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The scientific name of the orchid tree is Bauhinia variegata Linn.

Scientific names Common names

Bauhinia chinensis (DC.) Vogel Butterfly tree (Engl.)


Bauhinia decora Uribe Mountain ebony (Engl.)
Bauhinia variegata Linn. Red flowered bauhinia (Engl.)
Bauhinia variegata var. variegata Orchid tree (Engl.)
Phanera variegata (L.) Benth. Poor man's orchid (Engl.)
Orchid tree is an English common names shared by several Bauhinia species: (1) B.
variegata (2) B. purpurea and (3) B. monandra.
Butterfly tree, derived from the "butterfly" shape of the leaves common to many Bauhin
species, is a common name shared by many Bauhinia species, among them: B. purpurea
monandra, B. variegata.
Bauhinia variegata L. is an accepted name
Other vernacular names

ASSAMESE: Kotora, Kurol.


BENGALI: Raktakanchan.
CHINESE: Yang ti jia.
HINDI: Kachnar.
KANNADA: Arisinantige, Ayata, Bilikanjivala, Irkubalitu.
MANIPURI: Chingtrao.
NEPALI: Koiralo.
SANSKRIT: Ashmantaka, Asphota, Chamarika, Chamari.

The orchid tree is a genus of more than 200 species. The genus was
named after the Bauhin brothers, Swiss-French botanists. The
leaves share the double-leaf configuration of a heart, or more
popularly, that of a butterfly.

The Hongkong orchid tree (Bauhinia blakeana is named after one of


the British Governors of Hongkong, Sir Henry Blake, 1898-1903)
and is now the floral emblem of Hongkong. The flower looks like an
orchid, and thus has earned the name "Orchid Tree." It is usually
sterile, and debated as of hybrid origin between Bauhinia variegata
and Bauhinia purpurea.

Botany

Bauhinia variegata is a moderate sized deciduous tree growing to a


height of 10 meters or more. Leaves are alternate and lobed to one-
third of their length, heart-shaped at the base with a deep cleft that
divides the apex. Flowers are in short racemes, faintly fragrant,
petals broad and overlapping, lavender to purple or white. Pods are
long, narrow, flattened,10 to 15 centimeters by 1.5 to 2.5
centimeters, containing 5 to 10 seeds.

Distribution

Ornamental.

Parts used

Bark, leaves, flowers, roots.

Constituents
- Yields flavonoids:quercetin, rutin, apigenin and apigenin 7-O-
glucoside.

- Phytoscreening reported flavonoids, lectin and albumin.

- Stem yields sitosterol, lupeol, kaempferol-3-glucoside and 5,7-


dihydroxy and 5,7-dimethoxy flavanone-4-O--L-rhamnopyranosyl--
Dglucopyranosides.

- Flowers contain cyanidine-3-glucoside, malvidin-3-glucoside,


malvidin-3-diglucoside, and peonidin
3-diglucoside, kaempferol-3-galactoside and kaempferol-3-
rhamnoglucoside.

- Root bark yielded a new flavanone: (2S)5,7-dimethoxy-3'- 4' -


methylene dioxyf lavanone and a new dihydrobenzoxepin 5,6-
dihydro-1,7dihydroxy-3,4- 2,3 dimethoxy-2-methyldibenz (b,f)
oxepin.
Medicinal properties of orchid tree

Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, anthelmintic.

Bark is alterative, astringent and tonic.

Uses
Culinary

In India, flower buds used as a vegetable dish.

Folkloric traditional medicine remedies, uses and benefits


of orchid tree

- The bark is used for the treatment of skin diseases, scrofula and
ulcers.

- Bark used to treat obesity and diarrhea.


- The dried buds are used in the treatment of piles, dysentery,
diarrhea and worms.

- Root is used as an antidote to snake poison.

- Decoction of the root used for dyspepsia.

- In India, powdered bark used as tonic, for strains, ulcers, skin


disease. Also, extracts of bark used for treatment of cancer. Roots
used for dyspepsia and as antidote for snake bites.

- In Ayurveda, plant pacifies vitiated kapha, diarrhea, skin diseases,


rectal prolapse, diabetes, inflammation, worms, tumors, piles,
menorrhagia, hemoptysis, and cervical lymphadenopathy.

- Roots used as antidote to snake poison.

Scientific proven health benefits and uses of orchid tree

Analgesic / Antiinflammatory / relieves pain, swelling


and inflammation:

A study showed that the aqueous extract of Bauhinia purpurea


leaves possesses potential pharmacologic activities that confirms
the folkloric use of the plant for use in pain and inflammation.

Antibacterial:

Evaluation of antibacterial activity and phytochemical analysis of


Bauhinia variegata L. bark: Defatted acetone and methanol extracts
showed the most antibacterial activity.

Antibacterial:

The aqueous and methanol extracts of 12 plants from different


families was studied for antibacterial activity against B cereus, S
epidermis, E aerogenes, P vulgari and S typhimurium. Among the
plant screened, B variegata bark showed the best antibacterial
activity.

Antiinflammatory:
Study isolated six flavonoids and one triterpene caffeate. The seven
compound significantly and dose-dependently inhibited function
involved in the inflammatory proceses. Results support the folkloric
use of BV in its use for inflammatory conditions.

Antiinflammatory / Flavonol Glycoside:

Study yielded a novel flavonol glycoside 5,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxy-3-


methoxy-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->3)-)-beta-
galactopyranoside from the root which showed anti-inflammatory
activity.

Hepatoprotective/ protects liver:

Hepatoprotective Properties of Bauhinia variegata Bark Extract: In


carbon tetrachloride intoxicated rats, extract of stem bark of Bv
showed significant hepatoprotective actisvity and a promising agent
for that purpose.

Chemopreventive / Cytotoxic:

Chemoprevention and cytotoxic effect of Bauhinia variegata against


N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) induced liver tumors and human
cancer cell lines: Results showed chemopreventive and cytotoxic
effect of ethanol extract of BV against induced DEN liver tumor and
human cancer lines.

Antitumor / Cytotoxic:

Ethanol extract of B variegata evaluated against Dalton's ascitic


lymphoma in Swiss albino mice showed significant enhancement of
survival time and reverse hematologic parameters consequent to
tumor inoculation.

Antioxidant / Antihyperlipidemic:

Study of alcoholic and aqueou extract of Bv effectively decreased


plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, VLDL and increase
HDL levels and also showed significant antioxidant
activity. EBV was found to be a potent cytotoxic toward
EAC tumor cell.
Pharmacognosy / Phytochemicals:

Study yielded steroid, saponin, flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins.

Immunomodulatory:

Study on the ethanolic extract of the stem bark of Bv showed


significant increase in the primary and secondary humoral antibody
response and show promise as an immunomodulatory agent,
probably through stimulation of both the specific and nonspecific
arms of immunity.

Immunomodulatory:

Study evaluating the immunomodulatory activity of stem bark


extracts showed predominantly significant activity on in vitro
human neutrophils in all parameters. Results suggested a possible
immunostimulating effect.

Anti-Diabetic:

Study showed the presence of insulin-like properties in the leave of


Bv. The activity of this insulin-like protein on serum glucoe levels in
diabetic mice was similar to that of commercial swine insulin used a
control.

Antihelmintic:

Study showed significant anthelmintic activity by methanolic


extract of B variegata against both mature male and female
Haemonchu contortus.

Hypolipidemic:

Study of extracts of bark of Bauhinia variegata showed significant


reduction in total cholesterol and LDL in Triton-induced
hyperlipidemia in rats. The HDL increase was not significant.

Anti-Obesity Effect:

Study of root extract showed an anti-obesity activity attributed to its


hypophagic, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect.
Nephroprotective / protects kidney/ Antioxidant:

Study of ethanol and aqueous roots extracts in gentamicin-induced


nephrotoxicity in rats showed significant nephroprotective activity.
Antioxidant activity was shown on a DPPH assay model.

Chemopreventive:

Study of B. variegata bark in mice showed a chemopreventive


potential against DMBA-induced skin carcinogenesis.

Antimutagenic:

Study of bark extract B. variegata showed a preventive potential


against cyclophosphamide-induced micronucleus formation in
Swiss mouse bone marrow cells.

Antipyretic / help relives fever :

Study of ethanolic extract showed antipyretic activity probably


through inhibitionof prostaglandin synthesis in the hypothalamus.

Anti-Eosinophilic:

Study of aqueous and ethanl extracts of BV against milk-induced


leucocytosis and eosinophic in mice showed a significant dose-
dependent reduction in total leucocyte and eosinophil counts
suggesting an antieosinophilic activity.

Anti-Ulcer / Analgesic:

Study of root extracts showed significant dose-dependent analgesic


and significant anti-ulcer activity. The activities were attributed to
the presence of flavonoids.

Chemopreventive / Cytotoxic:

Study of ethanol extract of BV showed significant chemopreventive


and cytotoxic effect against DEN (N-nitrosodiethylamine)-induced
liver tumor and human cancer cell lines.

Antioxidant:
Study showed the extract of leaves of G. pentaphylla and Bauhinia
variegata inhibited free radical scavenging activity. The effect was
attributed to flavonoids, phenolics and other phytochemical
constituents.

Antipyretic / relives fever :

Study of ethanolic extracts of B. variegata and Glcosmis pentaphylla


exhibited significant antipyretic activities in Brewer's yeast induced
pyrexia in rats. Activity was attributed to inhhibition of
prostaglandin synthesis in the hypothalamus.

Chemopreventive / DBMA-induced Skin Carcinogenesis:

Study investigated the anticarcinogenic activity of B. variegata bark


extract in a skin papilloma model in Swiss albino mice. Results
showed a chemopreventive role for bark extracts against DBMA-
induced skin carcinogenesis in mice with decrease in rate of tumor
incidence, number of papillomas, tumor yield and tumor burden.

Anti-Inflammatory:

Study investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of leaves, barks,


and roots using three in vivo animal models: carrageenan induced
rat paw edema, cotton pellets induced granuloma formation, and
adjuvant induced arthritis in rat. An ethanol extract and petroleum
ether extract demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in the three
bioassays.

Analgesic / Antifungal / Cytotoxic:

Study investigating an ethanolic extract of the plant showed


analgesci activity by eddy's hot plate method, in vitro cytotoxicity
against DLA cells lines by Typan blue assay method, and good
antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida
albicans.

Radical Scavenging / Natural Antioxidant:

Study of leaf, stem bark, floral buds extracts showed remarkable


concentration dependent free radical scavenging and reducing
power. Results suggest a potential source of natural antioxidant.
Antimicrobial / Anticancer Activities:

Study evaluated extracts of B. variegata generated through in vivo


and in vitro processes for antibacterial and anticancer activities.
Activity was greater against gram positive bacteria compared to
gram negative bacterial. In vitro cytotoxicity screening showed
inhibition of EAC mouse cell lines.

Antibacterial / Anticancer / Antioxidant / Leaves:

Study evaluated the phytochemical, antimicrobial, and anticancer


activities of B. variegata leaf extracts. Petroleum ether and
chloroform fractions showed considerable inhibition against
Klebsiella pneumonia. An ethanol extract showed the lowest MBC
(3.5 mg/mL) against Pseudomonas spp. Dose dependent response
was observed in reducing power of the extracts. Many extracts
showed significant antioxidant response in beta carotene bleaching
assay. Aqueous fraction showed pronounced cytotoxic effect against
against DU-145, HOP-62, IGR-OV-1, MCF-7, and THP-1 human
cancer cell lines with 9099% cell growth inhibitory activity.

Nephroprotective / Leaves:

Study of methanolic extract of leaves showed nephroprotective


activity in gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity. The extract showed a
very good protective effect (p<0.001) in the control of
creatinine, urea, and uric acid.

Cytotoxic Activity / HeLa Cell Line:

Study investigated the in vitro anticancer activity of a flavonoid rich


fraction of an ethanolic bark extract on HeLa cell lines.
Results confirm the induction of apoptosis by in malignant
HeLa cell lines at a dose level of 191.5 g/ml and also
arrested the replication of cells at G0/G1 phase.

Acute and Repeated Dose Toxicity / Leaves:

Study investigated the safety of a methanolic extract of leaves after


acute and repeated dose administration in rodents. NOAEL (no-
observed adverse effect level) of the ME was found to be 2000
mg/kg. In repeated dose toxicity study, no mortality was seen
during a 28-day period. Histopathology of important organs
showed normal structure. Results showed the leaves to be safe in
acute and repeated dose toxicity studies in mice and rats.

Anti-Inflammatory / Leaves:

Study evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of a leaf extract


using three in vivo animal models: carrageenan induced rat paw
edema, cotton pellets induced granuloma formation, and adjuvant
induced arthritis in rats. Both ethanol extract and PE fraction
demonstrated activity in all three bioassays. The activity compared
favorable with diclofenac.

Availability

Ornamental cultivation.

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