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Botany
Small but stocky tree growing to a height
of 8 to 10 meteres. Bark, yellowish brown. Branches freely rebranching,
with a dense crown. Leaves are broader than longer, 5 to 10 cm in length,
heart-shaped at the base, deeply notched at the apex. Flowers, white
and large. Pods are long, narrow, flattened, 20-30 cm by 1.5-2.5 cms.
OTHER INFO
There are many species of Bauhinia. They
share the 'butterfly' configuration of the leaves.
Alibangbang is an Ilongo word for butterfly.
Distribution
In open, dry slopes, in long dry
seasons in Luzon.
Constituents
and chemical properties
• Bark contains
a tannin, 9.5 %.
• From the methanol extract of leaves: 6,8-di-C-methylkaempferol
3-methy ether, kaempferol, afzelin, quercetin, isoquercitrin, quercitrin,
and hyperoside. source
• 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%.
Parts
used
Bark, leaves, flowers.
Medicinal
properties
Digestive, emmenagogue,
antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, pectoral, stomachic, anthelmintic,
antiperiodic.
Uses
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, externally, 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. source
In traditional Thai medicine, used for
wound healing, diuretic, emmenagogue, and for dysentery. source
Studies
• Flavonols from Bauhinia malabarica:
Seven flavanols were isolated
from the methanol extract of leaves.
• 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 to have potent inhibitory effect in inhibition of
hemoglobin precipitation caused by oxidants.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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