Bauhinia malabarica Health Dictionary

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Bauhinia Malabarica: From 1 Different Sources

Roxb.

Family: Caesalpiniaceae.

Habitat: South India, Assam and Bengal.

English: Malabar Mountain Ebony.

Ayurvedic: Ashmantaka var., Kaanchanaara var. (in the South).

Siddha/Tamil: Malaiyatti.

Folk: Aapataa (Maharashtra), Amli, Amlosaa.

Action: Antidysenteric.

The plant contains flavonoid gly- cosides—quercitroside, iso-quercitro- side, rutoside, taxifoline rhamnoside, kaempferol glycosides and quercetol glycoside.
Health Source: Indian Medicinal Plants
Author: Health Dictionary

Ailanthus Malabarica

DC.

Synonym: A. triphysa (Dennst.) Alston.

Family: Simaroubaceae.

Habitat: The evergreen forests of western Ghats from Konkan southwards.

Siddha: Perumaram.

Folk: Guggul-dhuupa. (Maharashtra.)

Action: Bark—febrifuge, carminative (given in typhoid, dyspepsia and constipation). Oleo resin— used for dysentery and bronchitis.

The bark and roots give a number of beta-carboline alkaloids. The resin- uous exudates from trunk give several triterpenoids, including malabaricol and malabaricanediol.... ailanthus malabarica

Anisomeles Malabarica

(Linn.) R. Br. ex Sims

Family: Labiatae; Lamiaceae.

Habitat: The western Ghats from Maharashtra to Karnataka; Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

English: Malabar Catmint.

Ayurvedic: Sprikkaa.

Siddha/Tamil: Irattaipeyameratti.

Action: Antispasmodic (used in dyspepsia, colic), antipyretic, diaphoretic, antiperiodic, emme- nagogue, antirheumatic. The oil is used externally as an embrocation in rheumatic arthritis.

The plant contains beta-sitosterol, letulinic acid, ovatodiolide and ani- somelic acid. The essential oil from tops and flowers yield a terpene hydrocarbon, citral and geranic acid.... anisomeles malabarica

Bauhinia

Bauhinia variegata

Caesalpiniaceae

San: Kancanarah, Kovidarah;

Hin: Kancanar;

Ben: Rakta Kanchan;

Tam: Sigappu-mandarai

Mal: Mandaram, Chuvannamandaram, Malayakatti, Kongu, Kongumandaram;

Tel: Daeva Kanchanamu, Mandara;

Kan: Ullipe, Kanchavala, Kempu Mandara

Importance: In traditional medicine, Bauhinia is extensively used in glandular diseases and as an antidote to poison. The drug is also reported to be useful in dysentery, diarrhoea, piles and worms (Kurup et al, 1979; Sharma et al, 1983). They are useful in vitiated conditions of kapha and pitta, diarrhoea, dysentery, skin diseases, leprosy, intestinal worms, tumours, wounds, ulcers, inflammations, scrofula, protoptosis, haemorrhoids, haemoptysis, cough, menorrhagia and diabetics. Usirasavam and Candanasavam are some of the preparations using the drug. An important Ayurvedic preparation, “Kanchnar Guggal” contains bark of this plant. In Unani system, the flowers are used in “Hab Mussafi Khun”, for skin diseases, the bark is used in “Sufuf Kalan”-an aphrodisiac.

Distribution: The plant is distributed in the Sub-Himalayan tracts from the Indus eastwards and throughout the dry forests of India, ascending to 1300m. It is also cultivated throughout the plains.

Botany: Bauhinia variegata Linn. syn. B.

candida Roxb. belonging to the family Caesalpiniaceae is a moderate sized deciduous tree with vertically cracked grey bark, wood moderately hard, greyish brown with irregular darker patches. Leaves are of 2 leaflets, connate for about two-thirds up. Leaflets are ovate with rounded apex, 10-15cm long, pubescent beneath when young and coriaceous. Flowers are white or pink, the uppermost petal darker and variegated usually appearing before the leaves in short axillary or terminal racemes. Stamens are 5 and stamenodes absent. Fruits are flat dehiscent pods with 10-15 seeds (Warrier et al, 1993).

Other important species of the genus Bauhinia are as follows.

1. B. tomentosa Linn.

It is the yellow or golden flowered one, commonly known as Manja Mandaram. It is found in Africa and Asia. In India it is found wild in dry deciduous forests and often cultivated. The plant is antidysenteric, antidote for snakebite and scorpion sting and also used in liver complaints. The bark is astringent. Root bark is vermifuge. Fruit is diuretic. Seed is tonic, wound healing and aphrodisiac.

2. B. purpurea Linn.

Pink Bauhinia or Camel’s Foot tree is found in South and S. E. Asia. In India, it is found in deciduous forests. Root is carminative and tonic. Bark is astringent and antidiarrhoeal and is used in ulcer and goitre. Flowers are laxative. The experimental studies conducted by Sijoria and Prasad (1979) on animals indicate that B. purpurea is very effective in normalising the thyroid gland.

3. B. racemosa Lam.

The plant is found in Sub-Himalayan tracts, in U.P, West Bengal, Central and South India. The leaf is anticephalalgic and antimalarial. Bark is astringent, antidiarrhoeal. The seeds are antibacterial. Stem-bark is CVS and CNS active, hypothermic and anticancerous.

4. B. malabarica Roxb.

Malabar Mountain Ebony is found in Sub-Himalayan tracts, from Kumaon to West Bengal, ascending to 1350m, Assam, Bihar and South India. The flowers of this plant are antidysenteric.

5. B. retusa Roxb.

The plant is distributed in north-western Himalayas from the Beas eastwards, Himachal Pradesh, U.P., Orissa, M.P. and A.P. The gum of the plant is emmenagogue, diuretic and can be used externally in sores. The seed is hypoglycaemic and hypocholesterolaemic. The aerial part is CVS active and has effect on respiration.

6. B. vahlii W.&A.

Camel’s Foot climber is found in Punjab, Bihar, Assam, Madhy Pradesh, Andra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Leaf is demulcent. Seed is tonic and aphrodisiac. Stem is CVS active, antiarrhythmic and spasmolytic.

Agrotechnology: Well drained hilly areas are ideal for the cultivation of Bauhinia. The plant is seed propagated. Seeds are formed in February-March. Seeds are to be collected from the dried pods, soaked in water for 12 hours before sowing in seedbeds. At four-leaved stage they are to be transferred to polybags. Two month old seedlings from polybags are used for field planting. Pits of size 60cm cube are to be taken and filled with 10kg dried cowdung mixed with topsoil and formed into a mound. On these seedlings are to be planted at a distance of 6-7.5m. Irrigation is to be given in the first year. Two weedings and application of organic manure once is required in a year. The plant is not attacked by any serious pests and diseases. The plant flowers on the third year. At the end of tenth year the tree can be cut and wood used for medicinal purposes (Prasad et al, 1997).

Properties and activity: Flowers contain flavanoids-kaempferol-3-galactoside and kaempferol-3- rhamnoglucoside. Stem bark yields hentriacontane, octacosanol and stigmasterol. Stem yields -sitisterol, lupiol and a flavanone glycoside-5, 7-dimethoxy flavanone 4-O- -L- rhamnopyranoside- -D-glucopyranoside. Seeds possess human blood agglutinating activity. Stem bark is hypothermic, CNS active and depressant. Bud, flower, leaf and stembark are antibacterial. Stem possesses juvenoid activity. Bark is alterative, tonic, antileprotic and antirheumatic. Bud is antidysenteric. Root is carminative and antidote for snakebite. Bark, flower and root promote suppuration. Bark and bud are astringent and vermifuge (Husain et al, 1992).... bauhinia

Bauhinia Acuminata

Linn.

Family: Caesalpiniaceae.

Habitat: Central India.

English: Dwarf White Bauhinia.

Ayurvedic: Kaanchnaara, Kovidaara (white-flowered var.)

Unani: Kachnaal.

Siddha/Tamil: Vellaimandarai.

Action: Bark and leaves—a decoction is given in biliousness, stone in bladder, venereal diseases, leprosy and asthma. Root—boiled with oil is applied to burns.... bauhinia acuminata

Bauhinia Purpurea

Linn.

Habitat: The Himalayas, and distributed in Northern India, Assam, Khasi Hills. Also cultivated in gardens.

English: Camel's Foot tree, Pink Bauhinia, Butterfly tree, Geramium tree, Orchid tree.

Ayurvedic: Kovidaara, Rakta Kaanchanaara.

Unani/Siddha: Sivappu mandaarai.

Siddha: Mandarai.

Folk: Koilaara, Khairwaal, Kaliaar, Rakta Kanchan.

Action: Bark—astringent, antidiar- rhoeal. Flower buds and flowers, fried in purified butter, are given to patients suffering from dysentery. Extract of stems are used internally and externally for fractured bones. Plant is used in goitre. It exhibited antithyroid-like activity in experimental animals.

The flowers contain astragalin, iso- quercitrin and quercetin, also antho- cyanins. Seeds contain chalcone gly- cosides.... bauhinia purpurea

Bauhinia Racemosa

Lamk

Family: Caesalpiniaceae.

Habitat: Sub-Himalayan tracts from Ravi eastwards, ascending to 1,000 m. in the Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Central and South India.

Ayurvedic: Ashmantaka, Kanchini.

Unani: Kachnaar.

Folk: Aapataa (Maharashtra), Kachnaala.

Action: Bark—highly astringent, anti-inflammatory (used in glandular inflammations, skin diseases, ulcers), cholagogue. Leaves—anthelmintic; with onion for diarrhoea. Flowers—used in haemorrhages, piles; also in cough. Seed—antibacterial.

Octacosane, beta-amyrin and beta- sitosterol have been isolated from the bark. EtOH (50%) extract of seeds exhibited anticancer activity.... bauhinia racemosa

Bauhinia Retusa

Roxb.

Synonym: B. semla Wunderlin.

Family: Caesalpiniaceae.

Habitat: Northwestern Himalayas up to 1500 m, also in Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

Siddha: Nirpa (Telugu).

Folk: Semalaa, Kathmahuli. Gum— Thaur

Action: Gum—emmenagogue, diuretic. (Gum resembles Gum arabic; used as an external application for sores). Protein isolated from seeds—hypoglycaemic, hypoc- holesterolaemic in young, normal as well as alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats.

The bark contains quercetin-3-O- beta-D-glucoside and rutin.... bauhinia retusa

Bauhinia Tomentosa

Linn.

Family: Caesalpiniaceae.

Habitat: Southern India, Assam and Bihar.

English: Yellow Bauhinia, St. Thomas tree, Bell Bauhinia.

Ayurvedic: Pita Kovidaara (yellow- flowered var.), Pita Kanchana.

Siddha/Tamil: Kokkumandarai, Tiruvaatti, Kanjani.

Folk: Kachnaar.

Action: Antidysenteric. Fruit— diuretic. Bark—astringent. Root bark—vermifuge. A decoction of the root bark is prescribed for liver diseases. Seed—used for wound healing.

Seeds yield a fatty oil called ebony oil, a water soluble mucilage and saponins. Flowers gave isoquercitrin (6%), rutin (4.6%) and quercetin (small amounts).... bauhinia tomentosa

Bauhinia Variegata

Linn.

Synonym: B. candida Roxb.

Family: Caesalpiniaceae.

Habitat: Punjab, Western Peninsula and Assam. Also cultivated in gardens.

English: Mountain Ebony, Buddhist Bauhinia.

Ayurvedic: Kaanchanaara, Kaan- chanaaraka, Kanchanak, Kaan- chana, Gandhaari, Sonapushpaka, Ashmantaka.

Siddha/Tamil: Sivappumanchori.

Action: Buds—a decoction is given in piles (also used against tumours), haematuria, menorrhagia. Dried buds are used in diarrhoea, dysentery, worm infestation, piles and tumours. Root— carminative, used in dyspepsia and flatulence (a decoction is reported to prevent obesity). Bark—astringent, anthelmintic; used externally in scrofula and skin diseases. Seeds—possess human blood agglutinating activity. Leaf— antifungal.

Along with other therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicated the use of the stem bark in lymphadenitis and goitre. (Ka- anchnaar Guggulu is prescribed for glandular swellings and goitre.)

Water-soluble portion of alcoholic extract of the plant showed preventive effect against goitre in rats.

Flowers gave flavonoids, kaempfe- rol-3-galactoside and kaempferol-3- rhamnoglucoside. The stem bark yields hentriacontane, octacosanol and stigmasterol. Stem contains beta-sitos- terol, lupeol and a flavanone glyco- side.

Dosage: Stem bark—20-30 g for decoction. (API Vol. I.)... bauhinia variegata

Myristica Malabarica

Lam.

Family: Myristicaceae.

Habitat: Western Ghats, Kanara and Malabar.

English: Malabar Nutmeg, False Nutmeg, Bombay Nutmeg, Bombay Mace.

Ayurvedic: Paashikaa, Raamapatri, Ku-Jaavitri. Pashupaashi (Kerala).

Siddha/Tamil: Pathiri, Kattu Jhadi.

Action: Topically stimulant; applied to indolent ulcers.

The fruit rind yielded diarylno- nanoids and a lignin, malabaricanol. Leaves gave beta-sitosterol, myristic acid and its triglyceride, trimyristin.

Fat and resin are the major constituents of the Bombay mace. The crude fat (Pundi oil) is used as an embrocation in rheumatism. The bark yields a kino. Ripe fruits form the source of Bombay Nutmeg and Bombay Mace, used as adulterant of Myristica fragrans.

Dosage: Seed kernel—1.5 g powder; oil—1-3 drops. (CCRAS.)... myristica malabarica

Salmalia Malabarica

(DC) Schott & Endl.

Synonym: Bombax ceiba Linn. Bombax malabaricum DC. Gossampinus malabarica (DC.) Merr.

Family: Bombacaceae.

Habitat: The hotter parts of India, up to 1,350 m.

Ayurvedic: Shaalmali, Mochaa, Mochaahva, Pichhila, Raktapushpa, Sthiraayu, Kankataadhya, Tuulini. Shaalmali-veshtaka (gum).

Unani: Semal. Mochras (gum).

Siddha: Mul Ilavam. Ielavampisin (gum).

Folk: Semar.

Action: Young roots (Semul- musali)—astringent, (used for dysentery) stimulant, demulcent. Fruits—stimulant, diuretic, expectorant. Used for chronic inflammation of bladder, kidney also for calculus affections. Flowers— astringent and cooling, applied to cutaneous affections. Leaves— anti-inflammatory. Stem bark— demulcent, styptic. Aqueous extract with curd is given for blood- dysentery. Bark—paste is applied to skin eruptions, boils, acne, pimples. Seeds used for chickenpox, smallpox, catarrhal affections, chronic cystitis and genitourinary diseases. Gum—astringent, demulcent, styptic. Used for diarrhoea, dysentery, haemoptysis, bleeding piles, menor- rhagia, spermatorrhoea. Root and pod—used for the treatment of low vitality and debility.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia recommends the stem bark in bleeding disorders and in acne vul- garis.

All parts of the plant gave beta- sitosterol and its glucosides; seeds, bark and root bark, lupeol; flowers, hentri- acontane, hentriacontanol; root bark, in addition, gave 7-hydroxycadalene. The seed oil yields arachidic, linoleic, myristic, oleic and palmitic acids; seeds contain carotenes, n-hexacosanol, et- hylgallate and tocopherols; the gum contains gallic and tannic acids, yields L-arbinose, D-galactose, D-galacturo- nic acid and D-galactopyranose.

Younger roots contain more sugars (arabinose and galactose 8.2%) and peptic substances (6.0%) than the older ones. They contain mucilage, starch (71.2%), mineral matter (2.1%), tannins 0.4 and non-tannins 0.1%, along with other constituents.

The Musali compares favourably with the nutritive value of Pueraria tuberosa, Dioscorea bulbifera, Ipomoea digitata and Butea monosperma (all used in sexual debility).

A related species, Salmalia insig- nis (Wall.) Schott & Endl., synonym Bombax insigne Wall. (Assam, Western Ghats and the Andamans); is known as Semul; Dumboil (Assam), Didu (Andamans) and Kal-ilavu (Tamil Nadu).

Dosage: Stem bark—5-10 g powder. (API, Vol. III.) Flower, bark root— 3-5 g powder. (CCRAS.)... salmalia malabarica

Tinospora Malabarica

Miers ex Hook. f.

Synonym: T. sinensis (Lour.) Merrill.

T. tomentosa (Colebr.) Miers.

Family: Menispermaceae.

Habitat: Throughout India, ascending to an altitude of 1,000 m.

Ayurvedic: Kandodbhava-guduchi, Vatsaadani, Padma-Guduuchi.

Folk: Gurch.

Action: Fresh leaves and stem are used in chronic rheumatism. Known as "muscle-relaxing vine" in China.

Used as a substitute for T. cordifolia. The plant is an inferior substitute as it contains less of carbohydrates, sterols, alkaloids and tannins.

Alkaloid magnoflorine shows hy- potensive as well as curare-like effect in animals.... tinospora malabarica

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