Indian Medicinal Plants

30 Albizia lebbeck (Linn.) Willd.
A
be due to pithecolibine alkaloids, budmunchiamines.
Budmunchiamines
are antibacterial, and they inhibit platelet
aggregation and human lymphocyte
transformation. They also show
anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity.
The leaves contain prodelphinidins,
myricitrin, hyperin, quercitrin, transp-coumaric
acid, cis-p-coumaric acid
and trans-ferulic acid.
The seeds contain echinocystic acid
and taxifolin-3-O-beta-D xylopyranosyl-beta-D-arbinopyranoside.
The oil from the seeds is said to cure
leprosy and leucoderma.
Albizia lebbeck (Linn.) Willd.
Family ◮ Mimosaceae.
Habitat ◮ All over India, from the
plains up to 900 m in the Himalayas;
also in the Andamans.
English ◮ Siris tree, East Indian
walnut.
Ayurvedic ◮ Shirisha, Bhandi,
Bhandila, Shitapushpa, Mridupushpa,
Kapitana (bark—dusty
black).
Unani ◮ Siras.
Siddha/Tamil ◮ Vaagei.
Action ◮ Antiseptic, antibacterial,
antiallergic, antidermatosis,
antidysenteric. Bark—used in bronchitis;
bark and seeds in piles; root
in hemicrania; flowers in cough,
bronchitis, tropical pulmonary
eosinophilia, and asthma. Pod—
antiprotozoal.
Along with other therapeutic applications,
The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia
of India indicates the use of stembark
in rhinitis, sinusitis and migraine.
Analysis of the plant revealed the
presence of flavonoids, triterpenoids
and triterpenoid saponins; oleanolic
acid, albigenic acid, albigenin and
acacic acid. The bark contains 7–11%
condensed tannin; also d-catechin and
d-leucocyanidin.
Aqueous extract of the bark decreased
histamine-induced bronchospasm
in guinea pigs.
Alcoholic extract of stembark contains
cardenolide glycosides of digitoxin
nature. It showed antidermatophytic
activity. Anthraquinone glycosides
and its aglycone exhibited antibacterial
activity.
A saponin from seeds exhibited
spermicidal activity in animals. EtOH
(50%) extract of pods was found to
be spermicidal against rat and human
spermatozoa at 2% concentration.
The therapeutic properties of Albizia
julibrissin Durazz, Pink Siris, found in
the outer Himalayas from the Indus
eastwards to Sikkim, are the same as
those of A. lebbeck.
Dosage ◮ Stembark—3–6 g powder.
20–50 g for decoction. (API
Vol. III.)
Albizia procera Benth.
Family ◮ Mimosaceae.
Habitat ◮ All over India.
Ayurvedic ◮ Shveta Shirisha (bark—
white or greenish-white).