Phytochemical and pharmacological investigations of Albizia julibrissin DURAZZ. bark extract with respect to anti-inflammatory effects

Chronic inflammation is involved in a number of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis or ulcerative colitis. The most common treatment for chronic inflammatory diseases are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Their long-term use, however, may cause a series of adverse effects. The goal of this research is to find plant based alternatives and novel compounds with the ability to improve classical treatment of chronical inflammatory diseases. [1]

The dichloromethane, methanol and water extracts of Albizia julibrissin DURAZZ. bark have been found active in an anti-inflammatory assay at 50μg/ml in LPS and IFNγ induced murine RAW 264.7 macrophages and microglial BV-2 cells. [2] After liquid-liquid extraction for fractionation of the active compounds, all 6 fractions showed inhibitory activity on NO production. However only the lipophilic fractions 1-3 did not interfere with cell viability, compared to cells treated with solvent control. Therefore, the reduced production of NO in cells treated with the polar fractions 4-6 is most likely due to cytotoxic effects.

Active components of the extracts and the active compounds of Albiziae cortex are investigated by LC-MS dereplication and isolation. Since the genus Albizia is known for triterpenoid saponins, saponins are expected among the active constituents. [3], [4]

• References

• 1 Waltenberger B, Atanasov AG, Heiss EH, Bernhard D, Rollinger JM, Breuss JM, Schuster D, Bauer R, Kopp B, Franz C, Bochkov V, Mihovilovic MD, Dirsch VM, Stuppner H. Drugs from nature targeting inflammation (DNTI): a successful Austrian interdisciplinary network project. Monatsh Chem 2016; 147 479–491. DOI: 10.1007/s00706-015-1653-y.
• 2 Tran HT, Gao X, Kretschmer N, Pferschy-Wenzig EM, Raab P, Pirker T, Temml V, Schuster D, Kunert O, Huynh L, Bauer R. Anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative compounds from Sphaeranthus africanus. Phytomedicine 2019; : 152951. DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2019.152951.
• 3 Barbosa ADP. Pharmacologically active saponins from the genus Albizia (Fabaceae): Review Article. Int J Pharm Pharm Sci 2014; 32-36
• 4 Wang X-D, Han Q-H, Zhang J, Zhang Q-Y, Tu P-F, Liang H. Three new triterpenoid saponins from Albizia julibrissin. J Asian Nat Prod Res 2018; 1–7. DOI: 10.1080/10286020.2018.1473385.