Classification from Kingdom down to species of Albizia lebbeck Benth (Verma, 2014; Nadkarni, 1976).

Sirish or Siras Arabic- Sultan al-Ashjar, Badshah al-Ashjar, Darakht-i Zakariya, (Shirazi, 2014; Khan, 1847; Nabi, 2007) Suka-priya (dear to parrots) (Dymock, 1890), Dam Shakham or Damshkham, Sirisha, Yalook, Phanda, Mridu pashika (having soft flower), Shamparni (Khan, 2012).

Persian- Darakht-i Zakariya (Nabi, 2007), Sanskrit- Shirisa (Barhapushpa, Bhandi, Mradupushpa and Kalinga) (Verma, 2014; Nadkarni, 1976; Mishra, 2010, Khare, 2007), Gujrati- Shar Sarad, Marathi- Shiris, Bengali- Sharis Gachh, Punjabi- Sareehn (Verma, 2014), Hindi -Siris, Tamil- Vaghai in Dirisana in Telgu, Vaka in Malyalam, lebbeck tree or East Indian walnut in English, Kot-vaghe in Madras, Woman’s tongue tree in West Indies.

Siras (Albizia lebbeck Benth.) is a tropical tree which is grown throughout India from the ancient time (Khan, 1847; Chopra, 1956). It is abundant in Myanmar, Andaman and Nicobar, South Africa and Australia (Mishra, 2010; Fazil, 2012). The plant is found in tropical and sub-tropical areas of India, from the plains up to 900 meters in the Himalayan region (Anonymous, 2006). It acquires the height of 40 to 60 feet with a thick trunk of 50 cm to 1 m in diameter. Bark is dark gray in colour become dark brown as the tree grows older, rough, pitted and fissured, which can be separated in flakes, acidulous and astringent in taste (Dymock, 1890). and the outer surface has longitudinal and transverse fissures whereas inner surface is whitish and shows longitudinal station (Yadav, 2011). Leaves are bi-pinnate and leaflets are 3-9 pairs which are wide and unequal sides, bright green colour initially but later become dull green on maturity. Flowers are pale yellow or white, fragrant, (Khan, 1847; Khan, 2012) spiked, found as an axillary cluster of 15-40 flowers, fused at the base and tipped with pale green. Stamen is longer than corolla. Flowers bloom in chait and Besaakh months but seen in other seasons also. Pods contain seeds and are 20-30 cm long and 5 cm wide, flat and pale yellowish in colour and contain 8-12 seeds (Ghani, 2010). Mature pods can be seen from May to July period (Yadav, 2011). Fresh pods are soft and become hard when dried. Pulp found in the pod is astringent and tasteless. These are linear-oblong to obovate, laterally compressed, measuring 6-10 x 5-10cm, filled with two large cotyledons which are pale yellow in colour. Seed coat is brown and non-shiny with a horse shoe shaped marking on both sides (Anonymous, 2006). Seeds are hard resembles with the seeds of Amaltas (Cassia fistula Linn.), but are smaller (Shirazi, 2014; Khan, 2012). Seed have astringent and pungent taste (Yadav, 2011).

Haar (Hot) in 1st degree (Sina, 1998).

Haar (Hot) and Yabis (Dry) (Khan, 2012).

Haar (Hot) and Yabis (Dry) in 2nd degree (Kabiruddin, 1937).

Barid (Cold) and Yabis (Dry) in 2nd Degree (Shirazi, 2014; Ghani, 2010).

Barid (cold) (Khan, 1847)

According to most of the physicians, it has Haar (Hot) and Yabis (Dry) temperament. Flowers and leaves are of Barid (Cold) and Yabis (Dry) temperament whereas the temperament of seed is Haar (hot) (Nabi, 2007).

Flower- Barid (Cold) and Yabis (Dry) or Moderate (Khan, 2012).

Oral use- Araq (distillate), Matbookh (decoction), Usarah (Extract), Safuf (powder), Laooq (linctus), Roghan (oil).

For local use-Qutoor-i Anaf (nasal drop), zimad (paste), Qutoor-i Chashm (eyedrop), Ghargharah (Gargling) Mazmazah (mouth rinse), Zaroor (powder for sprinkle), Naswaar (Snuffing), surma/ kajal (corrylium) (Shirazi, 2014; Khan, 2012, Ghani, 2010).

Stem bark 5-7 gm (Kabiruddin, 1937) or up to 12 gm (Nabi, 2007), seeds- 3-3.5 gm (Shirazi, 2014; Khan, 2012, Ghani, 2010).

It is not suitable for dry temperament personnel (Kabiruddin, 1937).

Sarphuka (Nabi, 2007), Roughan Zard (pure ghee) (Kabiruddin, 1937).

Babu et al. reported that alcoholic extract of A. lebbeck has antihistaminic property, by neutralizing the histamine directly or due to corticotrophic action as evidenced by raising cortisol levels in plasma (Babu, 2009).

Histological analysis of the lungs of guinea pigs treated with Albizia lebbeck has shown reduction in tissue edema, epithelial cell hypertrophy, infiltration of inflammatory cell, and airway lumen plugging, thereby decreasing inflammation and bronchoconstriction, which leads to normal lumen size (Tiwari, 2015).

In a clinical study, it was revealed that oral administration 29% of ghansatva of Albizia lebbeck bark and 500 mg capsule of Albizia lebbeck showed very favorable response in all kinds of allergic conjunctivitis (Mukhopadhyay, 1992).

Significant reduction in symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis was reported in a clinical trial conducted on 60 patients suffering from allergic type of conjunctivitis. A. lebbeck is used in the form of eye drop given 2 drops 3 times a day for 30 days and compared with standard drug treatment sodium cromoglycate 2% eye drop (Haramohan, 2017).

The Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Extract of Albizia lebbeck in Animal Model was reported by Saha and Ahmed (Saha, 2009).

In another study, the anti-inflammatory effect of various solvent extracts of Albizia lebbeck on acute and chronic phases of inflammation as well as anti-inflammatory effect of the extracts in adjuvant induced arthritis was studied in animal model. Extracts of the drug displayed considerable potency in anti-inflammatory action and has prominent effects on adjuvant arthritis by alleviating paw edema (Narsimham, 2009; Nikhat, 2017).

Anticonvulsive action of leaves of Albizia lebbeck against pentylenetetrazol, and maximal induced seizures in mice was reported (Kasture, 1996).

Srivastava Neeti et al. reported potent anticonvulsant activity of ethanolic extract of the leaves of Albizia lebbeck in the rats. It may help in development of natural antiepileptic drug (Srivastav, 2016).

In another study, the ethanolic extracts of leaves of Albizia lebbeck and flowers of Hibiscus rosa sinesis and the petroleum ether extract of flowers of Butea monosperma exhibited anticonvulsant activity in mice (Kasture, 2000).

The methanolic extracts of A. lebbeck illustrated inhibitory activity against the pathogens Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhii and Staphylococus aureus; whereas the ethyl acetate extract demonstrated inhibition against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia (Bobby, 2012).

The antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity and free radical-scavenging activity of different extracts (hexane, methanol, ethyl acetate, aqueous and butanol extract) of the bark of Albizia lebbeck was reported. All the extracts showed moderate antimicrobial activity more on gram positive bacteria than gram negative bacteria. Significant cytotoxic activity was noticed and hexane extract was found the most lethal to brine shrimp nauplii. Good free radical scavenging activity was observed in all the extracts, and hexane extract was found be the most potent (Tasnim, 2014).

In an in vitro study, alcoholic extract of the bark showed Anthelmintic activity against live Ascaris lumbricoides (Raj, 1975).