Ebony Health Dictionary

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

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.... bauhinia malabarica

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

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

Koenig.

Synonym: D. hebecarpa A. Cunn ex Benth.

Family: Ebenaceae.

Habitat: Orissa and South India.

English: Ebony Persimmon, Malabar Ebony, Ceylon Ebony.

Ayurvedic: Tinduka.

Unani: Aaabnuus.

Siddha/Tamil: Acha-Thumbi.

Action: Plant—astringent, attenuant, lithontriptic.

The heartwood contains 2 beta- naphthalhydes, 2 naphthoic acid derivatives; ceryl alcohol, betulin, alpha- amyrin, ursolic acid, baurenol and stigmasterol. The leaves contain ur- solic acid, alpha-amyrin, betulin and lupeol.... diospyros ebenum

Pers.

Synonym: D. peregrina (Gaertn.) Gurke D. malabarica (Desr.) Kostel.

Family: Ebenaceae.

Habitat: Throughout India in shady wet places and near streams.

English: Gaub Persimmon, Riber Ebony

Ayurvedic: Tinduka, Tinduki, Sphu- urjaka, Kaalaskandha, Asitkaaraka. Nilasaara.

Unani: Tendu.

Siddha/Tamil: Tumbika, Kattatti.

Action: Fruit and stem bark— astringent. Infusion of fruits—used as gargle in aphthae and sore throat. Fruit juice—used as application for wounds and ulcers. Oil of seeds— given in diarrhoea and dysentery Ether extract of fruit—antibacterial. Bark—astringent and styptic, used in menorrhagia, diarrhoea, dysentery and intermittent fevers.

A paste is applied to boils and tumours. The ethyl acetate extract showed antistress and anti-ulcerogenic activity. It also prevented hepatotoxi- city and leucocytosis in experimental animals.

The bark contains betulinic acid, myricyl alcohol, triterpenoids and sa- ponin. The leaves gave beta-sitosterol, betulin and oleanolic acid. Fruit pulp and seeds contain lupeol, betulin, gallic acid, betulinic acid, hexacosane, hex- acosanol, sitosterol, beta-D-glucoside of sitosterol and a triterpene ketone.

Stem bark—antiprotozoal, antiviral, hypoglycaemic, semen-coagulant. Stems yielded nonadecan-7-ol-one.

Dosage: Bark—50-100 ml decoction. (CCRAS.)... diospyros embryopteris

Roxb.

Synonym: D. dubia Wall. ex A. DC.

Family: Ebenaceae.

Habitat: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Peninsula.

English: Coromandel Ebony, Persimmon.

Ayurvedic: Tinduka (var.), Dirgha- patrakaa.

Siddha/Tamil: Karum Dumbi, Thumbi, Beedi-elai.

Action: Leaves—carminative, laxative, diuretic, styptic. Bark— astringent. Used in dyspepsia and diarrhoea. Unripe fruit— carminative and astringent. Ripe fruit—antibilious. Dried flowers— used in anaemia, inflammation of spleen, also in leucorrhoea. Leaf and dried flower—used in dyspepsia and diarrhoea, topically in scabies. Aerial parts—hypotensive.

Half-ripe fruit contains 23, ripe fruit 15 and bark 19% tannin.

The bark and sapwood extracts yield beta-sitosterol, lupeol, betulin and be- tulinic acid. Leaves contain hentria- contane, hentriacontanol, alpha-amy- rin, baurenol, ursolic, oleanolic and be- tulinic acids.... diospyros melanoxylon

Roxb.

Synonym: D. exsculpta Buch.-Ham.

Family: Ebenaceae.

Habitat: Sub-Himalayan tract from Ravi to Nepal, also in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Orrisa.

English: Nepal Ebony Persimmon.

Ayurvedic: Viralaa, Tinduka (var.).

Siddha/Tamil: Tumbi.

Action: Astringent, anti- inflammatory, styptic. Various plant parts are used for dry cough, bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, dysuria, fistula, tumours, bleeding gums, haemorrhagic conditions.

The leaves and stems gave beta- sitosterol, lupeol, betulin, betulinic and oleanolic acids.

Unsaponifiable matter of seeds showed CNS depressant activity.... diospyros tomentosa