Abstract

PHARMACOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF BAUHINIA VARIEGATA: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Jagdeep Kaur*, Harsimran Singh, Dilrajroop Kaur, MU Khan

ABSTRACT

Bauhinia variegata commonly known as Camel’s foot tree or Orchid tree belonging to family Leguminosae and is widely distributed in various tropical countries. The different parts of the plant like stem bark, leaves, stem, flower buds, seeds and roots have been used in folk medicine for the cure of variety of diseases. Considerable efforts have been made by researchers to study the chemical and biological potential of the plant. The reported pharmacological activities of B. variegata are anti-diabetic, anti-ulcer, anti-oxidant, nephroprotective, anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial. The various results of pre-clinical studies showed that Bauhinia variegata appears as a promising therapeutic agent and can play an important role in the invention of new and effective medicinal agents.

Keywords: Bauhinia variegata, flavonoids, lectin, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, nephroprotective, anti-cancer, hepatoprotective.