Albizia julibrissin bark,
does it really help with Relief of depressed mood and elevation of mood?
research showsAlbizia julibrissin bark is rated ? because no human efficacy literature was found testing the single ingredient for depressed mood or mood elevation. The identified antidepressant signals came from solvent fractions in mouse behavioral tests and other preclinical mechanisms, while clinical literature concerned multi-herb formulas containing Albizia. A formula result cannot be attributed to Albizia bark alone, and animal behavior is not a human depression outcome. Safety is also uncertain separately because standardized single-ingredient human data are inadequate.
ads claimTerms such as happiness tree, natural antidepressant, or immediate mood brightener convert a traditional name and animal mechanism into a human treatment claim. Persistent depression or thoughts of self-harm require professional assessment rather than waiting for an unproven herb.
Useful facts when choosing a product
- He Huan Pi is the dried stem bark of Albizia julibrissin and differs from He Huan Hua, the flower. The source species and plant part should be verified.
- Decoctions, powders, and extracts differ by solvent, marker compounds, concentration, and accompanying herbs. An animal result from one preparation cannot be transferred to every marketed product.
- Human dosing, long-term safety, and drug-interaction data for a standardized single ingredient are inadequate. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, liver or kidney disease, and psychiatric medicines warrant professional review before use.
- Worsening depression, functional decline, possible mania, or thoughts of self-harm or suicide are not situations in which to wait for an herbal response. Urgent mental-health or emergency support is appropriate.
What the research actually shows
Kim 2007 reported that a 200-mg/kg methylene-chloride fraction reduced immobility in the mouse tail-suspension test and that 5-HT1A antagonists reversed the effect. Huang 2023 reviewed constituents, animal antidepressant-like activity, and clinical literature on formulas such as Jieyu Hehuan decoction, but presented no randomized human efficacy trial of Albizia bark alone. The animal and formula literature is retained in the evidence list and explicitly flagged as not single-ingredient human efficacy.
Why this is classified as ?
Animal behavioral and mechanistic data and literature on formulas containing Albizia exist, but no direct literature was found testing whether a standardized single ingredient improves depressed mood in humans. The no-human-efficacy-literature rule gives ? with a null score; quality, interaction, and delayed-care risks remain separate safety issues.
Counterpoint. The verdict does not deny a preclinical signal, but it does not confirm a human effect. Standardization, dose finding, and placebo-controlled trials are needed first.
Rejudgment record. New verdict — Identified antidepressant-like mouse behavior from an Albizia fraction and clinical literature on multi-herb formulas containing Albizia, but found no human efficacy trial of standardized single-ingredient bark for depressed mood or mood elevation, so applied the no-human-efficacy-literature rule
Sub-claim grades by effect
This ingredient is marketed for several effects. A single overall grade blends strong and weak claims together, so each effect is graded separately here. The overall grade reflects the strongest disconfirming or core claim.
| Effect (sub-claim) | Grade | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Relief of depressed mood or mood elevation from single-ingredient Albizia bark | ? | No human efficacy trial of a standardized single ingredient was found. |
Cross-check — Codex and Claude
Evidence Table
| Study | Design | Sample | Funding | Endpoint | Result | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study 1 | Narrative review of Albizia constituents, mechanisms, and formulas containing the herb | 0 | Public support including the National Natural Science Foundation of China | Molecular mechanisms, animal antidepressant-like behavior, and clinical use of formulas | The review summarized animal and formula signals but did not establish human efficacy of Albizia bark alone. | Documents the single-ingredient human evidence gap |
| Study 2 | Mouse tail-suspension pharmacology experiment | Indexed as non-U.S. government research support | Immobility time and response to serotonin-receptor antagonists | A 200-mg/kg methylene-chloride fraction reduced immobility and implicated 5-HT1A signaling. | Preclinical hypothesis, not human efficacy |
Receipt — 2 References
All 2 cited sources were verified for existence at the original page (as of 2026-07-19).
Reviewed and approved: Chamgap Editorial Team · Approval date: 2026-07-19 · Corrections: none
Cite this verdict
[Chamgap] Albizia julibrissin bark x relief of depressed mood and mood elevation — Evidence Grade ?. 2 cited sources checked. Source: https://chamgap.com/en/verdicts/mood/albizia-julibrissin-bark-depressive-mood-mood-elevation/ · CC BY 4.0CC BY 4.0 — free to use with attribution; do not distort grades, numbers, or verdict meaning.
What this document does and does not do
Chamgap is an information source. It reports what research has and has not confirmed; it does not tell readers what to take or buy. That decision belongs to readers and, when needed, medical or legal professionals. This verdict reflects literature available up to the search date and may change as new research appears. Nothing here is medical advice.