Albizia

Albizia: A Comprehensive Reference

1. Identity and Botanical Characterization

1.1 Taxonomy and Nomenclature

Albizia is a large genus of fast-growing, subtropical and tropical trees and shrubs. The genus encompasses over 140 fast-growing subtropical and tropical trees and shrubs in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae. It is a pan-tropical genus, with species mostly distributed in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Southern North America. The genus first appeared in the literature by Durazzini in 1772, who described A. julibrissin Durazz; the propagation seeds of A. julibrissin were delivered from Constantinople to Tuscany, Florence, Italy, by Filippo degli Albizzi in 1749.

The two species most commonly encountered in medicinal and dietary supplement contexts are Albizia julibrissin Durazz. (the Persian silk tree or mimosa tree) and Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. (Siris tree, known in Ayurveda as Shirisha). Albizia julibrissin Durazz, commonly known as the mimosa or silk tree, belongs to a traditional Chinese medicine practice called He Huan, and is widely distributed in Korea, China, India, and other Asian regions. Albizia lebbeck is a widely used medicinal tree in traditional Indian medicine, particularly in the Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha systems.

The genus name honors Francesco Albizzi, an Italian nobleman who introduced the tree to Europe in the eighteenth century. Synonyms and common names for A. julibrissin include Acacia julibrissin, Acacia mollis, Mimosa arborea, Mimosa julibrissin, He Huan Hua (flowers), He Huan Pi (bark), Nemu No Ki (Japanese), Pink Siris, Silk Tree, and Schlafbaum (German, meaning "sleep tree").

1.2 Botanical Description

Albizia julibrissin is a small deciduous tree growing to 5–12 m tall, with a broad crown of level or arching branches. The bark is dark greenish-grey in colour and striped vertically as it gets older. The leaves are bipinnate, 20–45 cm long and 12–25 cm broad. The flowers (He Huan Hua) are used as a calming herb; flower heads are made up of many small, brilliant pink flowers with long stamens. Seed pods are long, flat, and toxic.

1.3 Medicinal Parts and Common Preparations

The flowers and stem bark are the parts used to make medicine. In traditional Chinese medicine these two plant parts carry separate pharmacopeial designations: the bark, known as "He Huan Pi," and the flowers, known as "He Huan Hua," have been celebrated for their calming and mood-lifting properties.

Traditionally, albizia bark is soaked in water for at least 20–30 minutes then decocted in non-metallic pots with water, together with one or more other herbs, on a low-to-moderate heat for around 20–30 minutes. Nowadays, it is also prepared in powder and tincture form.

2. Traditional and Historical Use

2.1 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Albizia julibrissin was mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Materia Medica in the 700s and was highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine. In traditional Chinese medicine, albizia is named "he huan pi," which translates as "collective happiness bark," reflecting its importance as a medicine to support emotional disharmonies. Its combination of sweet and neutral properties is believed to nourish the heart and calm the shen (mind/spirit).

Albizia belongs to the "herbs that nourish the Heart and calm the spirit" category in TCM, where it is an integral herb for treating anxiety, depression, irritability, poor memory, and insomnia derived from pent-up emotions. While featured in few classical TCM formulas, it is frequently added to introduce or enhance this function and has grown in popularity in Western herbalism.

The dried stem bark of A. julibrissin has been utilized in traditional Chinese medicine to treat insomnia, melancholia, diuresis, asthenia, ascariasis, depression, anxiety, and confusion. The bark extract can also be applied to bruises, ulcers, abscesses, burns, hemorrhoids, and fractures.

Albizia bark is a mild herb, typically dispensed in formulas but may also be used on its own. In TCM clinics, the focus tends to be on its sedative action and it is primarily used to alleviate depression, anxiety, anger, irritability, palpitations, and insomnia where these are accompanied by signs of qi stagnation, in particular, chest distension, where qi flow in the body has been hindered by unexpressed emotions, notably anger, resentment, and frustration. The albizia flower shares these functions but is indicated more in cases of qi stagnation where epigastric pain is present.

Hehuan bark and Hehuan flowers have long been recognized as traditional Chinese herbal medicine for treating anxiety, melancholy, insomnia, bruises, pulmonary abscess, fractures, carbuncle, amnesia, acute conjunctivitis, blurred vision, neonatal tetanus, and stroke for thousands of years. They are recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia separately with different properties.

2.2 Ayurvedic and South Asian Traditions (Albizia lebbeck)

Albizia lebbeck Benth. has a long history of use in Indian traditional medicine, particularly for the treatment of asthma and allergic disorders. The bark has been used in Ayurveda for the treatment of bronchial asthma, leprosy, eczema, pruritus, paralysis, gum inflammation, as an anti-inflammatory agent, and for worm infestation.

Known as Shirisha in Sanskrit, A. lebbeck is valued for its antihistaminic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-asthmatic properties. Various parts of the tree, including the bark, leaves, seeds, and flowers, are used for managing respiratory ailments, skin diseases, and allergic conditions. It also serves as an important detoxifying herb in Ayurvedic Panchakarma therapies.

In classical Ayurvedic dosage, the recommended forms include powder at 3–6 grams per day, water decoction at 50–100 ml, or fresh juice at 10–20 ml. Traditionally, A. lebbeck is used as an anti-asthmatic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fertility, anti-diarrhoeal, antiseptic, anti-dysenteric, and anti-tubercular agent. It is also used in the treatment of ringworms and wounds, gonorrhea, leucorrhoea, bronchitis, leprosy, paralysis, helminth infection, and other genital diseases.

2.3 African and Other Traditional Uses

Many Albizia species have been used for the treatment of various diseases such as melancholia, insomnia, wounds, fever, injuries, piles, diarrhea, gonorrhea, leprosy, leukoderma, erysipelas, and abscesses in traditional and local medicine. Various Albizia species have a long history of ethnomedicinal use in the management of various diseases in Africa, and due to the frequent use of stem bark and roots in traditional phytotherapy, some species are becoming threatened in their distributional ranges.

3. Key Constituents and Active Compounds

3.1 Triterpenoid Saponins (Julibrosides)

Triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, and lignans are the particularly noteworthy compound classes in A. julibrissin, each contributing distinct therapeutic effects. Julibrosides, a class of triterpenoid saponins, and various flavonoids and lignans isolated from the plant have demonstrated substantial bioactivity in studies.

Previous phytochemical analyses of A. julibrissin revealed that oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins are the principal constituents of this species. Compounds of this type feature acacic acid aglycone and several saccharide moieties at the C-3, C-21, and C-28 positions. Triterpenoids comprise a prominent class of bioactive constituents in A. julibrissin and have been established to have anti-inflammatory, anticancer, immunomodulatory, antidepressant, and neuroprotective effects, as well as cardioprotective, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities.

The total saponins from A. julibrissin (TSAJ), whose major constituents include julibroside J, julibroside A, julibroside B1, julibroside C1, julibroside I, julibroside II, and julibroside III, have been shown to possess anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor activities.

3.2 Flavonoids

The phytochemical study of A. julibrissin allowed the isolation of two principal flavonol glycosides, quercitrin (1) and isoquercitrin (2). These two flavonoids have been identified as the main factors responsible for the plant's sedative effects, and they are thought to exert their effects by increasing the level of 5-HT (serotonin).

Flavonoids are among the main bioactive constituents of A. julibrissin and are characterized by diverse biological activities, having anti-inflammatory, antifertility, and antiproliferative properties. While total flavonoids from A. julibrissin have been shown to exert antidepressant or anxiolytic effects in animal models, quercitrin is the only one flavonoid molecule that has been identified as being responsible for anxiolytic activity.

3.3 Lignans

From the stem bark of A. julibrissin, researchers have isolated a dibenzylbutane-type lignan, along with furofuran-type, furan-type, bibenztetrahydronaphthalene-type lignans, neolignans, and phenolic derivatives. Two bioactive compounds from A. julibrissin with antidepressant and anxiolytic properties have been isolated and identified. These compounds are specifically lignan glucosides. Specifically, two lignan glycosides have been identified that inhibit the serotonin transporter (SERT) noncompetitively by decreasing Vmax with little change in Km for its fluorescence substrate.

3.4 Other Constituents

Since the 1950s, the genus Albizia has been recognized as a rich source of several classes of bioactive secondary metabolites including saponins, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolic glycosides. Triterpenoid saponins are the primary active components of the Albizia species; the next main active constituents of A. julibrissin are tannins. Additional phenolic compounds isolated from the flowers include gallic acid, protocatechoic acid, scopoletin, and vanillin, among a broader array of terpenoid and sterol derivatives.

4. Mechanisms of Action

4.1 Serotonergic System

While A. julibrissin is one of the most common herbs used for depression and anxiety treatment, its molecular basis and mechanism of action as an antidepressant or anxiolytic drug have only recently been clarified. Two lignan glycosides have been identified that inhibit the serotonin transporter (SERT) noncompetitively. The two compounds decreased the accessibility of a cysteine residue placed in the extracellular substrate permeation pathway by inducing a conformational shift toward an outward-closed state of SERT. These results are consistent with molecular docking for the association of the lignan glycosides to the allosteric site in SERT.

In a rat study, albizia was found to have similar effects to imipramine (a tricyclic antidepressant) in terms of reducing immobility time. This effect was reversed after administration of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1A/B receptor antagonists, but not after 5-HT1B or 5-HT2A antagonists were given. This suggests that the antidepressant effect of albizia may be specific to its interaction with 5-HT1A receptors.

Flos Albiziae extract (FAE) and quercetin (QR) significantly potentiated pentobarbital-induced sleep by prolonging sleeping time and shortening sleep latency in a dose-dependent manner, and these effects were augmented by administration of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a precursor of 5-HT. With a sub-hypnotic dose of pentobarbital, FAE and QR significantly increased the rate of sleep onset and were synergistic with 5-HTP.

4.2 GABAergic System

Julibroside C1 has anti-anxiety and sleep-inducing effects acting through 5-HT1A and GABA_A benzodiazepine receptors. At 20 mg/kg, a total alkaloid fraction induced anxiolytic-like effects and significantly increased the concentrations of serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and dopamine (DA). These data demonstrated that this fraction exerts sedative-hypnotic and anxiolytic effects via binding to GABA_A receptors and activating the monoaminergic system.

4.3 HPA Axis, BDNF Signaling, and Neuroimmune Modulation

A. julibrissin has been demonstrated to produce multiple antidepressant effects on various divergent pathological systems by modulating monoaminergic neurotransmission, the HPA axis, BDNF signaling cascade, or the neuroimmune system.

An aqueous extract of A. julibrissin at 6 g/kg for 21 days (orally) has been demonstrated to produce antidepressant-like effects on the cAMP-CREB signaling cascade in stressed rat models, subsequently attenuating behavioral abnormalities. In addition, total flavonoids isolated from Albiziae Flos at 25 mg/kg for 21 days (orally) have been shown to increase the expression levels of BDNF and its receptor TrkB in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions, suggesting that the flavonoids possess antidepressant-like activity specifically through regulating BDNF signaling in stressed rat models.

4.4 Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Mechanisms

Julibroside-class compounds are considered to have the potential to modulate immune cells and inhibit the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, thereby exerting immunomodulatory activity. Saponins, a class of glycosidic secondary metabolites abundant in Albizia, exhibit a range of pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, vasoprotective, expectorant, hypocholesterolemic, immunomodulatory, hypoglycemic, and antiparasitic effects.

5. Scientific Evidence by Area of Use

5.1 Anxiety and Mood

Evidence level: Primarily preclinical (animal/in vitro); no completed robust human clinical trials identified.

A. julibrissin has long been utilized in traditional medicine for the management of symptoms associated with insomnia, anxiety, and depression. Several recent pharmacological studies have provided mechanistic evidence to support its therapeutic use. The constituents of A. julibrissin have a diverse range of bioactivities, including antidepressant, anxiolytic, and neuroprotective properties, indicating the potential therapeutic utility of extracts from this plant in the treatment of various pathophysiological conditions, particularly those affecting the central nervous system.

In animal studies, repeated treatment with quercitrin at 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg/day orally for seven days significantly increased the percentage of entries into and time spent on the open arms of the elevated plus maze. In the light/dark box test, quercitrin exerted an anxiolytic-like effect at 5 and 10 mg/kg. In the marble-burying test, quercitrin also exerted an anxiolytic-like effect. Importantly, quercitrin did not affect spontaneous locomotor activity, suggesting specificity of effect.

These data suggest that the anxiolytic-like effects of quercitrin might be mediated by 5-HT1A receptors but not by the benzodiazepine site of GABA_A receptors. However, some traditional applications have not been assessed scientifically due to incomplete methodologies and ambiguous findings. Moreover, no clinical evidence supports the health benefits of these plants, and systematic comprehensive preclinical studies and clinical trials are still required to verify the pharmacological activities, clinical efficacy, and safety of Albizia species.

5.2 Depression

Evidence level: Primarily preclinical (animal models); some clinical formula-based studies in TCM context only.

Total flavonoids isolated from Albizziae Flos were reported to possess antidepressant activities by antagonizing hippocampal apoptosis of the CA3 region in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rats. This reduction in hippocampal apoptosis was found to result from flavonoids-induced increases in 5-HT and norepinephrine (NE) levels, BDNF expression, and a decrease in the expression of Bcl-2.

Some representative A. julibrissin formulas that have been shown to be compatible with conventional antidepressants in clinical practice have been reviewed. However, these are multi-ingredient TCM formulas in which the specific contribution of Albizia cannot be isolated. Albizia julibrissin is used for anxiety, cancer, insomnia, skin infections, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support its use.

5.3 Insomnia and Sedation

Evidence level: Preclinical (animal studies); mechanistic in vitro data; no standalone human RCTs identified.

The flowers of A. julibrissin are used as a sedative in oriental traditional medicine. The phytochemical study allowed the isolation of two flavonol glycosides, quercitrin (1) and isoquercitrin (2). The sedative activity of these compounds was evaluated, and both compounds increased pentobarbital-induced sleeping time in a dose-dependent manner in mice. These results support the use of the flowers of this plant as a sedative agent.

Flos Albiziae is the dry flowers or flower buds of Albizia julibrissin Durazz., which have been used for the treatment of insomnia, amnesia, sore throat, and contusion in traditional oriental medicine. The sedative mechanism appears to involve at least two pathways: potentiation of serotonergic activity and interaction with GABA_A-benzodiazepine receptors, based on animal pharmacology data. These findings remain to be confirmed in human clinical trials.

5.4 Anticancer and Anti-angiogenic Effects

Evidence level: In vitro and limited animal models only; no human clinical evidence.

Julibroside J8, a major triterpenoid isolated from A. julibrissin, has been reported to show varying degrees of antiproliferative activity in six cancer cell lines (BGC-823, Bel-7402, HeLa, PC-3M-IE8, MDA-MB-435, and LH-60) in vitro. Findings of some studies have provided evidence to indicate that julibroside derivatives may exhibit anticancer activity by inducing apoptosis or regulating the cell cycle.

A new triterpenoid saponin, julibroside J28, was isolated from the stem bark of Albizia julibrissin Durazz (Leguminosae) and displayed significant antitumor activity in vitro against PC-3M-1E8, Bel-7402, and HeLa cancer cell lines at 10 µM assayed by SRB method.

The tetrasaccharide and trisaccharide portions of julibroside J28 have been reported to exhibit significant in vitro antitumor activity against HeLa, Bel-7402, and PC-3M-1E8 cancer cell lines. Julibrosides J29, J30, and J31, when administered at a concentration of 10 µM, have been demonstrated to have significant in vitro antitumor activity against PC-3M-1E8, HeLa, and MDA-MB-435 cancer cell lines. The MTT assay also revealed the cytotoxic activity of oleanane-type saponins (julibrosides K-L) and prosapogenins (julibrosides M-O) in human lung (A549), colon (HCT116), stomach (BGC-823), and liver (HepG2) cancer cells.

In the CAM (chorioallantoic membrane) model, julibroside J8 showed concentration-dependent inhibition of angiogenesis at doses ranging from 10 to 50 µg/egg, with an observed percentage inhibition of approximately 64% at 50 µg/egg, whereas at a concentration of 100 µg/egg, ginsenoside Rg3 was found to exhibit 53% inhibition, indicating that julibroside J8 has a more potent antiangiogenic effect than ginsenoside Rg3. Compared with ginsenoside Rg3, in both in vitro and in vivo models, julibroside J8 demonstrated substantial inhibitory effects on angiogenesis at comparatively low concentrations.

All anticancer evidence for Albizia is currently confined to cell culture and animal models. No human clinical trials have been conducted or completed for oncological indications.

5.5 Respiratory and Anti-allergic Effects (A. lebbeck)

Evidence level: Limited human data for A. lebbeck; primarily animal and small clinical studies in the Ayurvedic tradition.

A. lebbeck is a deciduous tree having tremendous medicinal utilities, for example in respiratory, skin, gastrointestinal, oral disorders, eye, urinary, genital, anorectal, inflammatory, and neurological disorders, and venereal diseases. Its crude extract, fraction, and bioactive compounds have exhibited potent antiallergic, anticancer, anticonvulsant, antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antinociceptive, antioxidant, and wound healing activities.

A 2010 study entitled "The Clinical Effect of Albizia lebbeck Stem Bark Decoction on Bronchial Asthma," published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, investigated the clinical efficacy of A. lebbeck stem bark decoction (Shireesh Twak Kwatha) in treating bronchial asthma; 81 patients were given this medicine three times a day for six weeks while also following a light diet. The researchers measured patient-reported symptoms, breathing function, and lung capacity. This study is notable as a clinical investigation but lacks the methodological rigor (e.g., randomization, blinding, placebo control) required for high-confidence conclusions.

5.6 Immunomodulatory and Vaccine-Adjuvant Effects

Evidence level: Animal studies only.

In animal models, antigen-specific antibody titers to an inactivated H9N2 avian influenza vaccine formed significantly faster and higher with the use of a purified mimosa saponin fraction compared to the commercial oil adjuvant, with significant responses documented at 7, 10, and 14 days after a single vaccination dose. Similarly, the addition of the purified mimosa saponin fraction as a vaccine adjuvant led to significant increases in antigen-specific antibody titers to the Newcastle disease virus-based recombinant influenza vaccine.

5.7 Antidiabetic and Hepatoprotective Activity

Evidence level: In vitro only.

Compounds extracted from A. julibrissin bark (Albiziae cortex extract) significantly reversed free fatty acid-induced lipogenesis in hepatocytes in vitro. High glucose-induced oxidative stress was also mitigated by 3 of the 5 compounds extracted. These in vitro findings suggest a potential role in metabolic and hepatic protection, but no human data exist.

6. Body Systems and Health Areas

A. julibrissin and related species have been investigated, at varying levels of evidence, across the following body systems and health domains:

• Central Nervous System: Comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies across various cell lines and animal models have demonstrated its notable antidepressant, anxiolytic, and neuroprotective effects.
• Sleep: Albizziae cortex (AC), the stem bark of Albizia julibrissin, has been widely used for the treatment of insomnia in traditional Chinese medicine as a sedative and anti-inflammatory agent.
• Oncology (preclinical only): In modern pharmacology, A. julibrissin exhibits marked inhibitory activity against certain cancer cell lines in vitro, suggesting that it may be used as an anti-tumor agent.
• Immune and Respiratory System: The genus is known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-histaminic, anti-anaphylactic, anti-asthmatic, and anti-microbial activities.
• Musculoskeletal and Wound Healing: The extract of A. julibrissin has demonstrated efficacy in addressing a range of traumatic conditions, including bruises, ulcers, abscesses, burns, hemorrhoids, and fractures, with its antimicrobial and antiparasitic properties documented in several studies.
• Metabolic and Hepatic: Anti-obesity, antidiabetic, and lipogenesis-inhibiting effects have been reported in preclinical models (see above).
• Reproductive System: The Albizia species have been reported to exhibit antiovulatory properties in female rats and antispermatogenic and antiandrogenic activities in male rats.

7. Dosage Forms and Reported Dosages

Traditionally, albizia bark is soaked in water for at least 20–30 minutes, then decocted in non-metallic pots together with one or more other herbs on a low-to-moderate heat for around 20–30 minutes. Nowadays, it is also prepared in powder and tincture form.

The following dosages appear in the referenced literature. These are not clinical recommendations; they represent dosages cited in traditional practice or animal research:

• Traditional TCM decoction (bark): Dosage for albizia bark may be much higher in some instances; for example, for its use in panic attacks with severe insomnia, up to 60 g has been recommended.
• Ayurvedic dosages (A. lebbeck): Powder 3–6 grams per day; water decoction 50–100 ml; fresh juice 10–20 ml.
• Animal study dosages: In one key preclinical study, quercitrin was administered at 5.0 mg/kg for 7 days orally, producing anxiolytic effects in animal models; effects were blocked by the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY-100635 at 3.0 mg/kg. An aqueous extract of A. julibrissin at 6 g/kg for 21 days orally produced antidepressant-like effects on cAMP-CREB signaling in stressed rat models.
• Established human dosage range: The appropriate dose of Albizia julibrissin depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for Albizia julibrissin.

8. Safety Considerations and Drug Interactions

8.1 General Safety Profile

When taken by mouth or applied to the skin, there is not enough reliable information to know if Albizia julibrissin is safe or what the side effects might be. A comprehensive in-depth toxicological study on the Albizia species is lacking. It is particularly important to evaluate the acute and long-term toxicities of the extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds from the Albizia species in detail in various animal models to inaugurate its safety profile before future clinical studies.

8.2 Sedation

Albizia might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Taking Albizia julibrissin along with sedative medications might lead to drowsiness. Caution should be taken if using sedative medication. Taking Albizia julibrissin along with sedative medications might cause too much sleepiness; relevant sedative medications include pentobarbital (Nembutal), phenobarbital (Luminal), secobarbital (Seconal), clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), and zolpidem (Ambien), among others.

8.3 Surgery

Albizia julibrissin might affect the central nervous system. It might increase the effects of anesthesia and other medications on the brain during and after surgery. Users should stop taking Albizia julibrissin at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

8.4 Pregnancy and Lactation

Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. Animal research has shown that saponins from Cortex Albiziae elicited maternal toxicity in the ovary and the uterus; the rates of implantation in the early, middle, and late pregnancy were all decreased, with stillbirths and maternal deaths observed. On the basis of this preclinical reproductive toxicity evidence, use during pregnancy is generally contraindicated in herbal practice traditions.

8.5 Reproductive Toxicity

Studies have shown that Albizia julibrissin exhibits antifertility properties, primarily by affecting the reproductive system, with evidence that the active compounds — particularly saponins and alkaloids — are responsible. The Albizia species have been reported to exhibit antiovulatory properties in female rats and antispermatogenic and antiandrogenic activities in male rats. These findings have direct safety implications for individuals of reproductive age seeking to conceive.

8.6 Toxic Parts

The seed pods of Albizia julibrissin are long, flat, and toxic. The seed pods are not used medicinally and should be distinguished clearly from the bark and flower preparations that form the basis of traditional use.

8.7 CNS Drug Interactions

Given the plant's demonstrated activity at serotonin transporters (SERT) and serotonin receptors, a theoretical risk of pharmacodynamic interaction exists with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and other centrally acting agents. SAG, a lignan glycoside isolated from A. julibrissin, is a potent inhibitor of SERT, providing evidence to understand its molecular basis and mechanism of action as an antidepressant or anxiolytic drug. This SERT-inhibiting mechanism is pharmacologically analogous to that of SSRI antidepressants, suggesting a potential for additive or synergistic CNS effects when combined with such agents, though clinical interaction data are unavailable.

8.8 Evidence Gaps

Despite numerous reported benefits, a comprehensive systematic review that synthesizes recent advancements in the pharmacological and phytochemical research on A. julibrissin is lacking. No clinical evidence yet supports the health benefits of these plants, and systematic and comprehensive preclinical studies and clinical trials are still required to verify the pharmacological activities, clinical efficacy, and safety of Albizia species. Further research on natural pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacokinetics, and quality standards are still required to verify the efficacy and safety for future clinical applications.

References

• Pharmacological Spectrum of Substances Derived from Albizia julibrissin Durazz — PMC / International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2025)
• Isolation and Identification of Lignans and Other Phenolic Constituents from the Stem Bark of Albizia julibrissin Durazz — Molecules / PMC (2020)
• Two Lignan Glycosides from Albizia julibrissin Durazz. Noncompetitively Inhibit Serotonin Transporter — PMC (2022)
• Involvement of 5-HT1A Receptors in the Anxiolytic-Like Effects of Quercitrin and Evidence of the Involvement of the Monoaminergic System — Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine / PMC (2016)
• Molecular basis and mechanism of action of Albizia julibrissin in depression treatment and clinical application of its formulae — PubMed / Chinese Herbal Medicines (2023)
• Total saponins from Albizia julibrissin inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor-mediated angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo — PMC (2015)
• An antitumor compound julibroside J28 from Albizia julibrissin — PubMed / Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters (2005)
• Sedative activity of two flavonol glycosides isolated from the flowers of Albizzia julibrissin Durazz — PubMed / Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2000)
• Flos Albiziae aqueous extract and its active constituent quercetin potentiate the hypnotic effect of pentobarbital via the serotonergic system — PMC (2015)
• Anxiolytic effects of Julibroside C1 isolated from Albizzia julibrissin in mice — ScienceDirect / Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry (2013)
• The ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of genus Albizia: A review — ScienceDirect / Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2020)
• The reproductive toxicity of saponins isolated from Cortex Albiziae in female mice — ScienceDirect / Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine (2015)
• A Comprehensive Insight into the Phytochemical, Pharmacological Potential, and Traditional Medicinal Uses of Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth — PMC / Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2022)
• Albizia julibrissin: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews — WebMD Vitamins & Supplements
• Albizia (Albizia julibrissin): Benefits, Safety, Uses — Herbal Reality
• Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) Uses, Benefits & Dosage — Drugs.com Natural Products Database