Therapeutic Potentials of Shirisha (Albizia lebbeck Benth) – A Review

Albizia lebbeck Benth. is a large, erect, unarmed, deciduous, spreading tree belonging to the family Fabaceae (Formerly Leguminosae), member of the subfamily Mimosaceae. It is found throughout India, ascending to 900m in the Himalayas and also in the islands of Andaman. It contains saponins, macrocyclic alkaloids, phenolic glycosides and flavonoids. In Ayurveda, Albizia lebbeck Benth. is familiar as Shirisha and it has been attributed with properties like Vishaghna (anti-poisonous) and emphasized its efficacy in Visarpa (Erysipelas), Hicca (Hiccup), Shwasa (Breathlessness), Kasa (Cough) etc. Researches of recent past have also reported anti-inflammatory, anti-histaminic, anti-anaphylactic, anti-asthmatic, anti-microbial properties of the plant. Saponins isolated from the methanolic extract of bark and pod of Albizia lebbeck Benth. have found to possess anti-spermatogenic effect. The current review revealed that, the plant Shirisha has a number of potentials in therapeutic field