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Albizia lebbeck has been a medicinally important plant for its pharmacological potential. This study aims to determine the in vitro antioxidant, anti-diabetic and anti-lipidemic potential of A. lebbeck seeds. The seed extracts were prepared in petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol. Crude methanolic extract (ME ext) was subjected further to sequential fractionation in increasing polarity based solvents. Extracts and fractions were analyzed for their antioxidant, anti-diabetic and anti-lipidemic potentials using hepatic cell line, HepG2. Results showed that crude extracts of A. lebbeck seeds specifically, ME ext are rich in polyphenols and flavonoids. ME ext has also shown highly significant antioxidant and alpha-amylase inhibition potential compared to petroleum ether and chloroform extracts. In vitro assays using different fractions of methanolic extract further highlighted the ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions exhibiting significant antioxidant and anti-diabetic potentials. Alpha-amylase inhibition coupled with enhanced glucose uptake of cells treated with ME ext and ethyl acetate fraction emphasized on significant anti-diabetic potential of the plant. Expression alteration of genes and reduced level of cholesterol suggested the lipid synthesis mediated anti-diabetic activity of the plant. It is therefore, concluded that A. lebbeck seed has significant antioxidant, anti-diabetic and antilipidemic potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vector-borne diseases are mostly transmitted by mosquitoes. Therefore, these mosquitoes constitute a socio-economic scourge. Due to the resistance of mosquitoes to synthetic chemical insecticides and the pollution they generate, this study was conducted to assess the larvicidal activity of plant crude extracts on larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus. Results: Bioassays performed on larvae shown that the extract of Calotropis procera at 0.6 mg/mL recorded the highest mortality rate of 100% for L1, L2 and L3. However, the extract of Albizia lebbeck at 0.7 mg/mL recorded the highest mortality rate of 100% for all the four stages of larvae. Negative and positive controls recorded 16% and 100% mortalities, respectively, after 24 h of exposure. The extract of Calotropis procera recorded LC50 values as follows: 0.194, 0.251, 0.258 and 0.284 mg/mL for L1, L2, L3 and L4, respectively. The LC90 of Calotropis procera were: 0.340, 0.433, 0.444 and 0.502 mg/mL for L1, L2, L3 and L4, respectively. In contrast, the extract of Albizia lebbeck recorded the following LC50: 0.238, 0.264, 0.290 and 0.316 mg/mL for L1, L2, L3 and L4, respectively. Also, its LC90 were: 0.456, 0.498, 0.531 and 0.580 mg/mL, respectively, to L1, L2, L3 and L4. Conclusion: The larvicidal bioassays performed revealed that these plant extracts have significant larvicidal properties. In the framework of fighting against vector-borne diseases, these two plants constitute alternative products to control mosquitoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan comprises of lowest forest resources and its southern region is facing the worst deforest conditions. Farm forests are providing 90% fuelwood and 76% timber wood of the country's demand but the forest cover area is declining day by day. Therefore, it is the need of time to promote agroforestry on private lands to meet the requirements of the community for tangible and intangible purposes. The objective of this study was to identify the uses and benefits of less familiar tree species such as Terminalia arjuna and Albizia lebbeck by visiting timber merchants, farmers, nursery owners and traditional healers locally known as Hakims. Data were collected from 11 different localities of the Multan division of Southern Punjab. The results indicated that both species were preferred by the grower for specific uses: A. lebbeck is preferably grown on agricultural lands due to more market value, fuelwood and fodder demand, but T. arjuna was found to be important for hakims and was reported as more important medicinal plant than A. lebbeck. An important source of information in the study area about tree cultivation was the neighbor farmers (42.2%) and major problems were lack of technical assistance (28.7%) and less availability of seedlings (22%). To overcome the pressure of wood production by some specific tree species, the government should focus on the planting of T arjuna and other fast-growing trees. Moreover, the Government should also give incentives, financial subsidies, and market assistance to the farmers to promote the cultivation of less familiar fast-growing trees in conventional farming systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the stem bark of Albizia lebbeck and Acacia nilotica was investigated for antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxicity assay. The powdered stem bark was extracted successively with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol solution. The crude extracts were subjected to antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxicity assay by using disc diffusion method, DPPH and hydroxyl free radical scavenging assay, and brine shrimp lethality test, respectively. The petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts of both plants showed the most prominent activity in antimicrobial susceptibility test as compared to methanol extracts. These extracts showed moderate activity against the Bacillus subtilis , Staphylococcus aureus , Vibrio mimicus , Salmonella typhi , Shigella dysenteriae , Candida arrizae and Aspergillus niger . The zone of inhibition against the tested bacteria and fungi were 11–14 mm and 8–10 mm, respectively. The ethyl acetate extract of both plants showed the highest antioxidant and cytotoxic activity when compared with that of petroleum ether and methanol extracts. All the tested extracts showed higher free radical scavenging activity than that of the standard, ascorbic acid. In compared with A. lebbeck , A. nilotica was found to have the lower IC 50 value which was 74.29 µg/ml and 68.03 µg/ml in DPPH and hydroxyl free radical scavenging assay, respectively. The LC 50 value was 42.36 and 37.32 µg/ml for the ethyl acetate extract of A. lebbeck and A. nilotica , respectively. We suggest further study for the identification of active compounds from the bark extracts of A. lebbeck and A. nilotica . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses batch experiment to compare the binding efficiency of phosphate onto Albizia lebbeck (ALB) pod with and without citric acid (CALB) or tartaric acid (TALB) modification. The residual phosphate concentration was analyzed using ascorbic acid method and the generated data were fitted into equilibrium isotherms and kinetics models. Intra-particle diffusion model was used to describe the biosorption mechanism. Characterization by FTIR spectroscopy and SEM shows that modification was successful. The maximum biosorption capacity occurred at biosorbent dosage of 0.5 g for ALB and 1.0 g for CALB and TALB. At optimum pH for each biosorbents, phosphate biosorption capacity is in the order ALB>CALB>TALB. Equilibrium time of 90, 150 and 60 minutes were recorded for phosphate on ALB, CALB and TALB respectively. The biosorption capacity increases as the initial anion concentration increases with highest biosorption capacity of 5.296 mg/g for ALB. Langmuir isotherm describes CALB data while TALB data fits Freundlich. Results from this study suggest that unmodified Albizia lebbeck can be used as a low-cost, highly-efficient biosorbent for phosphate removal in effluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spasms are involuntary muscular contractions commonly seen frequently. This study used isolated tissue preparations to test the efficacy of Albizia lebbeck (A.L) and Emblica officinalis (E.O) extracts for spasmolytic activity. The herbal extracts were tested in isolated guinea pig ileum, rat uterus, rat fundus, and rabbit jejunum. Histamine was used as spasmogen in guinea pig ileum, while 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was in rat uterus and rat fundus. Spontaneous contractions' amplitude and frequency were recorded in the rabbit jejunum after administering herbal extracts. The influence of the extracts on smooth muscle contraction was calculated and statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA. The P value was kept at <0.05 for all statistical analyses to consider it significant. Observation from the present study indicated that A.L significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced the contraction induced by histamine and 5-HT in guinea pig ileum (50 mcg/ml) and rat fundus (150 mcg/ml), respectively. In the rabbit jejunum, the amplitude and frequency of contraction were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced at 500 mcg/ml. E.O. was found to suppress the spasmogenic (histamine and 5-HT) at doses beyond 150 mcg/ml and, in rabbit jejunum, enhanced the amplitude and frequency of contraction at 50 and 150 mcg/ml. The IC 50 values for E.O. in guinea pig ileum, rat uterus, and rat fundus were 35.2, 50.3, and 124.7 mcg/ml, respectively. The observation suggests that A.L enhanced smooth muscle contraction in the presence of known spasmogens and reduced it in the absence. Opposite effects were found for E.O. , where it reduced contraction in the presence of spasmogens and increased in the absence. These findings suggest potential spasmogenic/spasmolytic activities of the tested extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an unadorned disease affected via the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which has become the most infectious diseases worldwide. HIV-1 RT has been shown to be present in the cardiac tissue of patients with HIV-associated infective endocarditis, and to be associated with the development of valvular lesions and other cardiac abnormalities. The use of anti-retroviral therapies has helped to control the virus and reduce the incidence of HIV-1 associated infective endocarditis. Though, these treatments have several adjacent effects, and the improvement of drug-resistant stresses of the virus has become a significant challenge in HIV treatment. This study is to identify A. lebbeck phytoconstituents with HIV-1 RT inhibitory activity for potential therapeutic use against HIV-1 RT associated with infective endocarditis. We performed in silico and in vitro screening of natural cardiovascular phytoconstituents from Albizia lebbeck , a medicinal plant that has been traditionally used for the management of numerous diseases. The in silico results showed that all three compounds (geraldone, luteolin, and isookanin) exhibited affinities of solid binidng to the active amino acids of HIV-1 RT's DNA-polymerase (DNA-p) and Ribonuclease-H (RNA-H) active positions, suggesting their potential as HIV-1 RT inhibitors. In vitro assessment of the three compounds at a concentration of 1 mg/mL revealed that Geraldone exhibited the most effective inhibitory consequence on HIV-1 RT activity (83.45%), followed by Isookanin (75.88%) and Luteolin (66.36%). These findings suggest that these compounds have the potential to inhibit HIV-1 RT associated with infective endocarditis and could assist as main compounds for emerging unique anti-HIV-1 agents. Further studies are needed to confirm the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of these molecules and assess their safety and efficiency as anti-HIV-1 drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surti goat kids were selected as experimental animals to evaluate the effects of replacing Albizia lebbeck (AL) and Terminalia arjuna (TA) leaves with conventional green fodder (jowar) on growth and blood biochemical parameters. Control (T1) animals were fed basal diet including 200 g green jowar, which was replaced with AL and TA tree leaves in T2 and T3; while each of 100 and 150 g of AL and TA leaves were fed to kids of treatment groups of T4 and T5, respectively. Results revealed that the DM intake was alike between the treatments. Growth rate was found (P<0.05) higher in TA leaves fed (T3) group (45.04±0.56 g). Blood biochemical parameters, serum minerals and enzyme activity (ALT and AST) were comparable and remained in normal range among the experimental kids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel β-lactam derivative, albactam, was isolated from the alcoholic extract of the flowers of Albizia lebbeck. It showed a significant anti-aggregatory activity against adenosine diphosphate and arachidonic acid induced guinea-pigs' platelets aggregation in vitro. Six more known compounds were also isolated and fully characterized by measuring 1D and 2D NMR, two of them are the triterpenes β- amyrin and 11α, 12α-oxidotaraxerol, two ceramide derivatives and two flavonoids, kampferol 3-O-rutinoside and rutin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we report multiple molecular forms of Albizia lebbeck trypsin inhibitors (AlTIs) by using a simple and sensitive gel X-ray film contact print technique. About 17 AlTIs were detected in the seed extracts of A. lebbeck. Two groups of AlTIs--1 major (10 AlTIs; slow migration on the gel) and 1 minor (7 AlTIs; fast migration on the gel) were identified. The former was specific only toward trypsin. However, the latter was specific toward both trypsin and Helicoverpa armigera gut proteinases (HaGPs). The most potent AlTI (AlTI13) was purified to assess its in vivo bioefficacy toward HaGPs. Purification was achieved using (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, Sephadex G-100 column chromatography, and preparative native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The dose dependent bioefficacies of AlTIs in the (NH4)2SO4 F3 fractions (0.1%, 0.5%, and 1%) were approximately 79%, 83%, and 90%, respectively, resulting in reductions in the average larval weight of H. armigera. Artificial diet containing a single dose of AlTI13 (5µg/g diet) reduced the larval weight by about 76%, with 60% mortality. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of AlTI13 for trypsin and HaGPs were 0.14 and 0.17µmol/ml, respectively. The optimum conditions for AlTI13 were pH8 and temperatures ranging from 35 to 40°C. Reducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE analysis indicated that ~28kDa Kunitz-like trypsin inhibitor was present. Thus, we showed that AlTIs, particularly, AlTI13 of A. lebbeck could be used as a transgene macromolecule to markedly increase insect resistance in genetically engineered plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A monomeric 5.5-kDa protein with hemolytic activity toward rabbit erythrocytes was isolated from seeds of Albizia lebbeck by using a protocol that involved ion-exchange chromatography on Q-Sepharose and SP-Sepharose, hydrophobic interaction chromatography on Phenyl-Sepharose, and gel filtration on Superdex 75. It was unadsorbed on both Q-Sepharose and SP-Sepharose, but adsorbed on Phenyl-Sepharose. Its hemolytic activity was fully preserved in the pH range 0–14 and in the temperature range 0–100°C, and unaffected in the presence of a variety of metal ions and carbohydrates. The hemolysin reduced viability of murine splenocytes and inhibited proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells and HepG2 hepatoma cells with an IC50 of 0.21, 0.97, and 1.37μM, respectively. It impeded mycelial growth in the fungi Rhizoctonia solani with an IC50 of 39μM but there was no effect on a variety of other filamentous fungi, including Fusarium oxysporum, Helminthosporium maydis, Valsa mali and Mycosphaerella arachidicola. Lebbeckalysin inhibited growth of Escherichia coli with an IC50 of 0.52μM. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The extract of the bark of Albizia lebbeck Benth. obtained by cold extraction of mixture of equal proportions of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol was chosen for pharmacological screening. In rat paw edema model induced by carrageenan, the extract at the 400 mg/kg dose level showed 36.68% (p<0.001) inhibition of edema volume at the end of 4h. In the acetic acid-induced writhing test, the extract at the 200 and 400 mg/kg dose level showed 39.9 % and 52.4 % inhibition of writhing, respectively. In radiant heat tail-flick method the crude extract produced 40.74% (p<0.001) and 61.48% (p<0.001) elongation of tail flicking time 30 minutes after oral administration at the 200 and 400 mg/kg dose level, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth and production modelling of tree/ grass in five trees namely, Acacia tortilis, Albizia amara, Albizia lebbeck, Dalbergia sissoo and Hardwickia binata associated silvipastoral systems have been studied. The tree/grass associated growth and production relationships have been established on the basis of initial ten-year data records. These relationships were integrated on a spreadsheet according to an assumed flowchart for the Silvipastoral situation. The predicted outputs in the form of prediction at different point of growth vis-a-vis input were compared in the form of IRR value. The study revealed that at 10-year rotation of Albizia lebbeck + c. ciliaris and Acacia tortilis + C. ciliaris, Stylosanthes hamata systems gave the maximum IRR value (42.75 and 40%) whereas the Albizia amara associated silvipastoral system gave the lowest IRR (28%). The same trend was continued in 15-year rotation also. But at the 20-year rotation, the Albizia lebbek and Acacia tortilis continue to predict the same trend but lowest IRR value was predicted as 28%. Same trend was again observed at 25-year rotation. Through such modelling effort, it is concluded that Albizia lebbeck and Acacia tortilis associated silvipastoral systems are the most economical, with a predicted level of 47% IRR in Albizia lebbek. Thus, these models help us compare the economics of these systems by saving the cost of experimentation over the years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Methanolic extract of Albizia lebbeck bark when administered orally at the dose level of 100mg/rat/day to male rats of proven fertility for 60 days did not cause any significant loss in their body weights but the weights of reproductive organs, i.e. testis, epididymides, seminal vesicle and ventral prostate were decreased in a significant manner when compared to controls. Sperm motility as well as sperm density were reduced significantly which resulted in reduction of male fertility by 100%. Marked decline in the germ cell population was noticed. Population of preleptotene, pachytene, secondary spermatocytes and step-19 spermatid were declined by 60.86%, 65.81%, 71.56% and 66.55%, respectively. Cross-sectional surface area of sertoli cells as well as the cells counts were found to be depleted significantly. Leydig cells nuclear area and number of mature Leydig cells were decreased by 60.03% and 51.56%, respectively. Serum testosterone levels showed significant reduction after A. lebbeck extract feeding. Oral administration of the extract did not affect red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) count, haemoglobin, haematocrit and glucose in the blood and cholesterol, protein, triglyceride and phospholipid in the serum. In conclusion, A. lebbeck bark extract administration arrests spermatogenesis in male rats without noticeable side effects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To screen the anti-bacterial activity of Albizia lebbeck (A. lebbeck) Benth leaves extract against the selected bacterial pathogens viz., Bacillus subtilis (MTCC441), Escherichia coli (MTCC443), Klebsiella pneumonia (MTCC 109), Proteus vulgaris (MTCC742), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC741), Salmonella typhii (MTCC733) and Staphylococus aureus (MTCC96). Methods: The leaves extracts of A. lebbeck was tested against bacteria by the agar disc diffusion method. Results: Results of the present study indicated that different extracts of A. lebbeck showed inhibitory effects against the pathogens. The present study results demonstrated that methanolic extracts of A. lebbeck conferred the widest spectrum activities that inhibited the growth of all studied pathogens with the maximum zone of inhibition. The methanolic extracts of A. lebbeck illustrated the highest zone of inhibition against the pathogens Bacillus subtilis (16 mm), Escherichia coli (22 mm), Klebsiella pneumonia (11 mm), Proteus vulgaris (18 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22 mm), Salmonella typhii (23 mm) and Staphylococus aureus (17 mm). The ethyl acetate extracts demonstrated maximum zone of inhibition against Escherichia coli (26 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22 mm) and Klebsiella pneumonia (16 mm). Conclusions: It is expected that this study would direct to the establishment of some active compounds that could be used to formulate new and more potent anti-bacterial drugs of natural origin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To establish alkaloids profile for the medicinally important plant Albizia lebbeck (A. lebbeck) using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). Methods: Preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out by Harborne method. HPTLC studies were followed by Harborne and Wagner et al method. Ethyl acetate-methanol-water (100:13.5:10) was employed as mobile phase for alkaloids. The developed plate was sprayed with Dragendorff''s reagent followed by 10% sodium nitrite reagent as spray reagent and dried at 100 °C in hot air oven for 3 min. The plate was photo-documented at UV 366 nm and daylight using photo-documentation chamber. Results: Alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins and glycosides present in the petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of A. lebbeck leaves. The petroleum ether extracts of A. lebbeck leaves displayed the presence of 10 types of alkaloids with 10 different Rf values ranging from 0.02 to 0.85. The ethyl acetate extract of A. lebbeck leaves illustrated the presence of 5 different types of alkaloids with 5 different Rf values ranging from 0.09 to 0.84. The methanolic extract of A. lebbeck leaves demonstrated the presence of 4 different types of alkaloids with 4 different Rf values with range from 0.02 to 0.79. Maximum number (10) of alkaloids has been observed in petroleum ether followed by ethyl acetate (5) extracts of the leaves of A. lebbeck. Conclusions: In the present study we observed various alkaloids profile of the medicinally important plant using HPTLC. This profile can be used for the identification of the medicinally important plants from the adulterant. Further, separation and characterization of the bioactive compound (principles) from the plants is to be evaluated and reported in near future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]