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Gen info
Native to South America, The first
species recorded in the Philippines was Bougainvillea
spectabilis. The other species, B.
glabra and B. peruviana
were introduced much later. The cultivated hybrids have produced a considerable
variety in size, color, form and numbers of showy bracts. The genus
is derives its name from Antoiine de Bougainville, first Frenchman to
cross the Pacific.
Botany
A woody climber that can grow to a
height of more than 10 meters, with large thorny stems and long drooping
branches. The leaves are petioled, alternate, ovate, with entire margins,
6 to 10 cm long, broadest near the base. Thorns are the axils assist
the plant in climbing. Flowers are in groups of threes, each subtended
by three, broad, purplish bracts, about 3-5 cm long. Flowers are small,
each inserted on a bract, tubular, inflated midway through its length,
of varying colors.
Distribution
Ornamental planting.
Propagated by cuttings.
Constituents
and properties
Reported constituents on B. glabra
are pinitol, betacyanine, flavonoids, tannins and alkaloids.
Leaves considered to have antiinflammatory activity.
Pinnitol in B. spectabilis considered helpful in non-insulin diabetes.
Parts utilized
Leaves, stems, flowers
Uses
Folkloric
Not
known in the Philippines for any medicinal use.
Traditional practitioners in Mandsaur
use the leaves for a variety of disorders, for diarrhea, and to reduce
stomach acidity.
Elsewhere, for cough, sore throat.
For blood vessels and leucorrhea: a decoction of dried flowers, 10 g
in 4 glasses of water.
For hepatitis, a decoction of dried stems, 10 g in 4 glasses of water.
In Panama, an infusion of the flowers of B. glabra used as treatment
for low blood pressure.
Studies
• Anti-ulcer
/ Anti-diarrheal / Anti-microbial: Leaves studied for
antidiarrheal, anti-ulcer, and anti-microbial activities.
• Recent interests in anti-diabetic drugs from Bougainvillea leaves..(Dr.
V. P. Singh, Deen Dayal Research Institute, Chitrakoot, MP. http://www.brncop.org/tpublication.html
• Insulin-like effect of pinitol:
Pinnitol, an active principle of the traditional antidiabetic plant
B. spectabilis, is claimed to exert insulin-like effects. The study
supported the view that D-pinnitol may exert an insulin-like effect
to improve glycemic control in hypoinsulinemic STZ-diabetic mice. D-
pinnitol may act via a post-receptor pathway of insulin action affecting
glucose uptake.
• Antimicbacterial:
Study on various solvent extracts of Bougainvillea spectabilis leaves
showed maximum inhibitory effect on tested bacteria (S aureus, B subtilis,
S faecalis, Micrococcus luteus, E coli, P aeruginosa, S typhii, K pneumonia,
P vulgaris, S marcdescens, S flexneri.
• Antidiabetic:
Study of B spectabilis aqueous and methanolic extracts showed good glucose
tolerance and significantly reduced intestinal glucosidase activity,
with regeneration of insulin-producing cells and increase in plasma
insulin. Results suggest a potential for development of new neutraceutical
treatment for diabetes.
• Amylase Inhibition:
Study of the chloroform extract of B spectabilis showed significant
alpha-amylase inhibitory property.
• Color and Bioactivity:
Study of the methanolic extracts of B spectabilis flowers of five different colors, screened biologically on antibacterial, antifungal, brine shimp lethality and phytotoxicity assays showed that the extract of the white flowers was the most biologically active.
• Anti-Fertility:
Study showerd the leaf extract showed adverse effects on male and female reproductive organs: male mice showed more degeneration of gonads in comparison to female mice, with decrease in total sperm count and titer of testosterone; extended the reproductive cycle of female mice by 1-2 days with prolonged metaestrus and decrease in serum estrogen.
• Antihyperlipidemic / D-pinitol:
Study showed the antihyperlipidemic effect of D-pinitol in STZ-induced type 2 diabetic rats, with significant lowering of LDL and VLDL cholesterol levels and significant increase in HDL cholesterol levels.
• Radical Scavenging Activity:
Study found the aqueous extracts of B spectabilis produced more free radical scavenging thasn B divaricata. Results were superior to common synthetic antioxidants used in the food industry and presents a potential for applications in pharmaceutical or alimentary preparations.
Availability
Cultivated.
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