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The plant Bauhinia brachycarpa Benth (BBB) has been traditionally used for treating muscle aches such as bone pain, and neuralgia for a long time, on account of its sedative and antinociceptive activities in Yunnan province of China. However, there was no experimental evidence to confirm its traditional medicinal use.The antinociceptive effect and possible mechanism of ethanolic extract of BBB on neuropathic pain was evaluated through a model of partial sciatic nerve ligation in mice.A commonly employed animal model induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL) in mice was established in the aim of studying neuropathic pain. Ethanolic extract of BBB (1000, 500, 250 mg/kg) and pregabalin (60 mg/kg) were intragastric administrated daily for 7 days post-PSNL. Mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia were assessed throughout the experimental period. After the experiment, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in serum were determined by ELISA. The mRNA expressions of ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1), CD16, CD206, arginine-1 (Arg-1), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the spinal cord were detected by qPCR. The protein levels of Iba-1, CD16, CD206, and p38 phosphorylation in the spinal cord were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The phytochemical analysis of BBB was performed through the colorimetric test.Neuropathic pain induced by PSNL was significantly alleviated by BBB treatment, which decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β and iNOS, increased anti-inflammatory cytokine such as IL-10 and Arg-1, and attenuated p38 phosphorylation. BBB also reduced the number of Iba-1 and CD16 positive cells, but it enhanced the number of CD206 positive cells. n-Butanol portion that was partitioned from the ethanolic extract had the highest content of total flavonoids among all the portions, and the antinociceptive effect of n-butanol portion is better than that of other portions.Our findings indicate that the antinociceptive effect of BBB is mediated by inhibiting the inflammatory response and regulating the differentiation of microglia. The antinociceptive effect of BBB was related to the content of total flavonoids.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Bauhinia forficata Link, is a Brazilian native plant and popularly known as pata-de-vaca (“paw-of-cow”). The tea prepared with their leaves has been extensively used in the Brazilian traditional practices for the diabetes treatment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of capsules containing granules of a standardized extract of B. forficata leaves as adjuvant treatment on the glycemic control of patients with type-2 diabetes melitus. Materials and methods A double-blind, randomized clinical trial using capsules containing granules prepared by wet granulation of a standardized extract from B. forficata leaves as adjuvant treatment, was conducted. 92 patients aged 18–75 years from an outpatient clinic with type-2 diabetes were randomly assigned by a simple randomization scheme, in a 1:1 ratio to receive capsules of B. forficata or placebo for four months. The capsules used contain 300 mg of standardized extract from B. forficata leaves, yielding 2% of total flavonoid content per capsule. Primary outcome was glycated hemoglobin levels and fasting plasma glucose at 4 months. Possible harms were also determined. Results The findings showed that at 4 months, the mean fasting plasma glucose levels and glycated hemoglobin were both significantly lower in the B. forficata group than in the placebo group. Conclusion The present study suggests that the adjunctive use of capsules containing standardized extract of B. forficata can add to regular oral anti-diabetics in the metabolic and inflammatory control of type-2 diabetes patients.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Bauhinia championii (Benth.) Benth. is used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat arthritis, especially has been used a long time ago on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in She ethnic minority group. Aim of the research To investigate the anti-RA effect of Bauhinia championii (Benth.) Benth ethyl acetate extract (BCBEE) and the molecular bases of it. Materials and methods BCBEE was studied on a rat model of RA induced by Ⅱcollagen in viv o, as well as on primary synovial cells in vitro . Results After BCBEE treatment, in viv o, it was showed that paw and joint edema was inhibited, pathological joint changes was ameliorated and the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-α) was decreased significantly. The protein and mRNA expressions of nuclear factor- B (NF-κB)(p65), IκB, p-IκB and IκB kinase beta (IκKβ) were also down-regulated. Moreover, the in vitro study revealed that BCBEE treatment inhibited primary synovial cells proliferation, and promoted down-regulation of NF-κB(p65), IκB, p-IκB and IκKβ. Conclusions Taken together, the present study demonstrates that BCBEE produces a protection in a rat model of RA induced by Ⅱcollagen via inhibiting paw and joint edema, ameliorating pathological joint changes and regulating the levels of cytokines and its action mechanism maybe is via down-regulating NF-κB(p65), IκB, p-IκB and IκKβ expression.

Ethnopharmacological relevance The stem and root of Bauhinia strychnifolia Craib (Fabaceae family) have been traditionally used in Thailand to treat fever, alcoholic toxication, allergy and cancer. An EtOH extract of Bauhinia strychnifolia showed good inhibitory activity against several cancer cell lines including HT-29, HeLa, MCF-7 and KB. As there has been no previous reports on chemical constituents of Bauhinia strychnifolia , this study is aimed to isolate the pure compounds with anti-cancer activity. Materials and methods Five pure compounds were isolated from EtOH extract of Bauhinia strychnifolia stem using silica gel, dianion HP-20 and sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and were tested for their cytotoxic effects against HT-29, HeLa, MCF-7 and KB cell lines using the Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Results Among five compounds, 3,5,7,3′,5′-pentahydroxyflavanonol-3- O -α- l -rhamnopyranoside ( 2 ) possessed very potent activity against KB (IC 50 =0.00054 μg/mL), HT-29 (IC 50 =0.00217 μg/mL), MCF-7 (IC 50 =0.0585 μg/mL) and HeLa cells (IC 50 =0.0692 μg/mL). 3,5,7-Trihydroxychromone-3- O -α- l -rhamnopyranoside ( 3 ) also showed good activity against HT-29 (IC 50 =0.02366 μg/mL), KB (IC 50 =0.0412 μg/mL) and MCF-7 (IC 50 =0.297 μg/mL), respectively. The activity of 2 (IC 50 =0.00054 μg/mL) against KB cell was ten times higher than that of the positive control, Camptothecin (anti-cancer drug, IC 50 =0.0057 μg/mL). All compounds did not show any cytotoxicity with normal cells at the concentration of 1 μg/mL. Conclusion This is the first report of compounds 2 and 3 on anti-cancer activity and based on the anti-cancer activity of extracts and pure compounds isolated from Bauhinia strychnifolia stem, it might be suggested that this plant could be useful for treatment of cancer.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Bauhinia platypetala Burch. is a traditionally used Brazilian medicinal plant, although no evidence in the literature substantiates the safety of its use. Aim of the study The aim of this study was to investigate the safety of the ethanolic extract and the ethereal fraction of B. platypetala leaves. Materials and methods The identification of chemical compounds from the B. platypetala ethanolic extract and its ethereal fraction was performed by GC/MS and ESI-MS/MS. The plant’s toxicological, cytotoxic, mutagenic and genotoxic properties were determined in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains and V79 cell culture by survival assays and comet assay. Results The major compound identified in the B. platypetala ethanolic extract is palmitic acid, kaempferitirin and quercitrin, while the B. platypetala ethereal fraction was found to be rich in phytol, gamma-sitosterol and vitamin E. Moreover, the results indicated that the B. platypetala ethanolic extract has an anti-oxidative effect against H 2 O 2 in yeast. In addition, the B. platypetala ethanolic extract did not induce mutagenic effects on the S. cerevisiae N123 strain, but the ethereal fraction of B. platypetala at higher concentrations (250–500 μg/mL) induced cytotoxicity and mutagenicity. A slight cytotoxic effect was observed in mammalian V79 cells; however, both the B. platypetala ethanolic extract and its ethereal fraction were able to induce DNA strand breaks in V79 cells, as detected by the alkaline comet assay. Conclusion The B. platypetala ethanolic extract has antioxidant action and showed absence of mutagenic effects in yeast S. cerevisiae. On the other hand B. platypetala ethereal fraction is mutagenic and does not show antioxidant activity in yeast. In mammalian cells B. platypetala ethanolic extract and it's ethereal fraction induce cyotoxic and genotoxic action.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Bauhinia forficata Link, commonly known as “paw-of-cow”, is widely used in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes. Aim of this study To evaluate the effect of Bauhinia forficata treatment on maternal-fetal outcome and antioxidant systems of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Materials and methods Virgin female Wistar rats were injected with 40 mg/kg streptozotocin before mating. Oral administration of an aqueous extract of Bauhinia forficata leaves was given to non-diabetic and diabetic pregnant rats at increasing doses: 500 mg/kg from 0 to 4th day of pregnancy, 600 mg/kg from 5th to 14th day and 1000 mg/kg from 15th to 20th day. At day 21 of pregnancy the rats were anaesthetized with ether and a maternal blood sample was collected for the determination superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH). The gravid uterus was weighed with its contents and fetuses were analyzed. Results and conclusion The data showed that the diabetic dams presented an increased glycemic level, resorption, placental weight, placental index, and fetal anomalies, and reduced GSH and SOD determinations, live fetuses, maternal weight gain, gravid uterine weight, and fetal weight. It was also verified that Bauhinia forficata treatment had no hypoglycemic effect, did not improve maternal outcomes in diabetic rats, but it contributed to maintain GSH concentration similarly to non-diabetic groups, suggesting relation with the decreased incidence of visceral anomalies.

The effects of daily administration of Withania somnifera root extract (1.4 g/kg body wt.) and Bauhinia purpurea bark extract (2.5 mg/kg body wt.) for 20 days on thyroid function in female mice were investigated. While serum triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) concentrations were increased significantly by Bauhinia, Withania could enhance only serum T4 concentration. Both the plant extracts showed an increase in hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase) activity and antiperoxidative effects as indicated either by a decrease in hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO) and/or by an increase in the activity of antioxidant enzyme(s). It appears that these plant extracts are capable of stimulating thyroid function in female mice.

In a screening of plants used traditionally in Nepal to treat diseases that could be caused by viruses, twenty-one methanol extracts from twenty species were quantitatively assayed for activity against three mammalian viruses: herpes simplex virus, Sindbis virus and poliovirus. Assays were performed in ultraviolet (UV)-A or visible light, as well as dark, and cytotoxicity was also noted. Impressive antiviral activities were exhibited by species of Bauhinia (Fabaceae), Carissa (Apocynaceae), Milletia (Fabaceae), Mallotus (Fabaceae), Rumex (Polygonaceae), Streblus (Moraceae), Terminalia (Combretaceae) and Tridax (Asteraceae). The Carissa extract was the most active, showing activity against all three viruses at a concentration of 12 micrograms/ml. Many of the other extracts showed partial inactivation of one or more test viruses.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Bauhinia thonningii Schum. (Cesalpiniaceae) is locally known as Tambarib and used to treat various diseases including gastric ulcer. Aim of the study The current study aims to evaluate the gastroprotecive mechanism(s) of methanolic (MEBT) and chloroform (CEBT) extracts of Bauhinia thonningii leaves on ethanol-induced gastric ulceration. Materials and methods Gastric acidity, quantification and histochemistry of mucus, gross and microscopic examination, nitric oxide, lipid peroxidation, 2D gel electrophoresis, mass spectroscopy and biochemical tests were utilized to assess the mechanism(s) underlying the gastroprotective effects of MEBT and CEBT. Effect of these extracts into lipopolysaccharide/interferon-γ stimulated rodent cells were done in vitro. In vitro and in vivo toxicity studies were also conducted. Antioxidant activities of MEBT and CEBT were examined using DPPH, FRAP and ORAC assays. Phytochemical analyses of MEBT and CEBT were conducted using chemical and spectroscopic methods. Results Gross and histological features confirmed the anti-ulcerogenic properties of Bauhinia thonningii. Gastroprotective mechanism of MEBT was observed to be mediated through the modulation of PAS-reactive substances, MDA and proteomics biomarkers (creatine kinase, malate dehydrogenase, ATP synthase, actin and thioredoxin). MEBT and CEBT showed no significant in vitro and in vivo effects on nitric oxide. Methanolic extract (MEBT) showed superior gastroprotective effects, polyphenolic content and antioxidant activities compared to CEBT. The plant extracts showed no in vitro or in vivo toxicity. Conclusion It could be concluded that MEBT possesses anti-ulcer activity, which could be attributed to the inhibition of ethanol-induced oxidative damage and the intervention in proteomic pathways but not the nitric oxide pathway.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Bauhinia forficata (BF) has been traditionally used as tea in folk medicine of Brazil for treatment of Diabetes mellitus (DM). Aim of the study To evaluate the effects of BF leaf tea on markers of oxidative damage and antioxidant levels in an experimental model of hyperglycemia in human erythrocytes in vitro . Materials and methods Human erythrocytes were incubated with high glucose concentrations or glucose and BF tea for 24 h and 48 h. After incubation lipid peroxidation and non-protein SH levels were analyzed. Moreover, quantification of polyphenols and flavonoids, iron chelating property, scavenging of DPPH , and prevention of lipid peroxidation in isolated lipids were also assessed. Results A significant amount of polyphenols and flavonoids was observed. The main components found by LC-MS analysis were quercetin-3- O -(2-rhamnosyl) rutinoside, kaempferol-3- O -(2-rhamnosyl) rutinoside, quercetin-3- O -rutinoside and kaempferol-3- O -rutinoside. BF tea presents important antioxidant and chelating properties. Moreover, BF tea was effective to increase non-protein SH levels and reduce lipid peroxidation induced by high glucose concentrations in human erythrocytes. Conclusion The antioxidant effects of BF tea could be related to the presence of different phenolic and flavonoids components. We believe that these components can be responsible to protect human erythrocytes exposed to high glucose concentrations against oxidative damage.

Objectives Many species of the Caatinga flora are used as medicines in local communities. In recent decades, the knowledge and use of these species has been expanding within this region. We attempted to record the local diversity of medicinal plants used to treat various diseases in a rural community in the state of Ceara, Brazil, and to evaluate the promising medicinal species for bioprospecting studies. Methods An ethnobotanical survey was conducted using free list and semi-structured interviews. To indicate medicinal plants that stood out, the relative importance (RI) of species mentioned by key-informants (20), by general informants in the community (71) and by all informants (91), was analyzed. The group of species that stood out for human body systems based on the informant consensus factor (ICF) was also evaluated. Results A total of 119 species were recorded that were associated with 92 health problems. Of these species, 100 were cited by key-informants and 86 were cited by general informants. Nineteen species showed a great versatility of use, including the following: Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemao, Bauhinia cheilanta (Bong.) Steud., Hymenaea courbaril L., Mentha x villosa Huds., Ziziphus joazeiro Mart., and Ruta graveolens L. Key-informants cited 33 exclusive species, from which nine presented greater relative importance. General informants cited 19 exclusive species, 2 with greatest relative importance. The therapeutic properties were grouped into 16 body system categories. These grouping categories included skin diseases and diseases of the subcutaneous tissue; sensory system (ears) disorders; respiratory disorders; and injuries, poisoning and other external symptoms. Conclusion The great diversity of medicinal plants used in the community is evident. Some species had both high relative importance and high consensus factors among the informants; these particular species are recommended for bioprospecting studies.

The chemopreventive and cytotoxic effect of ethanol extract of Bauhinia variegata (EBV) was evaluated in N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN, 200 mg/kg) induced experimental liver tumor in rats and human cancer cell lines. Oral administration of ethanol extract of Bauhinia variegata (250 mg/kg) effectively suppressed liver tumor induced by DEN as revealed by decrease in DEN induced elevated levels of serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, gamma glutamate transpeptidase (GGTP), lipid peroxidase (LPO), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione S-transferase (GST). The extract produced an increase in enzymatic antioxidant (superoxide dismutase and catalase) levels and total proteins when compared to those in liver tumor bearing rats. The histopathological changes of liver samples were compared with respective controls. EBV was found to be cytotoxic against human epithelial larynx cancer (HEp2) and human breast cancer (HBL-100) cells. These results show a significant chemopreventive and cytotoxic effect of ethanol extract of Bauhinia variegata against DEN induced liver tumor and human cancer cell lines.

Scorpion envenoming causes an intense autonomic discharge, leading to a massive release of neurotransmitters, giving rise to several pathophysiological effects. In this work we report the effects of a Bauhinia forficata aqueous extract (BfAE) upon hyperglycemia, glycogenolysis, increase of plasma catecholamines, lethality and changes in serum insulin and plasma electrolytes induced by Tityus serrulatus scorpion venom (TSV). We compare them with the effects of the regular insulin therapy. The following treatments were performed: TSV (500 microg/kg, i.p.); BfAE (1g/kg, p.o.), 24, 12 and 1 h before and immediately after TSV or saline and insulin in a single dose (1.5 IU/kg, s.c.) after TSV. BfAE reduces the fast hyperglycemia induced by TSV, but it is deprived of hypoglycemic activity. The extract also did not reduce either the intense glycogenolysis or the release of catecholamines and did not stimulate the release of endogenous insulin, although causing changes in the electrolyte plasma levels similarly to insulin. Although BfAE and insulin antagonize some effects of TSV, they should be avoided in the treatment of Tityus serrulatus envenoming, since they enhance the lethality of the venom.

The antitumour activity of the ethanol extract of Bauhinia variegata (EBV) has been evaluated against Dalton's ascitic lymphoma (DAL) in Swiss albino mice. A significant enhancement of mean survival time of EBV-treated tumour bearing mice was found with respect to control group. EBV treatment was found to enhance peritoneal cell counts. After 14 days of inoculation, EBV is able to reverse the changes in the haemotological parameters, protein and PCV consequent to tumour inoculation.