Albizzia

What is Albizzia?

Albizzia is a great herb for seasonal allergies and upper respiratory tract infections.

The mechanism of action is on the mast cells directly, thus inhibiting the histamine release responsible for the symptoms of allergies. In order for this to be most effective, albizzia must be taken prior to exposure to the allergen.

Further uses of albizzia is towards diabetes through its protective effect on the islet of langerhans in the pancreas. These are the cells responsible for secreting insulin to the body.

Indications

• Allergic asthma
• Allergic Rhinitis
• Diabetes
• Eczema
• Hypercholesterolemia
• Male Infertility

Cautions & Safety

None reported ^{1Reference 1Bone · 2003A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs: Herbal formulations for the individual patient}

Due to the anti-spermatogenic activity of Albizia ^{9Reference 9Gupta RS et al. · 2004AnimalAntifertility effects of methanolic pod extract of Albizia lebbeck Benth. in male rats}, avoid use if trying to conceive.

What Is Albizzia Used For?

Albizzia is used as a herbal antihistamine and mild sedative. It’s primarily used in Western herbal medicine for coughs, asthma, and seasonal allergies.

Traditional Uses

Ayurveda

In the Ayurvedic medical system, albizia bark and flowers were used (and still are) to treat conditions such as bronchitis, asthma, allergic disorders, leprosy, eczema, pruritus, paralysis, inflammation of the gums, inflammatory conditions, arthritis, and infection of parasitic worms ^{1,11Reference 1Bone · 2003A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs: Herbal formulations for the individual patientReference 11Mudaliar KSM · 1936Siddha Materia Medica}.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Pinyin

He Huan Pi

Taste

Sweet ^{15Reference 15Wu · 2005An illustrated Chinese materia medica}

Energy

Neutral ^{15Reference 15Wu · 2005An illustrated Chinese materia medica}

Channels

Heart and Liver ^{15Reference 15Wu · 2005An illustrated Chinese materia medica}

Action

Releives depression, tranquilizes the mind, promotes blood circulation to induce swelling ^{15Reference 15Wu · 2005An illustrated Chinese materia medica}.

Indications

Depression, restlessness due to defficiency, poor memory, insomnia ^{15Reference 15Wu · 2005An illustrated Chinese materia medica}.

Combinations

Bai Zi ren (For depression) ^{15Reference 15Wu · 2005An illustrated Chinese materia medica}. Dang gui, Chuan Xiong (For fractures). Pu Gong Ying, Ye Ju Hua (For carbuncles).

Dose

10-15g decocted in water orally ^{15Reference 15Wu · 2005An illustrated Chinese materia medica}.

Botanical Information

Albizzia trees can be found the world over. It is contained in the Leguminosae family, which accounts for all the legumes including soy and peas. Nearly every continent except Antarctica has its own species of Albizzia.

Phytochemistry

Albizzia’s anti-allergic, mast-cell-stabilising reputation rests on two groups: triterpenoid saponins (echinocystic-, oleanolic- and acacic-acid glycosides, e.g. the lebbeck-saponins) and a set of flavonoids, including the heartwood flavonol melanoxetin and the leucoanthocyanidins melacacidin and lebbecacidin ^{1,2Reference 1Bone · 2003A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs: Herbal formulations for the individual patientReference 2Yadav S.S et al. · 2011Pharmacognostical Screening and Phytochemical Evaluation of Albizia lebbeck Benth}. The bark and seeds also carry tannins, the cyclitol d-pinitol, and macrocyclic spermine (alkaloids) of the budmunchiamine type ^{2Reference 2Yadav S.S et al. · 2011Pharmacognostical Screening and Phytochemical Evaluation of Albizia lebbeck Benth}.

The saponins share the triterpene sapogenin echinocystic acid on hydrolysis, which is thought to underlie much of the mast-cell and anti-inflammatory activity ^{2Reference 2Yadav S.S et al. · 2011Pharmacognostical Screening and Phytochemical Evaluation of Albizia lebbeck Benth}.

Constituent Summary

Figures are for stem bark (mg/g of extract) unless noted; heartwood flavonoids are reported qualitatively. Quantities vary widely with plant part, source and extraction ^{2Reference 2Yadav S.S et al. · 2011Pharmacognostical Screening and Phytochemical Evaluation of Albizia lebbeck Benth}.

Pharmacology & Medical Research

Allergies

A lot of research on albizia’s anti-allergic effects were conducted in the ’70s and ’80s which discovered that albizia was able to inhibit many of the early processes of sensitization. More specifically, albizia was reported to decrease the amount of T-cell, and B-cell activity. It’s also discovered to have a stabilizing effect on the mast cells. ^{1Reference 1Bone · 2003A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs: Herbal formulations for the individual patient}.

Albizzia has been shown to reduce asthma symptoms in 94% of patients in a single-blinded study ^{5Reference 5Kumar S et al. · 2010Clinical efficacy of Albizia lebbeck stem bark decoction on Bronchial asthma, International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Drug Research}. These effects were thought to be due to albizzias ability to stabilize mast cells and prevent degranulation and subsequent release of histamine and leukotrienes. This has been proven to be possible through in vitro research ^{12Reference 12Tripathi SN · 1979Effect of histamine and Albizzia lebbek Benth. on guinea pig adrenal glands}.

Diabetes

Another species of Albizia, Albizia odoratissima was shown to possess anti-diabetic actions in alloxan-induced diabetic mice ^{14Reference 14Kumar D et al. · 2011AnimalAntidiabetic activity of methanolic bark extract of Albizia odoratissima Benth. in alloxan induced diabetic albino mice}. Due to the confirmed hypoglycemic activity of Albizia lebbeck as well ^{13Reference 13Kumar D et al. · 2013AnimalHypoglycaemic activity of bark extracts of Albizia lebbeck Benth. in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats}, it is likely that both of these species possess similar actions towards diabetes.

In a different study, Albizia lebbeck was investigated for its anti-diabetic activity. The study found that Albizia lebbeck was able to protect the pancreatic islet of Langerhans cells from oxidative damage ^{10Reference 10Ahmed et al. · 2014AnimalAntidiabetic, renal/hepatic/pancreas/cardiac protective and antioxidant potential of methanol/dichloromethane extract of Albizzia Lebbeck Benth. stem bark (ALEx) on streptozotocin induced diabetic ratsView study →}. This suggests a protective effect against diabetes mellitus due to fatty deposits and destruction in the pancreas.

Clinical Applications

The stem bark of albizzia is used as a strong decoction or liquid extract to treat a wide range of respiratory-related conditions. The most effective use of albizzia towards allergies is achieved by treating before exposure to the allergen.

References

1. Bone, K. (2003). A clinical guide to blending liquid herbs: Herbal formulations for the individual patient. Edinburgh, Churchill Livingstone. (Pg. 59-60).
2. Yadav S.S, Galib, Prajpati P.K, Harisha C.R. (2011). Pharmacognostical Screening and Phytochemical Evaluation of Albizia lebbeck Benth. Heartwood. Asian Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 1(5). 1-6.
3. Paramanic KC, Bhattacharya P, Chatterjee TK and Mandal SC. (2005). Anti-inflammatory activities of methanol extract of Albizia lebbeck bark. European Bull Drug Reser. 13:71-74.
4. Tripathi RM, Sen PC, Das PK, (1979). Studies on the mechanism of action of Albizzia lebbeck, an Indian indigenous drug used in the treatment of atopic allergy. J Ethnopharmacol. 1(4):385-396.
5. Kumar S, Bansal P, Gupta V, S and R, Rao MM., (2010). Clinical efficacy of Albizia lebbeck stem bark decoction on Bronchial asthma, International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Drug Research. 2(1):48-50.
6. Shyamlal Singh Yadav, Galib, Prajapati PK, Ravishankar B, Ashok BK. (2010). Evaluation of Anti-tussive activity of Shirishavaleha –An Ayurvedic Herbal Compound Formulation in Sulphur Dioxide induced Cough in mice, Indian Drugs, 47(9):38-41
7. Resmi CR., (2006). Antioxidant activity of albizia lebbeck in alloxan diabetic rats. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 50(3): 297-302
8. Kasture VS, Pal SC, (1996). Anticonvulsant activity of Albizzia lebbeck leaves, Indian journal of Experimental 34(1):78-80.
9. Gupta RS, Kachhawa JB and Chaudhary R., (2004). Antifertility effects of methanolic pod extract of Albizia lebbeck Benth. in male rats. Asian J. Androl. 6(2): 155-159.
10. Ahmed, D., Kumar, V., Verma, A., Gupta, P. S., Kumar, H., Dhingra, V., Sharma, M. (2014). Antidiabetic, renal/hepatic/pancreas/cardiac protective and antioxidant potential of methanol/dichloromethane extract of Albizzia Lebbeck Benth. stem bark (ALEx) on streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine,14(1), 243. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-14-243
11. Mudaliar KSM. (1936). Siddha Materia Medica. Chennai: Department of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy; 799–800.
12. Tripathi SN, Shukla P. (1979). Effect of histamine and Albizzia lebbek Benth. on guinea pig adrenal glands. Indian J Exp Biol. 17:915–917.
13. Kumar D, Dash GK, Tripathy NK. (2013). Hypoglycaemic activity of bark extracts of Albizia lebbeck Benth. in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Int J Pharm Sci Rev Res. 18(2):28–32.
14. Kumar D, Kumar S, Kohli S, Arya R, Gupta J. (2011). Antidiabetic activity of methanolic bark extract of Albizia odoratissima Benth. in alloxan induced diabetic albino mice. Asian Pac J Trop Med. 4:900–903.
15. Wu, J. N. (2005). An illustrated Chinese materia medica. New York: Oxford University Press. (Pg. 56-57).