Gen info
- Bauhinis is a genus of more than 200 species. The genus was named after the Bauhin brothers, Swiss-French botanists. The species share the 'butterfly' configuration of the leaves.
- Alibangbang is an Ilongo word for butterfly.

Botany
Alibangbang is a small but stocky tree growing to a height of 8 to 10 meters. Bark is yellowish-brown. Branches are freely rebranched, with a dense crown, the ultimate ones smooth. Leaves are broader than long, 5 to 10 centimeters in length, heart-shaped at the base, deeply notched at the apex. Flowers are white and rather large. Pods are long, narrow, and flattened, 20 to 30 centimeters by 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters.

Distribution
- Very common on open, dry slopes, in regions with long dry seasons in Luzon (Ilocos Norte to Laguna).
- Also occurs in India to Indo-China, Java and Timor.

Constituents
• Bark contains a tannin, 9.5 %.
• Oil extracted from the seeds was 16%, with linolenic 0.81%, linoleic, 47.26%, oleic 15.26%, stearic 19.29%, palmitic 17.18%, myristic 0.02%.
• Yields antimalarial compounds, preracemosols A and B.
• Seeds yield a higher amount of crude lipid. Seeds are rich in minerals Ca, Mg, Fe. Glutelins (45%) comprise the major seed protein; globulins, 34%.
• Methanol extract of leaves yielded seven flavanols: 6,8-di-C-methylkaempferol 3-methyl ether, kaempferol, afzelin, quercetin, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, and hyperoside were isolated from the methanol extract of leaves.

Properties
Considered digestive, emmenagogue, antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, pectoral, stomachic, anthelmintic, antiperiodic.

Parts used
Bark, leaves, flowers.

Uses
Edibility / Culinary / Nutritional
- Leaves are sour, commonly used as flavoring for meat and fish (sinigang and sinampalukan dishes).
- Excellent source of calcium; good source of iron.
Folkloric
- Infusion of fresh flowers for dysentery.
- Decoction of root bark used for liver problems.
- Bark also used for dystentery.
- Leaves applied to the forehead for fevers.
- The roots of Desmodium elegans, combined with the bark juice of Bauhinia malabarica has been used for the treatment of cholera.
- In traditional Thai medicine, used for wound healing, diuretic, emmenagogue, and for dysentery.

Studies
• Flavonols from Bauhinia malabarica: Seven flavanols were isolated from the methanol extract of leaves. Of the isolated compounds, isoquercetin showed the highest scavenging activity.
• Antinociceptive / Antiinflammatory / Antipyretic: A study of aqueous extract of Bauhinia purpurea leaves on animal models showed significant antiinflammatory, antinociceptive and antipyretic activities and confirms the folkloric use of the plant for pain and inflammation.
• Antioxidant: An extract study for the antioxidant activity of six Thai medicinal plants showed Bauhinia malabarica leaves
to have potent inhibitory effect in inhibition of hemoglobin precipitation caused by oxidants.

Availability
Wild-crafted.