while deciduous, the tree is not without leaves for long. Tiny flowers
are followed by 4-5", woody fruits that burst open to expel the seeds. Mahogany is a

8. valuable hardwood and this tree was once extensively harvested for its wood. A related
tree, S. macrophylla, now provides most commercial mahogany. The tree also makes an
excellent street tree specimen in warmer climates as is popular for this purpose. Miami,
Florida has numerous mahogany trees planted throughout the city for this purpose.
The termites are a group of eusocial insects usually classified at the taxonomic rank of
order Isoptera (but see also taxonomy below). Along with ants and some bees and wasps
which are all placed in the separate order Hymenoptera, termites divide labour among
gender lines, produce overlapping generations and take care of young collectively.
Termites mostly feed on dead plant material, generally in the form of wood, leaf
litter, soil, or animal dung, and about 10% of the estimated 4,000 species (about 2,600
taxonomically known) are economically significant as pests that can cause serious
structural damage to buildings, crops or plantation forests. Termites are major
detritivores, particularly in the subtropical and tropical regions, and their recycling of
wood and other plant matter is of considerable ecological importance. Their role
in bioturbation on the Khorat Plateau is under investigation.
Detritivores, also known as detrivores, detritophages, detritus feeders, or detritus eaters,
are heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus (decomposing plant and
animal parts as well as faeces). There are many kinds of invertebrates, vertebrates and
plants that carry out coprophagy.
Mahogany wood-waste vinegar as larvacide for Spodoptera litura

9. The carbonization of lignocelullosic waste to obtain wood vinegar (WV) was investigated
in this work. WV was used as a botanical insecticide against armyworm (Spodoptera
litura), which is known as a major pest of soybean crops in many country. Mahogany
(Swietenia mahagoni) is the most widely used wood as a material for wooden sandals
because it has a good texture and there is a sufficient supply of logs in the surrounding
area. Generally, the wood processing industry continually produces lignocellulosic waste.
Incineration and landfilling practices to reduce lignocellulosic wastes from the furniture
and handicraft industry is not appropriate to meet the environmental and sustainability
requirements. Lignocellulosic waste incineration will increase CO2 emissions, which will in
turn contribute to global warming. Similarly, the landfilling of waste will involve a process
of anaerobic decomposition that generates methane gas (CH4), which will have a strong
impact on global warming. The waste biomass can be converted to produce useful
materials by several methods. The thermochemical conversion methods include
gasification, pyrolysis, and carbonization . Biochemical conversion or processes include
composting, making of silage, biomethanation, and bioethanol .
Through the carbonization process, biomass can be converted to charcoal, wood vinegar
(WV), tar, and bio-oil. WV utilization has been widely studied for pest control. Mahogany
WV is expected to be effective as a larvicide, since previous reports on the use of other
WV have demonstrated its effectiveness as a pesticide. Wititsiri (2011) revealed that WV
possessed the most effective termiticidal activity against termite workers
(Odontotermes sp). A similar high pesticidal activity was also found among three wood
vinegars against striped mealy bugs (Ferrisia virgata). The termiticidal and pesticidal
properties of these wood vinegars can be attributed to the mode of action of their active
components. The application of WV from coconut shell at a concentration of 12% was
recommended for the control of brown plant hopper (Nilaparvata lugens) during rice
cultivation.
The application of WV was evaluated in an effort to overcome the low production of
soybean (Glycine max), primarily caused by the presence of pests. One of the most
important pests of soybean is Spodoptera litura Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae),
which is commonly called armyworm, cottonworm, or tobaccoworm. Farmers usually
controlled this pest with the use of synthetic pesticides. However, the negative effects of
these synthetic pesticides need to be considered. In particular, the employed pesticide
should meet the requirements for sustainable agriculture and environmental safety. The
aim was to generate wood vinegar from waste mahogany shavings and to assess its
larvicidal effect on Spodoptera litura.
The carbonization of lignocelullosic waste to obtain wood vinegar (WV) was investigated
in this work. WV was used as a botanical insecticide against armyworm (Spodoptera

10. litura), which is known as a major pest of soybean crops in Indonesia. This study includes
the following: (i) the assessment of potential use of lignocellulosic waste from mahogany
wooden-sandal home industry; (ii) the determination of the yield of various components
of carbonization process, from each unit of the waste; and (iii) the application of the
produced WV as larvicide on S. litura larvae in the laboratory. The experiments were
arranged in a completely randomized design, and the observed variables included
mortality and anti-feedant activity of S. litura larvae. The data were analyzed using
analysis of variance with Duncan’s multiple differences test. The results showed that the
amount of wood waste generated at wooden-sandal craftsman level was 16.12%.
Carbonization of 1,000 g of the wood waste yielded WV, tar, bio-oil, and char in quantities
of 442.68 g, 36.5 g, 4.04 g, and 251 g, respectively. The treatment using WV concentration
of 1.5% to 3.0% showed low larvacidal action, which gave LC50 value of 12.82%, but it had
adequate anti-feedant activity.
Fig: Spodoptera litura
Mahagony Fruits Use In Pest Management

11. Value Proposition:
There will be many more projects to reduce the adverse effect on environment.
SafeSolution is an environment concern and socially responsible business entity.
Safesolution is broadly a business idea to control pest by using mahogany fruits and other
non-chemical ways. SafeSolution is an organic solution made from Mahogany seeds and
organs from female pests’ solves the agricultural pests’ problem preserving the purity of
food. SafeSolution provides a simple and innovative solution for contemporary problem
of pests attack to crops. It is a trap used to eradicate the pests in the agricultural field.
Pests come to the trap being attracted by sex and lay down their lives. It is purely an
organic product that helps to keep food free from poisonous agrochemical and prevent
potential toxicity to humans and other animals.
Scientific Base: The scientific name of the fruit of Mahogany is “Swietenia
Macrophylla”. High saturated and unsaturated fatty acid contents are found in the seeds
of Mahogany fruits. There are phospholipids, neutral lipids, glycolipids,
phosphatidylcholin, tetranortriterpenoids , diacetate resins and phenolic compounds in
it. Moreover, the fruits contain triterpenoid-saponins.
So it is scientifically proved that Mahogany seeds and fruits are natural pesticides.
Fig: Mahogany Fruit
Technical Base: There will be a production plant to process the seeds and fruits where
these will be crushed and turned into the powder. Most of the pests are male. The organs

12. from the female are turned into powder that is mixed with the powder made from
Mahogany seeds. Farmers mix the powder with the water provided by special pot. The
pests will come to the pot because of the appeal of sex for the female and will die.
Goals:
(a) To provide farmers 100% environment friendly and effective solution for the natural
enemy of food crops.
(b) To raise a global claim for “from poison to purity”.
(c) To reach 80% of farmers within first 2 years.
(d) To educate farmers regarding the comparative health and financial benefits of using
the natural products
Present Scenario:
The use of pesticides in crop production creates hazards to both the human and non-
target species. Pesticide use results in the pollution of the environment such as
contamination of ground and surface water, causing harm to aquatic animal. Residues of
pesticide on food pose health hazards to consumers. Farmers suffer from skin diseases,
even skin cancer. Moreover, land productivity declines because of the use of this poison.
More than 20,000 metric tons of pesticides are used in Bangladesh.

13. SafeSolution will use this opportunities due increasing demand for pure food and green
environment across the globe. The contribution of agricultural sector to GDP is 20.48%
whereas 43.6% of total workforce is engaged in agriculture. More than 500 lakh metric
tons of rice and vegetables are produced in Bangladesh. The volume of pesticides used to
protect these crops from pests is more than 20,000 metric tons.
SafeSolution will use a trap to prevent pests. The bigger advantage is that it controls the
pests without causing the imbalance of the environment. That is, it is totally environment
friendly. Also it does not create any health hazard to consumers and farmers. Finally, it is
cheap resulting reduction in production cost.
Fig: Mahogany fruits and seeds

14. Some Related Research Paper
The effectiveness of combination Mahogany (Swietenia
mahogany) seed and Sour Sup (Annona muricata) leaf
pesticide to the time of stop feeding and LC50 mortality on
armyworm (Spodoptera litura F.)
Spodoptera litura Fabr. is one of polyphagous insect that attacks lot of crop
species. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a effort to suppress insect pest population.
Utilization of plant materials as ingredients insecticide is considered necessary because
biodegradable, relatively safe for human, animal, non-target as well as agricultural
production. This study uses a combination of Sour Sup (Annona muricata) and Mahogany
seed (Swietenia mahogany) as a botanical pesticide.
Fig: Spodoptera litura
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of single and combined Mahogany
seed (MS) and Sour Sup (SS) leaf extracts against Time stop-feeding and mortality. In this
study, concentrations applied to armyworm larvae are control, 100 g/l, 150 g/l, 200 g/l, 250
g/l, 300 g/l and a combination both of them (150 SS + 150 MS; 250 SS + 50 MS; 50 SS +
250 MS; 200 SS + 100 MS; and 100 SS + 200 MS g/l). The results showed that the use of
extracts of Sour Sup leaf and Mahogany seed as insecticide either alone or in combination
against pests S. lituracausing stop eating, causing larval mortality, the ability of larvae to
pupae, as well as the ability to imago. However, the most effective concentration is
combination of pesticides obtained in MS 200 and SS 100 g/l with mortality as much as

15. 53.33% at the 72nd hour after application. This study uses a combination of Sour Soup
(Annona muricata) and Mahogany seed (Swietenia Mahogany) as a botanical pesticide.
Annona muricata (A. muricata) is a tropical plant species belonging to family Annonaceae
and known for its many medicinal uses.
Fig: Sour sup (Annona muricata)
Laboratory evaluation of mahogany seed oil and seed powder for
the control of Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.) (Coleoptera:
Bruchidae) on stored cowpea
The efficacy of Mahogany seed oil and powder was evaluated for the control of
Callosobruchus maculatus on stored cowpea. The oil was extracted locally by steaming of
the dry K. senegalensis seeds in a large cooking pot after pounding into a paste in a
mortar.

16. Fig: Callosobruchus maculatus
Similarly the seed shaft leftover from the extraction process was dried in the oven at 30°C
and pounded in a mortar and further macerated in an electric moulinex kitchen blender
into fine powder. This was compared with actellic Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC) and
actellic dust as standards. Adult mortality of C. maculatus was highest within 24 h post
treatment with seed oil concentrations at 1, 2 and 3 mL/100 g of cowpea. The seed oil
significantly (p<0.05) reduced the F1 and F2 progeny emergence but did not differ
significantly (p>0.05) when compared with the control. For all the parameters
investigated, mahogany seed oil did not differ significantly with Actellic EC in the Control
of C. maculatus, during the study.
Reference
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