• Abstracts are presented below for clinical studies on Orchid Tree.

  Botanical Name: Bauhinia Variegata Ayurvedic Name: Kanchanara Common Name: Orchid Tree

  

  Plant Phytonutrient Profile

  ---

  1: Protein J. 2007 Jan 4; [Epub ahead of print]

  Isolation and Biochemical Characterization of a Galactoside Binding Lectin from Bauhinia variegata Candida (BvcL) Seeds.

  Silva JA, Damico DC, Baldasso PA, Mattioli MA, Winck FV, Fraceto LF, Novello JC, Marangoni S.

  Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), P. O. Box 6109, 13083/​970, Campinas, SP, Brazil, dcdamico@unicamp.br.

  A new lectin (BvcL) from seeds of a primitive Brazilian Caesalpinoideae, the Bauhinia variegata candida was purified and biochemical characterized. BvcL was isolated by gel filtration chromatography on Sephadex G75 and affinity chromatography on immobilized D: /​lactose column. SDS/​PAGE showed that BvcL under non/​reducing condition presents two bands of 68 and 32 kDa and a single band of 32 kDa in reducing condition. However, only one band was seen in native PAGE. The hemagglutination activity of BvcL was not specific for any human blood group trypsin/​treated erythrocytes. Carbohydrate inhibition analysis indicated that BvcL is inhibited by lactose, galactose, galactosamine and other galactoside derivates. Amino acid analysis revealed a large content of Ser, Gly, Thr, Asp and Glu and low concentrations of Met, Cys and His. Intrinsic fluorescence of BvcL was not significantly affected by sugar binding galactose; and aromatic/​region CD is unusually high for plant lectins. The N/​terminal amino acid sequence of 17 residues showed 90% sequential homology to galactose/​specific legume lectins of the subfamily Caesalpinoideae.

  PMID: 17203390 [PubMed /​ as supplied by publisher]

  
  

  2: Braz J Med Biol Res. 2006 Nov;39(11):1435/​44.

  Isolation and intracellular localization of insulin/​like proteins from leaves of Bauhinia variegata.

  Azevedo CR, Maciel FM, Silva LB, Ferreira AT, da Cunha M, Machado OL, Fernandes KV, Oliveira AE, Xavier/​Filho J.

  Laboratorio de Quimica e Funcao de Proteinas e Peptideos, Centro de Biociencias e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brasil.

  Evidence based on immunological cross/​reactivity and anti/​diabetic properties has suggested the presence of insulin/​like peptides in plants. The objective of the present study was to investigate the presence of insulin/​like proteins in the leaves of Bauhinia variegata ("pata/​de/​vaca", "mororo"), a plant widely utilized in popular medicine as an anti/​diabetic agent. We show that an insulin/​like protein was present in the leaves of this plant. A chloroplast protein with a molecular mass similar to that of bovine insulin was extracted from 2/​mm thick 15% SDS/​PAGE gels and fractionated with a 2 x 24 cm Sephadex G/​50 column. The activity of this insulin/​like protein (0.48 mg/mL) on serum glucose levels of four/​week/​old Swiss albino (CF1) diabetic mice was similar to that of commercial swine insulin used as control. Further characterization of this molecule by reverse/​phase hydrophobic HPLC chromatographic analysis as well as its antidiabetic activity on alloxan/​induced mice showed that it has insulin/​like properties. Immunolocalization of the insulin/​like protein in the leaves of B. variegata was performed by transmission electron microscopy using a polyclonal anti/​insulin human antibody. Localization in the leaf blades revealed that the insulin/​like protein is present mainly in chloroplasts where it is also found associated with crystals which may be calcium oxalate. The presence of an insulin/​like protein in chloroplasts may indicate its involvement in carbohydrate metabolism. This finding has strengthened our previous results and suggests that insulin/​signaling pathways have been conserved through evolution.

  Publication Types: Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

  PMID: 17146556 [PubMed /​ in process]

  
  

  3: J Asian Nat Prod Res. 2005 Dec;7(6):835/​8.

  A new phenanthraquinone from the stems of Bauhinia variegata L.

  Zhao YY, Cui CB, Cai B, Han B, Sun QS.

  The School of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China.

  A new phenanthraquinone, named bauhinione (1), has been isolated from Bauhinia variegata L., and its structure has been elucidated as 2,7/​dimethoxy/​3/​methyl/​9,10/​dihydrophenanthrene/​1,4/​dione on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.

  Publication Types: Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

  PMID: 16308200 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

  
  

  4: Biol Chem. 2005 Nov;386(11):1185/​9.

  Cloning, expression and characterization of Bauhinia variegata trypsin inhibitor BvTI.

  de Souza AF, Torquato RJ, Tanaka AS, Sampaio CA.

  Departamento de Bioquimica, UNIFESP/​EPM, Rua 3 de Maio 100, 04044/​020 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.

  A Bauhinia variegata trypsin inhibitor (BvTI) cDNA fragment was cloned into the pCANTAB5E phagemid. The clone pAS 1.1.3 presented a cDNA fragment of 733 bp, including the coding region for a mature BvTI protein comprising 175 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence for BvTI confirmed it as a member of the Kunitz/​type plant serine proteinase inhibitor family. The BvTI cDNA fragment encoding the mature form was cloned into the expression vector, pET/​14b, and ex/​pressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) pLysS in an active form. In addition, a BvTI mutant form, r(mut)BvTI, with a Pro residue as the fifth amino acid in place of Leu, was produced. The recombinant proteins, rBvTI and r(mut)BvTI, were purified on a trypsin/​Sepharose column, yielding 29 and 1.44 mg/l of active protein, respectively, and showed protein bands of approximately 21.5 kDa by SDS/​PAGE. Trypsin inhibition activity was comparable for rBvTI (Ki=4 nM) and r(mut)BvTI (Ki=6 nM). Our data suggest that the Leu to Pro substitution at the fifth amino/​terminal residue was not crucial for proteinase inhibition.

  Publication Types: Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

  PMID: 16307484 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

  
  

  5: J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Apr 6;104(3):407/​9. Epub 2005 Oct 27.

  Chemoprevention and cytotoxic effect of Bauhinia variegata against N/​nitrosodiethylamine induced liver tumors and human cancer cell lines.

  Rajkapoor B, Jayakar B, Murugesh N, Sakthisekaran D.

  Department of Pharmacology, Vinayaka Mission's College of Pharmacy, Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation, Deemed University, Yercaud Road, Salem/​636008, Tamilnadu, India. rajkapoor@yahoo.co.in

  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.

  PMID: 16257158 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

  
  

  6: Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao. 2005 Jun;16(6):1086/​9.

  [Evaluation of non/​host plant ethanol extracts against Plutella xylostella population]

  [Article in Chinese]

  Wei H, Hou Y, Yang G, Fu J, You M.

  Institute of Plant Protection, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou, China. weihui318@hotmail.com

  Through establishing experimental and natural population life tables, and by using the index of population trend (1) and interference index of population control (IIPC), this paper evaluated 8 kinds of non/​host plant ethanol extracts against experimental population of Plutella xylostella, and 3 kinds of these extracts and their mixture against Plutella xylostella natural population. The experimental population life table of DBM showed that the index of population trend (I) was 69. 8964 in control, and decreased dramatically to 5.3702, 4.4842, 8.0945, 11.1382, 6.8937, 6.1609, 5.5199 and 9.8052, respectively in treatments of Zanthoxylum bungeanum, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Nicotiana tabacum, Broussonetia papyrifera, Bauhinia variegata, Duranta repens, Euphorbia hirta and Camellia oleifera ethanol extracts, while the corresponding IIPC was 0.0768, 0.0642, 0.1158, 0.1594, 0.0986, 0.0881, 0.0790 and 0. 1403, respectively. The natural population life tables of DBM showed that the index of population trend (I) was 21.6232 in control, and decreased dramatically to 5.1997, 7.4160, 7. 3644 and 3.1399, respectively in treatments of the ethanol extracts of E. tereticornis, N. tabacum, C. oleifera and their mixture, while the corresponding IIPC was 0.2405, 0.3695, 0.3549 and 0.1608, respectively. All of these indicated that the test plant extracts could interfere the development of P. xylostella population significantly, and had the potential as an effective measure for controlling insect pest.

  Publication Types: English Abstract Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

  PMID: 16180759 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

  
  

  7: J Environ Biol. 2004 Jul;25(3):287/​90.

  Metabolic responses of tropical trees to ozone pollution.

  Chapla J, Kamalakar JA.

  Department of Botany, University College for Women, Osmania University, Koti, Hyderabad/​500 095, India.

  Plants fumigated with 40ppbv, 80ppbv and 120ppbv concentrations of O3 exhibited significant reduction in total chlorophyll content, RuBP carboxylase activity and net photosynthesis. The reduction in total chlorophyll activity ranged from 12 to 36% in Bauhinia variegata, 11 to 35% in Ficus infectoria and 3 to 26% in Pongamia pinnata on fumigation with O3, while the RuBP carboxylase activity was reduced by 10 to 32% in Bauhinia variegata, 10 to 23% in Ficus infectoria and 9 to 15% in Pongamia pinnata. The net photosynthesis was also reduced by 6 to 26% in B. variegata, 16 to 39% in F. infectoria and 7 to 31% in P. pinnata on fumigation with 03. The relative higher sensitivity of tropical trees to O3 suggests that the ambient air quality standards in tropical tree areas need to be stringent to prevent vegetation from air pollution.

  PMID: 15847336 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

  
  

  8: Luminescence. 2005 Jan/​Feb;20(1):51/​6.

  Effect of artificial acid rain and SO2 on characteristics of delayed light emission.

  Wang C, Xing D, Zeng L, Ding C, Chen Q.

  Institute of Laser Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, People's Republic of China.

  The structure and function of chloroplast in plant leaves can be affected by acid rain and air pollution. The photosystem II in a plant is considered the primary site where light/​induced delayed light emission (DLE) is produced. With the lamina of zijinghua (Bauhinia variegata L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) as testing models, we studied the effects of artificial acid rain and SO2 on characteristics of DLE by using a home/​made weak luminescence detection system. The results show that the changes in DLE intensity of green plants can reflect the changes in chloroplast intactness and function. With proper calibration, DLE may provide an alternative means of evaluating environmental acid stress on plants. The changes in DLE intensity may provide a new approach for the detection of environmental pollution and its impact on the ecosystem.

  Publication Types: Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

  PMID: 15685660 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

  
  

  9: Ying Yong Sheng Tai Xue Bao. 2004 Mar;15(3):473/​6.

  [Repellent and antifeedant effect of secondary metabolites of non/​host plants on Plutella xylostella]

  [Article in Chinese]

  Wei H, Hou Y, Yang G, You M.

  Institute of Plant Protection, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350013, China. weihui318@yahoo.com

  Based on the theory of co/​evolution between plants and phytophagous insects, the repellent and antifeedant effect of secondary metabolites of non/​host plants on diamondback moth(DBM) Plutella xylostella was studied, aimed at finding out the oviposition repellents and antifeedants of insect pests. When the ethanol extracts(Etho Exts) of Bauhinia variegata, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Euphorbia hirta, Duranta repens, Zanthoxylum bungeanum, Magnolia grandiflora, and Nicotiana tabacum were applied respectively, the oviposition repellent rates were all over 80.00%; while after forty/​eight hours treatment with the Etho Exts of Euphorbia pulcherrima, Broussonetia papyrifera, Artemisia argyi, Camellia oleifera, Salix babylonica, Euphorbia hirta, Bauhinia variegata, and Setaria viridisa, the antifeedant rates of DBM larvae were all more than 80.00%.

  Publication Types: English Abstract Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

  PMID: 15228000 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

  
  

  10: Phytother Res. 2004 Jan;18(1):73/​7.

  The effect of medicinal plants of Islamabad and Murree region of Pakistan on insulin secretion from INS/​1 cells.

  Hussain Z, Waheed A, Qureshi RA, Burdi DK, Verspohl EJ, Khan N, Hasan M.

  Department of Chemistry, Quaid/​i/​Azam University, Islamabad Pakistan. chem63@yahoo.com

  In vitro testing of the extracts of medicinal plants collected from Islamabad and the Murree region on insulin secretagogue activity was carried out. Dried ethanol extracts of all plants (ZH1/​ZH19) were dissolved in ethanol and DMSO, and tested at various concentrations (between 1 and 40 microg/mL) for insulin release from INS/​1 cells in the presence of 5.5 mM glucose. Glibenclamide was used as a control. Promising insulin secretagogue activity in various plant extracts at 1, 10, 20 and 40 microg/mL was found, while in some cases a decrease in insulin secretion was also observed. Artemisia roxburghiana, Salvia coccinia and Monstera deliciosa showed insulin secretagogue activity at 1 microg/mL (p < 0.05) while Abies pindrow, Centaurea iberica and Euphorbia helioscopia were active at 10 microg/mL (p < 0.05). Extracts of Bauhinia variegata and Bergenia himalacia showed effects at 20 microg/mL (p < 0.05), and Taraxacum officinale and Viburnum foetens at 40 microg/mL (p < 0.05). Insulin secretagogue activity could not be detected in the extracts of Adhatoda vasica, Cassia fistula, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, Morus alba, Plectranthus rugosus, Peganum harmala and Olea ferruginea. The results suggest that medicinal plants of Islamabad and the Murree region of Pakistan may be potential natural resources for antidiabetic compounds. Copyright 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  Publication Types: Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non/​P.H.S.

  PMID: 14750205 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

  
  

  11: Phytochemistry. 2003 Oct;64(4):879/​82.

  A flavanone and a dihydrodibenzoxepin from Bauhinia variegata.

  Reddy MV, Reddy MK, Gunasekar D, Caux C, Bodo B.

  Department of Chemistry, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati 517 502, India.

  Phytochemical analysis of the root bark of Bauhinia variegata Linn yielded a new flavanone, (2S)/​5,7/​dimethoxy/​3',4'/​methylenedioxyflavanone (1) and a new dihydrodibenzoxepin, 5,6/​dihydro/​1,7/​dihydroxy/​3,4/​dimethoxy/​2/​methyldibenz [b,f]oxepin (2) together with three known flavonoids (3/​5). The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of spectral studies.

  PMID: 14559285 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

  
  

  12: J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Nov;89(1):107/​9.

  Antitumour activity of Bauhinia variegata on Dalton's ascitic lymphoma.

  Rajkapoor B, Jayakar B, Murugesh N.

  Department of Pharmacology, Vinayaka Mission's College of Pharmacy, Yercaud Road, Salem 636 008, Tamil Nadu, India. rajkapoorb@yahoo.co.in

  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.

  PMID: 14522440 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

  
  

  13: Nat Prod Res. 2003 Jun;17(3):165/​9.

  Anti/​inflammatory activity of a novel flavonol glycoside from the Bauhinia variegata Linn.

  Yadava RN, Reddy VM.

  Natural Products Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Dr. H.S. Gour University, Sagar (M.P.) 470003, India. rnyadava@rediffmail.com

  Bauhinia variegata Linn. (Leguminosae) is commonly known as 'Kachnar' in Hindi. It is distributed almost throught India. Its powdered bark is traditionally used for tonic, astrain, ulcers. It is also useful in skin diseases. The roots are used as antidote to snake poison. The present article deals with the isolation and structural elucidation of a novel flavonol glycoside 5,7,3',4'/​tetrahydroxy/​3/​methoxy/​7/​O/​alpha/​L/​rhamnopyranosyl(1/​/​>3)/​O/​beta/​galac topyranoside (1) from the roots of Bauhinia Variegata and its structure was identified by spectral analysis and chemical degradations. The novel compound (1) showed anti/​inflammatory activity.

  PMID: 12737399 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

  
  

  14: Curr Med Chem. 2003 Jul;10(13):1085/​93.

  Kinetic characterization of factor Xa binding using a quenched fluorescent substrate based on the reactive site of factor Xa inhibitor from Bauhinia ungulata seeds.

  Oliva ML, Andrade SA, Juliano MA, Sallai RC, Torquato RJ, Sampaio MU, Pott VJ, Sampaio CA.

  Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Rua Tres de Mayo 100, 04044/​020 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. maysa.bioq@epm.br

  The specific Kunitz Bauhinia ungulata factor Xa inhibitor (BuXI) and the Bauhinia variegata trypsin inhibitor (BvTI) blocked the activity of trypsin, chymotrypsin, plasmin, plasma kallikrein and factor XIIa, and factor Xa inhibition was achieved only by BuXI (K(i) 14 nM). BuXI and BvTI are highly homologous (70%). The major differences are the methionine residues at BuXI reactive site, which are involved in the inhibition, since the oxidized protein no longer inhibits factor Xa but maintains the trypsin inhibition. Quenched fluorescent substrates based on the reactive site sequence of the inhibitors were synthesized and the kinetic parameters of the hydrolysis were determined using factor Xa and trypsin. The catalytic efficiency k(cat)/K(m) 4.3 x 10(7) M(/​1)sec(>/​1) for Abz/​VMIAALPRTMFIQ/​EDDnp (lead peptide) hydrolysis by factor Xa was 10(4)/​fold higher than that of Boc/​Ile/​Glu/​Gly/​Arg/​AMC, widely used as factor Xa substrate. Lengthening of the substrate changed its susceptibility to factor Xa hydrolysis. Both methionine residues in the substrate influence the binding to factor Xa. Serine replacement of threonine (P(1)') decreases the catalytic efficiency by four orders of magnitude. Factor Xa did not hydrolyze the substrate containing the reactive site sequence of BvTI, that inhibits trypsin inhibitor but not factor Xa. Abz/​VMIAALPRTMFIQ/​EDDnp prolonged both the prothrombin time and the activated partial thromboplastin time, and the other modified substrates used in this experiment altered blood/​clotting assays.

  Publication Types: Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

  PMID: 12678803 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

  
  

  15: J Asian Nat Prod Res. 2001;3(4):341/​6.

  A new flavone glycoside, 5/​hydroxy 7,3',4',5'/​tetra/​methoxyflavone 5/​O/​beta/​D/​xylopyranosyl/​(1/​/​>2)/​alpha/​L/​rhamnopyranoside from Bauhinia variegata Linn.

  Yadava RN, Reddy VM.

  Department of Chemistry, Dr. H. S. Gour University, Sagar, India. rnyadava@yahoo.com

  A new flavone glycoside m.f. C(30)H(36)O(15) m.p. 252/​253 degrees C, [M]+ 636 (EIMS) was isolated from the acetone soluble fraction of the concentrated 95% ethanolic extract of the seeds of Bauhinia variegata (Linn). It was identified as 5/​hydroxy7,3',4',5'/​tetra/​methoxyflavone 5/​O/​beta/​D/​xylopyranosyl/​(1/​/​>2)/​alpha/​L/​rhamnopyranoside (1) by various colour reactions, chemical degradations and spectral techniques.

  PMID: 11783588 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

  
  

  16: Immunopharmacology. 1999 Dec;45(1/​3):145/​9.

  Human plasma kallikrein and tissue kallikrein binding to a substrate based on the reactive site of a factor Xa inhibitor isolated from Bauhinia ungulata seeds.

  Oliva ML, Andrade SA, Batista IF, Sampaio MU, Juliano M, Fritz H, Auerswald EA, Sampaio CA.

  Departamento de Bioquimica, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo/​Escola Paulista de Medicina, UNIFESP, SP, Brazil.

  Kunitz type Bauhinia ungulata factor Xa inhibitor (BuXI) was purified from B. ungulata seeds. BuXI inactivates factor Xa and human plasma kallikrein (HuPK) with Ki values of 18.4 and 6.9 nM, respectively. However, Bauhinia variegata trypsin inhibitor (BvTI) which is 70% homologous to BuXI does not inhibit factor Xa and is less efficient on HuPK (Ki = 80 nM). The comparison between BuXI and BvTI reactive site structure indicates differences at Met59, Thr66 and Met67 residues. The hydrolysis rate of quenched fluorescence peptide substrates based on BuXI reactive site sequence, Abz/​VMIAALPRTMFIQ/​EDDnp (leading peptide), by HuPK and porcine pancreatic kallikrein (PoPK) is low, but hydrolysis is enhanced with Abz/​VMIAALPRTMQ/​EDDnp, derived from the leading peptide shortened by removing the dipeptide Phe/​Ileu from the C/​terminal portion, for HuPK (Km = 0.68 microM, k(cat)/Km = 1.3 x 10(6) M(/​1) s(/​1)), and the shorter substrate Abz/​LPRTMQ/​EDDnp is better for PoPK (Km = 0.66 microM, k(cat)/Km = 2.2 x 10(3) M(/​1) s(/​1)). The contribution of substrate methionine residues to HuPK and PoPK hydrolysis differs from that observed with factor Xa. The determined Km and k(cat) values suggest that the substrates interact with kallikreins the same as an enzyme and inhibitor interacts to form complexes.

  PMID: 10615004 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

  
  

  17: J Protein Chem. 1998 Nov;17(8):827/​34.

  The complete amino acid sequence of a trypsin inhibitor from Bauhinia variegata var. candida seeds.

  Di Ciero L, Oliva ML, Torquato R, Kohler P, Weder JK, Camillo Novello J, Sampaio CA, Oliveira B, Marangoni S.

  Department of Biochemistry, Biology Institute, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, SP, Brazil.

  Trypsin inhibitors of two varieties of Bauhinia variegata seeds have been isolated and characterized. Bauhinia variegata candida trypsin inhibitor (BvcTI) and B. variegata lilac trypsin inhibitor (BvlTI) are proteins with Mr of about 20,000 without free sulfhydryl groups. Amino acid analysis shows a high content of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, and glycine, and a low content of histidine, tyrosine, methionine, and lysine in both inhibitors. Isoelectric focusing for both varieties detected three isoforms (pI 4.85, 5.00, and 5.15), which were resolved by HPLC procedure. The trypsin inhibitors show Ki values of 6.9 and 1.2 nM for BvcTI and BvlTI, respectively. The N/​terminal sequences of the three trypsin inhibitor isoforms from both varieties of Bauhinia variegata and the complete amino acid sequence of B. variegata var. candida L. trypsin inhibitor isoform 3 (BvcTI/​3) are presented. The sequences have been determined by automated Edman degradation of the reduced and carboxymethylated proteins of the peptides resulting from Staphylococcus aureus protease and trypsin digestion. BvcTI/​3 is composed of 167 residues and has a calculated molecular mass of 18,529. Homology studies with other trypsin inhibitors show that BvcTI/​3 belongs to the Kunitz family. The putative active site encompasses Arg (63)/​Ile (64).

  Publication Types: Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

  PMID: 9988529 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

  
  

  18: Pak J Pharm Sci. 1989 Jan;2(1):55/​7.

  Preliminary phytochemical screening of four common plants of family caesalpiniaceae.

  Rasul N, Saleem B, Nawaz R.

  Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

  Preliminary phytochemical screening of Bauhinia variegata, Cassia fistula, Cassia tora and Tamarindus indica did not reveal alkaloids and unbound anthraquinones while glycosides as well as flavonoids were present in all the four species of the family caesalpiniaceae. Cardiac glycosides were absent only in C. tora and saponins were present only in T. indica, B. variegata and T. indica were devoid of bound anthraquinones while bound anthraquinones were present in C. fistula and C. tora. Paper chromatography revealed 6 spots in solvent system I, and 5 spots in solvent system 2, showing different Rf values. The per cent yield of crude glycosides was 3.18 in B. variegata, 4.03 in C. fistula, 4.45 in C. tora and 4.14 in T. indica.

  PMID: 16414637 [PubMed]

  
  

Watch the following videos to gain better understanding of Ayurvedic Medicine and Phytonutrients and the role they play in promoting Prostate Health. Please contact our heath advisors and Ayurvedic doctors with your questions and feedback!

AYURSTATE for Prostate Care (Part 1) - Ayurvedic Medicine, 8 Herbal Extracts, 50 Phytonutrients