Exploring the Effectiveness of Carboxymethylated and Crosslinked Albizia procera Gum in Diltiazem Hydrochloride Matrix Tablets: A Comparative Analysis.

This study investigates the efficacy of modified Albizia procera gum as a release-retardant polymer in Diltiazem hydrochloride (DIL) matrix tablets. Carboxymethylated Albizia procera gum (CAP) and ionically crosslinked carboxymethylated Albizia procera gum (Ca-CAP) were utilized, with Ca-CAP synthesized via crosslinking CAP with calcium ions (Ca2+) using calcium chloride (CaCl2). Fourier Transform (FT) IR analysis affirmed polymer compatibility, while differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) assessed thermal behavior and crystallinity, respectively. Zeta potential analysis explored surface charge and electrostatic interactions, while rheology examined flow and viscoelastic properties. Swelling and erosion kinetics provided insights into water penetration and stability. CAP's carboxymethyl groups (-CH2-COO-) heightened divalent cation reactivity, and crosslinking with CaCl2 produced Ca-CAP through -CH2-COO- and Ca2+ interactions. Structural similarities between the polymers were revealed by FTIR, with slight differences. DSC indicated modified thermal behavior in Ca-CAP, while Zeta potential analysis showcased negative charges, with Ca-CAP exhibiting lower negativity. XRD highlighted increased crystallinity in Ca-CAP due to calcium crosslinking. Minimal impact on RBC properties was observed with both polymers compared to the positive control as water for injection (WFI). Ca-CAP exhibited improved viscosity, strength, controlled swelling, and erosion, allowing prolonged drug release compared to CAP. Stability studies confirmed consistent six-month drug release, emphasizing Ca-CAP's potential as a stable, sustained drug delivery system over CAP. Robustness and accelerated stability tests supported these findings, underscoring the promise of Ca-CAP in controlled drug release applications.

A comparative untargeted metabolomic analysis and assessment of antiplasmodial potential of nine Albizia species.

The genus Albizia is one of the richest genera in phenolics besides other classes of secondary metabolites including saponins, terpenes, and alkaloids with promising medicinal applications. In the current study, UHPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS-based metabolic profiling of leaves of Albizia lebbeck, Albizia julibrissin, Albizia odoratissima, Albizia procera, Albizia anthelmintica, Albizia guachapele, Albizia myriophylla, Albizia richardiana, and Albizia lucidior resulted in the tentative identification of 64 metabolites, mainly flavonoids, phenolic acids, saponins, and alkaloids. Some metabolites were identified in Albizia for the first time and could be used as species-specific chemotaxonomic markers, including: apigenin 7-O-dihydroferuloyl hexoside isomers, apigenin 7-O-pentosyl hexoside, quercetin 3-O-rutinoside 7-O-deoxyhexoside, quercetin 3,7-di-O-hexoside deoxyhexoside, quercetin 7-O-feruloyl hexoside, methyl myricetin 7-O-deoxyhexoside, kaempferol di-3-O-di-deoxyhexoside-7-O-hexoside, and kaempferol 3-O-neohesperidoside 7-O-hexoside. Comparative untargeted metabolomic analysis was undertaken to discriminate between species and provide a chemotaxonomic clue that can be used together with morphological and genetic analyses for more accurate classification within this genus. Moreover, the in vitro antiplasmodial activity was assessed and correlated to the metabolic profile of selected species. This was followed by a molecular docking study and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) prediction of the identified budmunchiamine alkaloids, revealing promising interactions with the active site of lactate dehydrogenase of Plasmodium falciparum and good pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, which could help in designing novel antimalarial drugs.

Characterization of new cellulose fiber extracted from second generation Bitter Albizia tree.

The present work examines the physical, thermal tensile, and chemical properties of wood skin fibers obtained from second generation Bitter Albizia (BA) tree skin. Chemical characterization of BA fibers showed the presence of various chemical contents such as cellulose of 74.89 wt. %, hemicellulose of 14.50 wt. %, wax of 0.31 wt. %, lignin of 12.8 wt. %, moisture of 11.71 wt. %, and ash of 19.29 wt. %. The density of BA fibers (BAFs) was showed 1285 kg/m3. XRD analysis of BAFs showed a crystallinity index (CI) of 57.20% and size of crystallite of 1.68 nm. Tensile strength and strain to failure of BAFs examined through tensile test were 513-1226 MPa and 0.8-1.37% respectively. TGA portrayed the thermal steadiness of BAFs as 339 °C with 55.295 kJ/mol kinetic activation energy, its residual mass was 23.35% at 548 °C. BAFs with high CI, less wax content, and better tensile strength make more suitable for making polymer matrix composites. SEM images of the BAFs surface depicted that the fiber outer surface has more rough which shows that they can contribute to hige fiber-matrix adhesion during composites preparation.

Antihyperglycemic and aphrodisiac effect of West African Albizia (Albizia zygia) leaves-inclusive diet in diabetes-induced erectile dysfunctional rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: West African Albizia (Albizia zygia DC J. F. Macbr) leaves are a tropical plant that are frequently used in folkloric medicine to treat a number of illnesses, including type 2 diabetes (TY2D) and erectile dysfunction (ED), without having a complete scientific foundation. AIM OF THE STUDY: This investigation examined the effect of action of dietary augmentation of Albizia zygia leaves (AZL) on rat sexual functioning and important enzymes related to TY2D and ED. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty matured adult Wistar rats of the weight 180-200 g were acclimatized in a lab environmental condition for two weeks prior to experiment given food and water to acclimate. Twenty-four of the rats got high fat diet (HFD) for periods of two weeks before receiving streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneally (i.p.), 35 mg/kg body weight single dose. Six rats got basal diets. Type 2 diabetes was identified in rats 72 h after STZ treatment. Rats were then used to evaluate the mounting number, mount delay, intromission number, and intromission latency. RESULTS: Following that, meals supplemented with AZL (5% or 10% inclusion) were given to diabetic-ED rats for 14 days. AZL was added. Therefore, in diabetic-ED rats, AZL supplementation could significantly (p0.05) lower blood glucose levels and the activities of alpha amylase, alpha glucosidase, phosphodiesterase-5, and arginase. In the case of diabetic-ED treated rats in consideration with diabetic-ED control group, nitric oxide levels were increased along with sexual function. CONCLUSION: Thus, experimental results of this study demonstrated rats that consumed AZL in their diets had less erectile dysfunction. In order to address ED caused by diabetes, AZL could be suggested as functional meals.

Prediction of cell migration potential on human breast cancer cells treated with Albizia lebbeck ethanolic extract using extreme machine learning.

Cancer is one of the major causes of death in the modern world, and the incidence varies considerably based on race, ethnicity, and region. Novel cancer treatments, such as surgery and immunotherapy, are ineffective and expensive. In this situation, ion channels responsible for cell migration have appeared to be the most promising targets for cancer treatment. This research presents findings on the organic compounds present in Albizia lebbeck ethanolic extracts (ALEE), as well as their impact on the anti-migratory, anti-proliferative and cytotoxic potentials on MDA-MB 231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines. In addition, artificial intelligence (AI) based models, multilayer perceptron (MLP), extreme gradient boosting (XGB), and extreme learning machine (ELM) were performed to predict in vitro cancer cell migration on both cell lines, based on our experimental data. The organic compounds composition of the ALEE was studied using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Cytotoxicity, anti-proliferations, and anti-migratory activity of the extract using Tryphan Blue, MTT, and Wound Heal assay, respectively. Among the various concentrations (2.5-200 µg/mL) of the ALEE that were used in our study, 2.5-10 µg/mL revealed anti-migratory potential with increased concentrations, and they did not show any effect on the proliferation of the cells (P < 0.05; n ≥ 3). Furthermore, the three data-driven models, Multi-layer perceptron (MLP), Extreme gradient boosting (XGB), and Extreme learning machine (ELM), predict the potential migration ability of the extract on the treated cells based on our experimental data. Overall, the concentrations of the plant extract that do not affect the proliferation of the type cells used demonstrated promising effects in reducing cell migration. XGB outperformed the MLP and ELM models and increased their performance efficiency by up to 3% and 1% for MCF and 1% and 2% for MDA-MB231, respectively, in the testing phase.

Ameliorative effects of Albizia adianthifolia aqueous extract against pentylenetetrazole-induced epilepsy and associated memory loss in mice: Role of GABAergic, antioxidant defense and anti-inflammatory systems.

Albizia adianthifolia (Schumach.) (Fabaceae) is a medicinal herb used for the treatment of epilepsy and memory impairment. This study aims to investigate the anticonvulsant effects of Albizia adianthifolia aqueous extract against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced spontaneous convulsions in mice; and determine whether the extract could mitigate memory impairment, oxidative/nitrergic stress, GABA depletion and neuroinflammation. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis was done to identify active compounds from the extract. Mice were injected with PTZ once every 48 h until kindling was developed. Animals received distilled water for the normal group and negative control groups, doses of extract (40, 80, or 160 mg/kg) for the test groups and sodium valproate (300 mg/kg) for the positive control group. Memory was measured using Y maze, novel object recognition (NOR) and open field paradigms, while the oxidative/nitrosative stresses (MDA, GSH, CAT, SOD and NO), GABAergic transmission (GABA, GABA-T and GAD) and neuro-inflammation (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL- 1ß, and IL-6) were determined. Brain photomicrograph was also studied. Apigenin, murrayanine and safranal were identified in the extract. The extract (80-160 mg/kg) significantly protected mice against seizures and mortality induced by PTZ. The extract significantly increased the spontaneous alternation and the discrimination index in the Y maze and NOR tests, respectively. PTZ kindling induced oxidative/nitrosative stress, GABA depletion, neuroinflammation and neuronal cells death was strongly reversed by the extract. The results suggest that the anticonvulsant activity of Albizia adianthifolia extract is accompanied by its anti-amnesic property, and may be supported by the amelioration of oxidative stress, GABAergic transmission and neuroinflammation.

Albizia julibrissin Exerts Anti-Obesity Effects by Inducing the Browning of 3T3L1 White Adipocytes.

This study investigated the effects of the Albizia julibrissin Leaf extracts (AJLE) on adipocytes using 3T3-L1 cells. AJLE inhibited adipogenesis by reducing the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs) that regulate enzymes involved in fat synthesis and storage, and subsequently reduced intracellular lipid droplets, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH), and triglyceride (TG). AJLE also increased the expression of brown adipocyte markers, such as uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1), PR/SET domain 16 (PRDM16), and bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) by inducing the differentiation of brown adipocytes, as shown by a decrease in the lipid droplet sizes and increasing mitochondrial mass. AJLE increased the expression of transcription factor A, mitochondrial (TFAM), mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number, and UCP-1 protein expression, all of which are key factors in regulating mitochondrial biogenesis. AJLE-induced browning was shown to be regulated by the coordination of AMPK, p38, and SIRT1 signaling pathways. The ability of AJLE to inhibit adipogenesis and induce brown adipocyte differentiation may help treat obesity and related diseases.

Investigation of thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of Albizia lebbeck seed pods using thermogravimetric analysis.

Thermodynamic and kinetic studies are very necessary to evaluate the conversion efficiency of biomass to energy. Therefore, this current work reported the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of Albizia lebbeck seed pods through thermogravimetric analysis, which was carried out at temperatures from 25 °C to 700 °C, and heating rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C/min. Apparent activation energies were determined by applying three iso-conversional model-free methods including Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), Ozawa-Flynn-Wall (OFW), and Starink. Resultantly, average apparent activation energy values for the three models of KAS, OFW, and Starink were found to be 155.29, 156.14, and 155.53 kJ/mol, respectively. In addition, thermodynamic triplets such as enthalpy, Gibbs free energy, and entropy were obtained as 151.16 kJ/mol, 150.64 kJ/mol, and -7.57 J/mol·K, respectively. The above results suggest Albizia lebbeck seed pods could become a potential source for bioenergy production aiming to achieve the sustainable goal and waste-to-energy strategy.

Chemical constituents from the stem bark of Albizia julibrissin and their SREBP-1c inhibitory activity.

One new lignan, julibrissinoside II, along with thirteen known compounds, was isolated from the stem bark of Albizia julibrissin. The structure of julibrissinoside II was determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods, including NMR and CD spectroscopic data. The isolated compounds were tested for their SREBP-1c inhibitory activity at different concentrations using mouse hepatocyte AML12 cell lines. Among them, linoleic acid (2) and 3-O-methylfisetin (4) showed significant SREBP-1c inhibitory activity at the concentration of 100 µM.

Two new triterpenoid saponins from the flowers of Albizia lebbeck.

The chemical investigation of the fresh flowers of Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae) led to the isolation of two new echinocystic acid saponins. They were isolated by using chromatographic methods and their structures were elucidated by detailed 1H and 13C NMR spectral data including 2 D-NMR (COSY, HSQC, HMBC and APT) spectroscopic techniques, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS) and acid hydrolysis. Their structures were established as 16-hydroxy-3-[[O-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→6)-2-(acetylamino)-2-deoxy-ß-D-glucopyranosyl]oxy]-(3ß,16α)-olean-12-en-28-oic acid O-6-deoxy-α-L-mannopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-6-deoxy-α-L-mannopyranosyl-(1→2)-ß-D-glucopyranosyl ester (1) and 16-hydroxy-3-[[O-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→6)-2-(acetylamino)-2-deoxy-ß-D-glucopyranosyl]oxy]-(3ß,16α)-olean-12-en-28-oic acid 6-O-[(2S,3R,4R)-tetrahydro-3-hydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furanyl]-ß-D-glucopyranosyl ester (2). Additionally, the permeability property and the capacity of interaction with biological membranes of compounds 1 and 2 were investigated.

A New Triterpenoid Saponin from Albizia zygia Induced Apoptosis by Reduction of Mitochondrial Potential Status in Malignant Melanoma Cells.

In our ongoing research program on the proapoptotic function of saponins, two previously undescribed saponins, named zygiaosides E (1: ) and F (2: ), were isolated from the leaves of Albizia zygia. Their structures were established based on extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR data, HR-ESI-MS analysis, and by chemical degradation. The proapoptotic effect of zygiaoside E (1: ) was evaluated on human malignant melanoma (A375), human epidermoid cancer (A431), and normal Homo sapiens skin tissue (TE 353.SK.) cell lines by cytometric analysis. Zygiaoside E (1: ) induced apoptosis of the two human cancer cell lines (A375 and A431) in a dose-dependent manner at 1 µM but did not induce apoptosis in noncancerous skin cells (TE 353.Sk), even when treated with concentrations up to 15 µM. The underlying mechanism of the apoptosis induction activity of zygiaoside E (1: ) on the mitochondrial membrane potential status in A375 cells was further assessed by monitoring the uptake rate of DiOC6, a mitochondrial specific and voltage-dependent fluorescent dye. The number of malignant melanoma cells emitting high fluorescence levels was decreased when cells were treated with 3 or 5 µM of zygiaoside E (1: ) during either 12 or 24 h, thereby revealing a drop of mitochondrial membrane potential in A375 cells upon treatment, which indicated mitochondrial perturbation.

Exploring the nursing effect of application Albizia bark on autism in children based on network pharmacology and molecular docking.

OBJECTIVE: Autism is a disorder that manifests itself in early childhood. Early diagnosis of autism may not only help the affected children themselves, but also affect family well-being and social stability. The natural drug Albizia bark has been reported to have some effect in the prevention and treatment of autism in children. Therefore, we used network pharmacology and molecular docking to explore the possible mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TCMID and BATMAN-TCM was used to retrieve the chemical constituents of Albizia bark, and then obtained the relevant targets about autism by TTD, Gene Cards and OMIM. The resulting ingredients and targets were predicted, then a protein interaction network was constructed, and finally bioinformatics analysis was performed. Finally, molecular docking was used to verify the effective ingredients and targets obtained from the screening. RESULTS: Leucaena saponin B, luteolin, 3', 4', 7-trihydroxyflavone, which may be the key compounds for the treatment of autism. BP mainly involving signal transduction, G protein coupled receptor signal pathway, protein phosphorylation. CC, mainly involving plasma membrane, integral component of plasma membrane, MF, including protein binding, adenosine triphosphate binding, protein kinase activity. Molecular docking showed that AKT1, HRAS, PIK3CA, PIK3R1 and SRC, five potential targets, had good binding ability to Leucaena saponin B. CONCLUSIONS: The natural drug Albizia bark exerts pharmacological effects in a multi-component, multi-target and multi-channel manner, including neural regulation, inflammatory response and immune regulation.

Effects of using siris (Albizia lebbeck) foliage in the diet of fattening lambs on nutrient digestibility, blood and rumen parameters, growth performance, and meat quality characteristics.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of substitution of siris foliage with alfalfa forage in the diet of fattening lambs on digestibility, fermentation, and growth performance of fattening lambs. In the present experiment, 27 8-month-old Arabi lambs (31.3 ± 6) with an initial weight of 28.8 ± 1.99 kg were used in a completely randomized design. The effect of experimental diets on dry matter intake was not significant; however, the diets had a significant effect on the intake of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and crude protein (P < 0.05). The effect of experimental diets on the apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, NDF, ADF, and crude protein was not significant (P < 0.05). Ammonia nitrogen concentration, pH, and a total population of ruminal fluid protozoa and blood parameters were not affected by experimental diets. Parameters of fattening performance such as feed intake, live weight changes, feed conversion ratio, some carcass traits such as mean weight and size of carcass parts, and colorimetric indices of muscle tissue in the order of fattening lambs were not affected by experimental diets. The use of foliage of siris in the diet of fattening lambs as a substitute with part of alfalfa had no adverse effect on the characteristics studied in the present experiment. Therefore, siris be recommended as part of the diet of fattening lambs.

Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of Constituents from the Fruit of Albizia lebbeck L. Benth (Fabaceae).

Twenty-two compounds were isolated from the fruit of Albizia lebbeck including one unprecedented, rare amino acid-derived zwitterionic and one new flavone derivative. The isolation was performed on repeated column chromatography over silica gel and their structures were determined by 1D-, 2D-NMR and HR-ESI-MS spectra together with reported data in the literature. The chemophenetic significance is also discussed. Some isolated compounds were reported for the first time to be found in the species. Additionally, compound 2 showed antibacterial activity and compounds 1 and 2 revealed moderate cytotoxic activity against the Raw 264.7 cancer cell line with IC50 values of 37.19 µM and 29.36 µM, respectively. Furthermore, a proposed biosynthetic pathway of compound 1 is described.

Anti-diabetic and anti-lipidepmic effect of Albizia lebbeck seeds against HepG2 cells.

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 anti-lipidemic potentials.

Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and acute oral toxicity profile of leaf and bark extracts of Albizia procera.

BACKGROUND: Pain and inflammation are associatory events in cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, arthritis and other chronic diseases. Corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs exert potential side effects on long term use. This study was aimed to investigate the acute oral toxicity, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of leaf and bark extracts of Albizia procera in experimental animal models. METHODS: Ethyl acetate, ethanol, and hydroalcoholic extracts of Albizia procera (leaf and bark) were subjected for acute oral toxicity, anti-inflammatory and analgesic screening. Carrageenan and cotton pellet granuloma models were used to assess acute and chronic anti-inflammatory effects, respectively. Intraplanar formalin test was used to assess the analgesic activity. RESULTS: All the extracts of Albizia procera were found to be well-tolerated up to 2000 mg/kg in female rats. Ethanolic leaf (ETLE) and bark (ETBE) of Albizia procera showed anti-inflammatory actions. But, only ETBE produced significant protection in chronic inflammation and analgesic activity. CONCLUSION: In summary, Albizia procera possess significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. This study adds evidence on the traditional use of Albizia procera plant for treating painful inflammatory disorders.

Identification of Antibacterial Metabolites from Endophytic Fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, Isolated from Albizia lucidior Leaves (Fabaceae), Utilizing Metabolomic and Molecular Docking Techniques.

The rapid spread of bacterial infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus has become a problem to public health despite the presence of past trials devoted to controlling the infection. Thus, the current study aimed to explore the chemical composition of the extract of endophytic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, isolated from Albizia lucidior leaves, and investigate the antimicrobial activity of isolated metabolites and their probable mode of actions. The chemical investigation of the fungal extract via UPLC/MS/MS led to the identification of at least forty-two metabolites, as well as the isolation and complete characterization of eight reported metabolites. The antibacterial activities of isolated metabolites were assessed against S. aureus using agar disc diffusion and microplate dilution methods. Compounds ergosterol, helvolic acid and monomethyl sulochrin-4-sulphate showed minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 15.63, 1.95 and 3.90 µg/mL, respectively, compared to ciprofloxacin. We also report the inhibitory activity of the fungal extract on DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, which led us to perform molecular docking using the three most active compounds isolated from the extract against both enzymes. These active compounds had the required structural features for S. aureus DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV inhibition, evidenced via molecular docking.

New triterpenoid saponin from the stems of Albizia adianthifolia (Schumach.) W.Wight.

As part of our continuing study of apoptosis-inducing saponins from Cameroonian Albizia genus, one new triterpenoid saponin, named adianthifolioside J (1), together with the known gummiferaoside E (2), were isolated from Albizia adianthifolia stems. The structure of the new saponin (1), was established on the basis of extensive analysis of 1 D and 2 D NMR (1H-, 13C-NMR, DEPT, COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, HSQC, HSQC-TOCSY and HMBC) and HRESIMS experiments, and by chemical evidence as 3-O-[ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→2)-ß-D-fucopyranosyl-(1→6)-ß-D-glucopyranosyl]-21-O-{(2E,6S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-methyl-6-O-{4-O-[(2E,6S)-2,6-dimethyl-6-O-(ß-D-quinovopyranosyl)octa-2,7-dienoyl]-(ß-D-quinovopyranosyl)octa-2,7-dienoyl]}acacic acid-28-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-[5-O-acetyl-α-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1→4)]-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-ß-D-glucopyranosyl ester (1). The pro-apoptotic activity of the new isolated saponin 1 was evaluated, using Annexin V-FITC binding assay, on the A431 human epidermoid cancer cell. The result showed that adianthifolioside J (1) displayed weak pro-apoptotic activity.

Development and cosmeceutical evaluation of topical emulgel containing Albizia lebbeck bark extract.

BACKGROUND: Antioxidants are widely used in cosmetic products as they have beneficial effects on skin and prevent skin from harmful effects of environment. Albizia lebbeck has a significant potential to be used in cosmeceuticals due to its antioxidant activity. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to formulate a stable and effective o/w emulsion-based emulgel containing Albizia lebbeck bark extract, which have considerable antioxidant activity. METHODOLOGY: Antioxidant activity of Albizia lebbeck bark extract was determined by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method. Emulgel containing 3% extract was developed by mixing o/w emulsion in Carbopol gel along with a placebo emulgel without extract (base). In vitro evaluation of these emulgels, that is, liquefaction, color, phase separation, centrifugation, and pH change were carried out for a period of 8 weeks at different storage conditions, that is, 8ºC, 25ºC, 40ºC, and 40ºC & 75% relative humidity (RH). In vivo evaluation of emulgels was carried out on 13 healthy female volunteers by measuring various parameters of skin, that is, melanin level, erythema level, moisture content, sebum content, and elasticity at regular time intervals after applying emulgel (both base and test formulation) for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Antioxidant activity of Albizia lebbeck bark extract was 84.7%. Both emulgels (base and test formulation) were stable at all storage conditions. Statistical analysis showed that test formulation produced significant effects (p < 0.05) on melanin, erythema level, moisture content, sebum level, and elasticity of skin. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that a stable topical emulgel containing 3% Albizia lebbeck bark extract has significant antioxidant effects on human skin.

The rhizosphere effect of native legume Albizzia julibrissin on coastal saline soil nutrient availability, microbial modulation, and aggregate formation.

In the coastal zones, numerous ecological shelterbelt projects were conducted to protect against natural hazards. However, it is still not fully understood whether phytoremediation with native legume Albizzia julibrissin plantation can improve saline soil structural development or microbial community structure. In this study, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the responses of rhizosphere soil salinity, nutrients, bacterial community, and aggregate structure to A. julibrissin plantation in a recently reclaimed area along Zhejiang coast, China. After ~3-year plantation, rhizosphere soil pH and EC reduced to 8.25 and 0.14 dS·m-1, respectively, belonging to non-saline soil. Meanwhile, total organic carbon (TOC), permanganate-oxidizable carbon (POXC), total nitrogen (TN), alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN), and ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) were significantly increased in rhizosphere soil compared with bare land (P < 0.05). Consequently, rhizosphere soil had favorable habitat condition for copiotrophic bacterial taxa (e.g., Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, and Bacteroidates), as well as high diversity, complex co-occurrence network, and catabolism related with nutrient cycling. The soil particle size of bare land was < 0.053 mm, while microaggregate (0.053-0.25 mm) and macroaggregate (0.25-2 mm) were formed in the rhizosphere and coupled with C accumulation and Fe removal. Soil aggregates were of great importance to soil fertility with more efficient bacterial network and biogeochemical cycles of nutrients. N-fixing Rhizobiales preferred to inhabit large soil particle and might primarily contribute to N accumulation. Generally, A. julibrissin was a suitable pioneer tree for mudflat reclamation projects, which effectively improved saline soil rhizosphere environment by reducing salinity, accumulating C and N, and promoting microbial community succession, as well as aggregate structure formation.