Phytochemistry and Therapeutic potential of Bauhinia racemosa Lam. - A Concise Review

Abstract

Nature has consistently been a healing source of ailments for living organisms from the millennium era. Even though nature comprises of diverse animals and plants of immense therapeutic potential, plants due to its easy accessibility play a predominant lead in this perspective. In this scenario, herbal medicine dawned on the treatment of various diseases and the suffering of mankind. Each plant has to be scientifically explored to validate its therapeutic potential. Bauhinia racemosa Lam. Is a tree broadly distributed in the tropical climate regions of the earth. Bauhinia species are generally flowering trees found in the Caesalpiniaceae family. The plant, from its root to stem bark fibers, possesses curative properties. Ethnopharmacologically, various parts of the plant ranging from the bark of the plant to the gum obtained has been used in a wide spectrum of diseases such as Epilepsy, Diarrhoea, Leucoderma, etc. This plant, due to its wide distribution in the population, is still in use for many ailments among the tribal people. All the therapeutic properties of a plant are the perquisite of the phytoconstituents present in them. B. racemosa is abundant in flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, saponins, and tannins. Many pharmacological actions of the plant have already been proved, which include anti-microbial, anthelmintic, antitumor, antidiabetic activity, etc. This review aims at emphasizing the pharmacological actions and phytochemistry of B. racemosa.