Albizia Adianthifolia: Botany, Medicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Properties

Abstract

The bark, leaves, and roots of Albizia adianthifolia are highly sought after in tropical Africa as herbal medicines. Therefore, the aim of this study was to review the botany, medicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties of A. adianthifolia so as to provide baseline data required for evaluating the therapeutic potential of the species. Information on the botanical profile, medicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties of A. adianthifolia was undertaken using databases such as ScienceDirect, SciFinder, Pubmed, Google Scholar, Medline, SCOPUS, EThOS, ProQuest, OATD, and Open-thesis. Preelectronic literature search of conference papers, scientific articles, books, book chapters, dissertations, and theses was carried out at the University library. Literature search revealed that A. adianthifolia is used as purgative and herbal medicine for diabetes, eye problems, gastrointestinal problems, haemorrhoids, headache, neurodegenerative disorders, reproductive problems in women, respiratory problems, wounds and pain, skin diseases, sexually transmitted infections, and ethnoveterinary medicine. Phytochemical compounds identified from the species include apocarotenoids, chalcone, dipeptide, elliptosides, essential oils, fatty acids, flavonoids, histamine, imidazolyl carboxylic acid, prosapogenins, steroids, triterpene saponins, and triterpenoids. Pharmacological studies revealed that A. adianthifolia extracts and compounds have acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibitory, anthelmintic, antiamoebic, antibacterial, antimycobacterial, anti-sexually transmitted infections, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anxiolytic, and antidepressant, cognitive-enhancing, haemolytic, hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic, immunomodulatory, and cytotoxicity activities. Detailed studies on the pharmacokinetics, in vivo, and clinical research involving compounds isolated from A. adianthifolia and extracts of the species are required.

Medicinal plants used by ‘root doctors’, local traditional healers in Bié province, Angola

“…Angola: vermifuge, alimentary complement (Urso et al, 2016), headache, yellow fever, respiratory diseases, epilepsy (Göhre et al, 2016); Cameroon: insect bite, skin disorders (Youmsi et al, 2017); Congo: blindness, headache, cough, fever, stomachache, hemorrhoids, stomachache (Makumberlo et al, 2008), Guinea-Bissau: stomachache (Frazão-Moreira, 2016), human nutrition, malaria, cough, contraindicated with pregnant women, milk stimulation for nursing women, fever and malaria, stomachache, fortify infants, dermatosis, yellow fever, hemorrhoids, anemia in children, sexual weakness, painful menstruation, against itching or insect bite, hipache, nausea in pregnant women, women infertility, absence of menstruation, strengthening bones, snake bite, stomachache, intestinal worms, tuberculosis, tooth decay, fever, wound healing, swelling and edema, miscarriage, vertigo, bad body smell, magico-religious (Kafoutchoni et al, 2018) Cytotoxicity, anticancer (Kuete et al, 2014), antibacterial (Djeussi et al, 2013 Afzelia quanzensis Anemia (Peter et al, 2014), bilharziasis, eye complaints, for general luck (Hutchings et al, 1996), aphrodisiac, eczema, restricted internal use (Orwa et al, 2009), gonorrhea, chest pains, kidney problems, bilharziasis, eye problems and snake bite (Hines and Eckman, 1993) Antibacterial (Moyo et al, 2015) Albizia adianthifolia Diabetes, eye problems, gastrointestinal problems, haemorrhoids, headache, neurodegenerative disorders, purgative, reproductive problems in women, respiratory problems (bronchitis), wounds and pain, skin disorders, sexually transmitted infections, lower respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, ischaemic heart disease, cough, sinusitis, dysentery, stomachache, hypertension (Maroyi et al, 2018), enema (Cunningham, 1993 Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory, anthelmintic, antiamoebic, antibacterial, antimycobacterial, anti-sexually transmitted infections, antifungal, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, anxiolytic and antidepressant, cognitiveenhancing, haemolytic, hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic, immunomodulatory cytotoxicity (Maroyi et al, 2018); antibacterial, antiinflammatory and anticholinesterase effects (Eldeen et al, 2005) Albizia antunesiana Mozambique: toothache (Bruschi et al, 2011); Zimbabwe: purgative, diarrhea, gonorrhea, aphrodisiac, women infertility, convulsions, blenhorragie (Maroyi, 2011) Non-cytotoxic in vitro (Chipiti et al, 2015), antioxidative (Chipiti et al, 2013) Aloe zebrina Angola: wounds, constipation, inflammation, urinary diseases, snake bite, back…”

Plantas medicinais utilizadas para tratar distúrbios gastrointestinais: revisão integrativa

“…Estudos fitoquímicos feitos em variadas espécies de Albizia demonstraram que a mesma apresenta variadas classes de metabólitos secundários, como terpenos, saponinas, flavonóides e alcalóides. As folhas, raízes e casca de A. adianthi foliasão utilizadas como medicamentos contra disenteria, diarréia e dor de estômago (Maroyi, 2018). Maroyi (2018) afirma que existem lacunas de pesquisa relacionadas à espécie e que são necessários estudos minuciosos sobre sua farmacocinética, envolvendo compostos isolados.…”

In vitro antioxidant activity and in vivo aphrodisiac activity in male Cavia porcellus of Albizia adianthifolia (Schum.) W. Wight and Pericopsis angolensis (Baker) Meeuwen

“…Among the compounds identified or isolated in A. adianthifolia [6], some are also found in other species known to be aphrodisiacs. This is notably the case with Aurantiamide acetate isolated from Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F. Muell, Violaceae [30], Octadecanoic acid identified from Sida cordata (Burm.f.)…”

“…], are two plants widely used in traditional medicine in the treatment of sexual dysfunction in the Kampemba municipality in DR Congo. Albizia adianthifolia is also used as a purgative and antidiabetic as well as in eye, gastrointestinal, hemorrhoidal, cephalic, neurodegenerative diseases [6,7]. A part from ED, Pericopsis angolensis is also used in traditional medicine in respiratory and eye conditions and in gastrointestinal disorders [8].…”