Bauhinia, Kanchanara Mountain Ebony Kanchanara (Ayurveda) Pita Kanchanara (Buds of B. racemosa) Cai Ban Yang Ti Jia (TCM)

Bauhinia variegata
Curtis’s Botanical Magazine (1885)

Bauhinia variegata
(Photo by SAplants) (Wikimedia)

Botanical name:

Bauhinia variegata (syn. B. chinensis, B. decora, Phanera variegata), B. purpurescens
B. racemosa (B. parviflora) is also used in Unani.
Two varieties were mentioned in Ayurvedic classics; purple or rose-red variety and white or yellowish variety.
Several other species of Bauhinia are also used in medicine (incl. B. malabarica, B. tormentosa) and may be synonymous.

Parts used:

1. Stem bark–Kanchanara (most used)
2. Buds–Pita Kanchanara
3. Roots
4. Seeds

Temperature & Taste:

Cold, dry. Bitter

Uses:

1. Clears Phlegm-Heat, Eliminates Toxin, Resolves Masses:
-all types of phlegm-heat nodules, swellings and growths
-Scrofula, Goiter (Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia)
-Glandular Swellings, Lymphadenitis, immobile masses, tumors, cancer
-bark is most used, but buds are also used for tumors and masses

2. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding:
-various types of Bleeding associated with heat
-especially useful for Menorrhagia

3. Clears Heat and Toxin:
-Traditionally for Leprosy, chronic skin diseases, and Gonorrhea
-antidote to Snake Venom (Unani)

4. Astringes to Stop Leakage:
-Diarrhea, Dysentery
-Prolapses, Hemorrhoids
-its astringent effect helps consolidate Bones in Osteoporosis
-bark is most used, but buds are also used for Diarrhea and Hemorrhoids

5. Kills Worms and Parasites:
-used for Worms (Bark, also buds)
-Malaria

6. Externally:
-as a gargle for Sore Throat (flower, bark)
-topically for inflamed and oozing skin conditions

Dose:

Bark in Decoction: 20–30 grams (API)

Comment:

1. Root strengthens Spleen, clears Damp and is used for indigestion and as a carminative, and has been used for Obesity. In TCM it is used for acute Gastroenteritis and Hepatitis.
2. Buds are used for Tumors, Hemorrhoids, bleeding including Menorrhagia, and for Diarrhea and Worms.
3. Ethanol extract of the seeds has shown anti-cancer activity. This is an important medicines for masses, tumors and Cancer in Ayurvedic medicine.

Main Combinations:

1. Scrofula, Lymphadenitis:
i. Bauhinia bark with Ginger (Chakradatta)
ii. Bauhinia, Frankincense, Chebula
iii. Bauhinia with Bdellium, Boerhaavia, Triphala, Trikatu
iv. Bauhinia bark, Triphala, Trikatu, Crataeva bark, Cardamon, Cinnamon, Cinnamon leaf, Bdellium (equal in weight to the rest) (as in Kanchanara Guggulu)
2. Uterine Fibroids and Ovarian Cysts, Bauhinia with Myrrh, Turmeric, Saraca
3. Diarrhea, Bauhinia with Belleric Myrobalan, Picrorrhiza
4. Dysentery, Bauhinia bark paste with Black Pepper
5. Heat-type Bleeding:
i. Bauhinia with Madder
ii. Bauhinia with Neem, Red Sandalwood, Chebula, Barberry extract, Rose, Gentian (as in Habb-e-Musaffi-e-Khoon of Unani)
6. Skin diseases from Heat or Damp-Heat, with Madder, Neem, Boerhaavia
7. Osteoporosis, Back Pain, Bauhinia, Bdellium, Frankincense, Psoralea, Ginger, Withania
8. Gargle for Sore Throat, with Pomegranate flowers, Gum Arabic

Major Formulas:

Habb-e-Musaffi-e-Khoon
Kanchanara Guggulu

Cautions:

1. Avoid in Pregnancy
2. Not used in Constipation

Toxicity:

No toxicity was noted in acute and repeated doses.
–Acute and repeated dose toxicity studies of methanol extract of Bauhinia variegata leaves

Main Preparations used:

GENERAL / REVIEW –Plant review Rakta Kanchan (Bauhinia variegata): Chemistry traditional and medicinal uses—A review –A review on medicinal uses of Bauhinia variegata Linn –Bauhinia variegata: a comprehensive review on bioactive compounds, health benefits and utilization –Physico-chemical characteristics of oil and seed residues of Bauhinia variegata and Bauhinia linnaei –Spectrum of pharmacological activities from Bauhinia variegata: a review –Preliminary phytochemical, in vitro pharmacological study of Bauhinia alba and Bauhinia variegata flowers –A brief review on Bauhinia variegata: phytochemistry, antidiabetic and antioxidant potential –Bauhinia variegata Linn.(Mountain Ebony): A review on ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology –Plant profile, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Bauhinia variegata Linn.(Kachnar): an overview –Plant Chemistry and Pharmacological applications of Bauhinia variegata Linn.(Camel foot tree): A Review –PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYTOCHEMISTRY OF BAUHINIA VARIEGATA L. ANTIBACTERIAL –Evaluation of antibacterial activity and phytochemical analysis of Bauhinia variegata L. bark –Bauhinia variegata Leaf Extracts Exhibit Considerable Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Anticancer Activities –Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of Bauhinia variegata Linn. –Antimicrobial activity of medicinal plant Bauhinia variegata Linn –In-vitro evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of Bauhinia variegata, locally known as koiralo –Preliminary phytochemical screening and in vitro antibacterial activity of Bauhinia variegata Linn. against human pathogens ANTI-COVID: –GC-MS profiling of Bauhinia variegata major phytoconstituents with computational identification of potential lead inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro ANTIOXIDANT: –In vitro antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic activities of Bauhinia variegata Linn –Antidiabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of Bauhinia variegata flower extract –A brief review on Bauhinia variegata: phytochemistry, antidiabetic and antioxidant potential –In-vitro antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of Bauhinia variegata Linn ANTI-INFLAMMTORY: –Anti-inflammatory activity of a novel flavonol glycoside from the Bauhinia variegata Linn –Antiinflammatory activities of flavonoids and a triterpene caffeate isolated from Bauhinia variegata –Anti-inflammatory activities of phytochemicals from Bauhinia variegata Linn. leaf: An in silico approach –In vivo study for anti-inflammatory activity of Bauhinia variegata L. leaves IMMUNOMODULATORY: –Evaluation of the immunomodulatory activity of ethanolic extract of the stem bark of Bauhinia variegata Linn –In-vitro Immunomodulatory Activity of extracts of Bauhinia vareigata Linn bark on Human Neutrophils ANTI-STRESS / ADAPTOGENIC: –Antistress/Adaptogenic activity of Bauhinia variegata against different stress paradigms ANTIDEPRESSANT: –Evaluation of antidepressant activity of Bauhinia variegata in rats HYPOGLYCEMIC / ANTI-DIABETIC: –Isolation and intracellular localization of insulin-like proteins from leaves of Bauhinia variegata –Bauhinia variegata (Caesalpiniaceae) leaf extract: an effective treatment option in type I and type II diabetes –Antidiabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of Bauhinia variegata flower extract –A brief review on Bauhinia variegata: phytochemistry, antidiabetic and antioxidant potential –Antidiabetic activity of stem bark of Bauhinia variegata in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats –Anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidaemic activities of Bauhinia variegata L on streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. –Effect of Bauhinia variegata bark extract on blood glucose level in normal and alloxanised diabetic rats. –Effect of Bauhinia variegata Linn. (Caesalpiniaceae) extract in streptozotocin induced type I diabetic rats DIABETIC CARDIOMYOPATHY: –Bauhinia variegata leaf extract: An effective management option for diabetic cardiomyopathy DIABETIC NEUROPATHIC PAIN: –Pharmacopuncture of Bauhinia variegata nanoemulsion formulation against diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain ANTI-HYPERLIPIDEMIC: –Antidiabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of Bauhinia variegata flower extract –Effect and evaluation of antihyperlipidemic activity guided isolated fraction from total methanol extract of Bauhinia variegata (linn.)

ANTI-OBESITY: –Antiobesity effect of Bauhinia variegata bark extract on female rats fed on hypercaloric diet –Antiobesity activity of Bauhinia variegata Linn. in high fat diet induced obesity in female rats –In-vitro antioxidant and anti-obesity properties of Bauhinia Variegata –Evaluation of ethanolic extract of Bauhinia variegata Linn. in high fat diet induced obesity in rats TRYPSIN INHIBITOR: –Bauhinia variegata var. variegata trypsin inhibitor: from isolation to potential medicinal applications ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE INHIBITION: –Acetylcholinesterase inhibition starting from extracts of Bauhinia variegata L., Bauhinia var. candida (Aiton) Buch.-Ham., and Bauhinia ungulata L HEPATOPROTECTIVE –Hepatoprotective properties of Bauhinia variegata bark extract –Allium porrum and Bauhinia Variegata Mitigate Acute Liver Failure and Nephrotoxicity Induced by Thioacetamide in Male Rats –Quantification of biochemical compounds in Bauhinia Variegata Linn flower extract and its hepatoprotective effect –Anti-Oxidant and hepatoprotective activities of ethanolic root extract of Bauhinia variegata Linn –In vitro hepatoprotective activity of Bauhinia variegata NEPHROPROTECTIVE: –Effect of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Bauhinia variegata Linn. on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats –Nephroprotective effect of Bauhinia variegata (Linn.) whole stem extract against cisplatin-induced nephropathy in rats –Allium porrum and Bauhinia Variegata Mitigate Acute Liver Failure and Nephrotoxicity Induced by Thioacetamide in Male Rats –Pharmacological evaluation of Bauhinia variegata Linn. For wound healing and nephroprotective activity THYROID PROTECTING: –Kanchnar (Bauhinia variegata linn.) As a thyroid gland protecting drug ANTI-ARRHYTHMIC: –Evaluation of cardioprotective activity of aqueous and ethanolic extract of bauhinia variegata in cacl2 induced arrhythmia in albino rats ANTI-CATARACT: –Anticataract activity of rhamnocitrin isolated from Bauhinia variegata stem bark ANTI-CANCER –Bauhinia variegata Leaf Extracts Exhibit Considerable Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Anticancer Activities –Chemoprevention and cytotoxic effect of Bauhinia variegata against N-nitrosodiethylamine induced liver tumors and human cancer cell lines –Evaluation of anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic potential of Bauhinia variegata extract in Swiss albino mice –Isolation of Phytochemicals from Bauhinia variegata L. Bark and Their In Vitro Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Potential –Cytotoxic activity of a flavanone from the stem of Bauhinia variegata Linn –Evaluation of antimicrobial and anticancer activities of methanol extract of in vivo and in vitro grown Bauhinia variegata L –GC-MS and HPTLC fingerprinting of Bauhinia variegata leaves for anticancer activity –Cytotoxicity effect of glucokinin isolated from Bauhinia variegata against several cancer cell lines –In vitro antioxidant and cytotoxic effects of methanol extracts of Vitex negundo, Lantana camara, Bauhinia variegata and Bauhinia racemosa on human cancer cell lines –Assessment of Cytotoxic potential of newly isolated Betulinic triterpenes from the Bark of Bauhinia variegata Linn.(Caesalpiniaceae) BREAST –Pharmacoinformatics approach for the screening of Kovidra (Bauhinia variegata) phytoconstituents against tumor suppressor protein in triple negative breast cancer COLORECTAL: –Protective Effect of Bauhinia variegata Leaf Extracts Against Oxidative Damage, Cell Proliferation and Bacterial Growth EHRLICH ASCITES CARCINOMA: –Antitumour Activity of Bauhinia variegata Against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Induced Mice LUNG –Protective Effect of Bauhinia variegata Leaf Extracts Against Oxidative Damage, Cell Proliferation and Bacterial Growth LYMPHOMA –Antitumour activity of Bauhinia variegata on Dalton’s ascitic lymphoma MELANOMA –In vivo antitumor potential of extracts from different parts of Bauhinia variegata linn. Against b16f10 melanoma tumour model in c57bl/6 mice ANTHELMINTIC: –In vitro anthelmintic activity of Bauhinia variegata bark (Leguminosae) –Anthelmintic activity of leaves of Bauhinia variegata