Albizia julibrissin Rosea (Silktree)

Albizia julibrissin (Silktree or Persian silk tree), is a perennial tree shrub from the fabaceae family. It is only recently that scientist discovered that the extract of Albizia julibrissin flowers exerted anti-obesity properties by inhibiting adipogenesis [1], the process by which our organisms generate fat cells. Image left: Mimosa americana, Mimosa tree (Albizia julibrissin) by pizzodisevo under Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-SA 2.0).

In the mentioned study, the extract of Albizia julibrissin inhibited adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes (cells that still didn't become fat cells of adipocytes). This opened a potential line of study for the use of this herb as anti-obesity agent.

Other characteristics of Silk tree included anti-angiogenetic (the process involved in the generation of certain types of cancer), and cytotoxic properties [2].

ALBIZIA JULIBRISSIN

Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Albizia
Common name: Pink siris, Persian silk tree, Lenkoran acacia, bastard tamarind, mimosa, silk tree [1], mimosa tree [14].

ALBIZIA JULIBRISSIN ROSEA ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS

Among the active constituents isolated from the stem bark of

Albizia julibrissin we can mention the triterpenoid saponins, julibroside J(29), julibroside J(30), and julibroside J(31), which displayed significant anti-tumor activities in vitro against PC-3M-1E8, HeLa, and MDA-MB-435 cancer cell lines [10]. The active constituent Julibroside J(21) showed marked inhibitory action against Bel-7402 cancer cell line [7].  Last but not least quercitrin [5], flavonol glycosides, isoquercitrin (2) [12], were also found in Albizia julibrissin.

In spite Albizia julibrissin is not one of the top ten herbs in what refers to its use in traditional medicinal remedies, some are still worth mentioning.

ALBIZIA JULIBRISSIN ROSEA PROPERTIES

ALBIZIA JULIBRISSIN FOR INSOMNIA

Traditional herbal remedies against insomnia in Chinese medicine became very popular in the past. A well known remedy for insomnia in Chinese medicine included Albizia julibrissin as part of the most commonly prescribed triple drug combination for that purpose, together with Suan-zao-ren-tang, and P. multiflorum, traditionally used in China for insomnia [3]. Bark, leaves and flowers are part of many traditional herbal remedies in Chine [14], from where this herb is native.

ANTI-TUMOR PROPERTIES OF PERSIAN SILK TREE

The anti-tumor properties of a compound extracted from Albizia julibrissin, Julibroside J(28), isolated from Albizia julibrissin showed an important and very significant in vitro anti-tumor activity against HeLa, Bel-7402 and PC-3M-1E8 cancer cell lines [4] and PC-3M-1E8, Bel-7402, and HeLa cancer cell lines in vitro [11]. The same component were also evaluated for anti-proliferative effects on six cancer cell lines (BGC-823, Bel-7402, HeLa, PC-3MIE8, MDA-MB-435 and LH-60) in vitro [8]. The anti-tumor activity of the mimosa plant was also part of another study on which the cytotoxic effect of Silk tree extract on human acute leukemia Jurkat T cells was evaluated [9]. 

Other active constituents isolated from the stem bark of Albizia julibrissin as the triterpenoid saponins, julibroside J(29), julibroside J(30), and julibroside J(31) displayed significant anti-tumor activities in vitro against PC-3M-1E8, HeLa, and MDA-MB-435 cancer cell lines [10]. The active constituent Julibroside J(21) showed marked inhibitory action against Bel-7402 cancer cell line [7].  Last but not least quercitrin [5], flavonol glycosides, isoquercitrin (2) [12]were also found in Albizia julibrissin.

ANTIDEPRESSANT AND SEDATIVE EFFECTS OF ALBIZIA JULIBRISSIN FLOWER EXTRACTS

The use of mimosa flower extracts as a sedative and antidepressant agent was documented. The two flavonol glycosides, quercitrin (1) and isoquercitrin (2). exerted sedative effects by the pentobarbital-induced sleeping time. The flowers of the plant are a known sedative agent [12]. The methylene chloride fraction of Albizia julibrissin exerted anti-depressant like effects in studies on mice [6].

REFERENCES

[1] Tadahiro Yahagi, Akihiro Daikonya and Susumu Kitanaka, “Flavonol Acylglycosides from Flower of Albizia julibrissin and Their Inhibitory Effects on Lipid Accumulation in 3T3-L1 Cells”, Chem. Pharm. Bull., Vol. 60, 129-136 (2012)

[2] Anti-angiogenic activity of julibroside J8, a natural product isolated from Albizia julibrissin. Hua H, Feng L, Zhang XP, Zhang LF, Jin J. Laboratory of Natural Medicine, School of Medicine and Pharmaceutics, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, PR China.

[3] Prescriptions of Chinese Herbal Medicines for Insomnia in Taiwan during 2002. Chen FP, Jong MS, Chen YC, Kung YY, Chen TJ, Chen FJ, Hwang SJ. Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Sec. 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan, ROC.

[4] Synthesis of a tetra- and a trisaccharide related to an anti-tumor saponin "Julibroside J28" from Albizia julibrissin. Roy B, Pramanik K, Mukhopadhyay B. Medicinal and Process Chemistry Division, Central Drug Research Institute, Chattar Manzil Palace, Lucknow, 226 001 Uttar Pradesh, India.

[5] Effect of Albizia julibrissin water extracts on low-density lipoprotein oxidization. Vaughn K, McClain C, Carrier DJ, Wallace S, King J, Nagarajan S, Clausen E. Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Arkansas, 203 Engineering Hall, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA.

[6] Antidepressant-like effects of Albizzia julibrissin in mice: involvement of the 5-HT1A receptor system. Kim JH, Kim SY, Lee SY, Jang CG. Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea.

[7] A cytotoxic saponin from Albizia julibrissin. Zou K, Zhao YY, Zhang RY. Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Product Research and Development, Chemistry and Life Science College, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, P.R. China.

[9] Induction of apoptosis in human acute leukemia Jurkat T cells by Albizzia julibrissin extract is mediated via mitochondria-dependent caspase-3 activation. Won HJ, Han CH, Kim YH, Kwon HJ, Kim BW, Choi JS, Kim KH. Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, College of Natural Science, Dongeui University, Busan 614-714, Republic of Korea.

[10] Three anti-tumor saponins from Albizia julibrissin. Zheng L, Zheng J, Zhao Y, Wang B, Wu L, Liang H. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.

[11] An antitumor compound julibroside J28 from Albizia julibrissin. Liang H, Tong WY, Zhao YY, Cui JR, Tu GZ. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.

[12] Sedative activity of two flavonol glycosides isolated from the flowers of Albizzia julibrissin Durazz. Kang TH, Jeong SJ, Kim NY, Higuchi R, Kim YC. College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, 570-749, Iksan, South Korea.

[13] Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albizia_julibrissin).

[14] The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown Ups By Gina Ingoglia