Sedative activity of two flavonol glycosides isolated from the flowers of Albizzia julibrissin Durazz.

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