Albizia myriophylla

Synonyms
Albizia microphylla J.F.Macbr., Albizia myriophylla var. foliolosa Baker, Albizia thorelii Pierre, Albizia vialeana var. thorelii (Pierre) P.H.Ho, Mimosa microphylla Roxb

Common name
Tebu gajah, akar manis

Characteristics
A small tree that could reach a height of 4 m.

Legumes
Thin, leafy, smooth, long, broad and obtuse-pointed, from 3 to 6-seeded measuring 15-20 cm long and rather above one broad.

Seeds
Oval, flat, smooth in shape and light brown in colour.

Chemical compound
Aqueous methanol (50%) extract of A. myriophylla wood has been reported to contain iminosugars (e.g. 1-deoxymannojirimycin (DMJ), 2R,5R-dihydroxymethyl-3R,4R-dihydroxypyrrolidine (DMDP), 3- O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-DMDP), 2,5-dideoxy-2,5- imino-D-glucitol, 2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-DMJ and 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-DMJ). Methanol extract of A. myriophylla dried stems has been reported to contain oleanane-type triterpene saponins. Hydrolyzed and unhydrolyzed methanol (80%) extract of A. myriophylla bark powder has been reported to contain gallic acid, gentisic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, salicylic acid, quercetin acid, eugenol and kaempferol.

Plant part used
Roots, leaves and stems

Traditional uses

• The infusion of the A. myriophylla root internally for fever. The extract of the root of A. myriophylla, cotton bush (Gossypium brasiliense), rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) and an Euginia together with the ferns Stenochlaena palustris and Lypodium flexuosum.
• The boiled leaves as a lotion to treat ear ache by applying on the head.

Medicinal uses

• Methanol extract of A.myriophylla stem showed broad antifungal activity against six pathogenic Candida species: C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. guilliermondii, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis.

List of country
India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Albizia myriophylla(Benth.,1844)

Nur Athirah Roshaizi

Nur Athirah Roshaizi

English