Aletris cochinchinensis Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 1: 204. 1790; Dracaena loureiroi Gagnepain, nom. illeg. (included A. cochinchinensis); Pleomele cochinchinensis (Loureiro) Merrill.
Dragon's blood is a bright red resin that is obtained from different species of a number of distinct plant genera: Croton, Dracaena, Daemonorops, Calamus rotang and Pterocarpus. The red resin was used in ancient times as varnish, medicine, incense, and dye. Plants treelike, 5--15 m tall. Stems branched, sometimes to 1 m thick, reddish apically; internodes much shorter than wide; bark grayish white, becoming grayish brown with age, smooth.
Three new biflavonoids, named (2RyS)-3'-methoxy-8-methylsocotrin-4'-ol (1), (2SyR)-3'-methoxy-8-methylsocotrin-4'-ol (2), and (2RyR)-8-methylsocotrin-4'-ol (3), were isolated from Chinese Dragon's blood [Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S. C. Chen].