1. INTRODUCTION:

Among the largest families of flowering plants, Fabaceae has around 745 genera and 19,500 species which spread all over India thriving in a wide range of different climatic conditions. The Caesalpinioideae subfamily of the Cercideae tribe contains Bauhinia. About 250 species of trees, lianas, and shrubs belong to this genus, which is primarily found in tropical and temperate climatic regions. Because of their eye-catching flowers and leaves, Bauhinia species are commonly planted as ornamentals. The name "Bauhinia" is in honor of the 16th-century herbalist brothers Johann and Caspar Bauhin. Given that the two lobes of the leaf are similar when folded together and that they were identical twin brothers, the name is rather fitting. Tomentosa is the name of the species. Tomentose, which refers to dense, intertwined hairs, is where the name of the species, "tomentosa" comes from. Fast-growing Bauhinia tomentosa is a shrub planted outside of its natural habitat primarily for ornamental purposes. After escaping from farming, it is effectively grown in a wide range of habitats, including disturbed areas, roadsides, coastal forests, riverine forests, and thickets. This species has been able to establish itself and colonize new places thanks to characteristics including its high seed production, high germination rate, and capacity to grow in both shade and sunlight (Orwa et al., 2009). The African doctors of South Africa treat patients with a decoction of the root and bark and dried leaves and flower buds of B. tomentosa. The flower is used as a treatment for dysentery and diarrhea, while the root parts were used internally in India and Sri Lanka for curing diseases of the large intestine. In India, an infusion of bark is used as an astringent for gargle, root decoction is used as a vermifuge. The fruit is thought to be a diuretic, and the seeds are consumed as a tonic and aphrodisiac in India. In Madurai district, the leaf is a component of a plaster that is used to heal wounds and lesions. The root bark is used as a decoction. Vermifuges are prepared from a decoction of the root bark, and astringent gargles are made from an infusion of the stem bark. The root portion is made into a decoction for gastrointestinal tract infections and for curing worm infestation. The root portion is used externally as an infusion.^1-11

1.1 Botanical description:

Bauhinia tomentosa is a more branched and stemmed shrub that reaches up to a height of 4m, the branches have many slender twigs. Young barks are smooth, slightly hairy, and grey in color whereas the older stems are brown in color. Leaves are divided in depth for almost half of their length with small apical appendages between the lobes they are oval or else elliptical in shape measuring about 2.5x2.5cm. the apex portion of the lobe is broadly tapered at the base the entire leaf is shallowed. It has an entire margin, and the petiole of leaf-stalk is 10 to 30mm long Flowers are bell-shaped with large lemon-yellow petals,1-3 petals which have a maroon patch at the base and turn to reddish brown when become aged. Fruit is a woody pod, slender, pale brown it is pointed in nature and contains 6-12 seeds. Seeds are ovate, glossy, somewhat rugose to nearly smooth, with a V-shaped marginal hilum which very often bears an apical hock-shaped funicular remnant.^13-15

1.2 Habitat:

B.tomentosa is a rapidly growing shrub that has been spreading its native range and can also be used principally as an ornamental plant. These plants entrenched themselves and are distributed broadly in roadsides, coastal areas, riversides, and forests, this species has a high germination rate and as ability to reproduce in shade as well as sunny areas which are the major factors capable to colonize its species in new areas (Oviedo Prieto et al., 2012). Once its ecology is well established it grows by replacing other species. Currently, B.tomentosa is tending to be invaded only in Cuba, but it is widely distributed and cultivated in West Indies, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. In Africa, B. tomentosa trees begin to bloom at two years old and are often quite floriferous, blooming throughout the majority of the year. Flowers bloom in southern Africa between December and March, and juvenile fruits appear in January month and attain maturity by June or later. B. tomentosa produces fruits and blooms virtually all year round in China. B. tomentosa is a habitat in both dry and wet environments and grows up to 1500 meters above sea level. It thrives in soils with a pH between 5.6 and 6.5. It has the capacity to flourish in both fully sunny and shady environmental situations Although seedlings and immature plants cannot withstand the frost condition whereas adult plants can tolerate it.

1.3 Cultivation:

B.tomentosa the flowers blooms usually in the second year and bears the flowers in all months of the year. In southern Africa, the flowering stage starts from December to March; young fruits are appeared in January and mature in June. The Bauhinia species spreads widely from Natal and Zululand to eastern Transvaal, Tropical Africa, and eastwards to Sri Lanka and India. In Zambia, it grows like the thickest bushy form and expands towards the banks and in slopy regions of the central and southern provinces of Luangwa Valley. Trees grow in the shade or in full sun and can withstand light frost, and also drought-hardy climates too. As the presence of prussic acid in the pods and the flower concentration is a little high cattle tend to nibble the leaves but do not consume much. Trees contain a fiber more suitable which has been used for making huts. Leaves are used in preparing yellow dye. The tree is attractive to have a small garden, and the root is not aggressively branched so it can be planted close to lakes and rivers. Trees grow rapidly, up to 900 mm a year. Flowering can be fastened by pruning the plants once a year during the winter. The dry plantation is made by procuring seeds from plants cultivated in dry areas.

2 Traditional uses:

B. tomentosa belongs to the Fabaceae family and is one of the best adaptable species which is commonly known for its therapeutic benefits proved by exhibiting antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antihyperglycemic, antilipidemic, antiobesity, etc. It has been considered a valuable source in developing medicaments for industrial purposes. The plant has been reported with amino acids, proteins, fatty acids, minerals, alkaloids, phytosterols, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, phenolic compounds, fixed oils, and fats. This review gives an impact on its phytochemical pharmacognostic and pharmacological investigation which would be useful for future prospective studies. In Unani medicine, the bark portion has been used to cure skin diseases and ulcers to prevent the decomposition of blood and is also used for curing leprosy, eczema, psoriasis, and antidermatitis. Bruised bark is used externally for treating wounds and tumors. Decoction of the root is used in treating liver inflammation and also acts as a vermifuge. Dried small buds and young flowers along with honey are used to cure dysentery, bleeding piles, and hematuria. In Brazil, it is well known as Pata-de-vaca and Mororo mean which acts as an anti-diabetic agent was reported.^25-28

2.1 Bioactivities of B. tomentosa:

Antibacterial study in leaves with Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilus, E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus shows minimum inhibitory concentration at 100µg/ml was reported by Mythreyi et al., 2005. The root portion reveals, ethyl acetate extract of it inhibits the microorganisms such as Enterococcus faecalis, Proteus vulgaris, and Bacillus faecalis shows an inhibitory effect at 250µg/ml was identified (Dugasani et al.,2010), whereas the methanol extracts inhibits Staphylococcus aureus at 62µg/ml.

It was also reported that the ethyl acetate extract of roots shows a maximum inhibitory action in antihelminthic which includes Phritema postuma and Ascaris lumicoides organisms at 10% solution.

Figure 1: Schematic representation of Bauhinia tomentosa

2.2 Different species of Bauhinia

There are a wide range of species which includes B.variegata, B.purpurea, B.tomentosa ,B.acuminata, B.forficata, B.pauletia,, B.lunaroides, B.monandra, B.glauca ,B.phoenicea, B.baina, B.ungulata ,B.foveolata, B.petersiana, B.stipularis ,B.basacensis, B.bidentata, B.guianensis, B.kurzii, B.integrifolia, B.hirsuta, B.Kockiana ,B.natalensis ,B.yunnanensis ,B.divaricata, B.lingua, B.macranthera, B.carronii, B.diphylla, B.multinervia, B.aromatica, B.rufescens, B.corymbose, B.floribunda, B.martinensis, B.madagascariensis, B.accrescens, B.championii, B.picta, B.haughtii, B.ornate. some of these species were discussed by estimating their, habitat, distribution botanical description, and cultivation procedure.

B. variegata is a flowering plant that is native to China through South East Asia to the Indian subcontinent commonly known as the orchid tree it requires a tropical climate and is used in the Indian diet. It also attracts the hummingbirds. B. purpurea is native to Myanmar and commonly known as butterfly tree camel’s foot, it is propagated by grafting. B.acuminata is native to the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It is commonly named as a snowy orchid tree. B. forficata is known as the Brazilian orchid tree in the pea family. B.lunaroides is a flowering species native to Southwestern Texas in the United States. It is a small deciduous tree growing up to 4m tall. The leaves are 2-5cm long which were broad, rounded, and bilobed at the base and apex, the flowers are white with five petals. B.monandra is a tree with young lightly pubescent branches. Leaves are ovate-orbicular, up to 20cm long, and almost as wide as subcoriaceous, finely pubescent on veins. flowers are fused form.B.glauca is a shrub in the Beriberidaceae family which is native to Ecuador and Colombia. B.phoenicea is endemic to the Western Ghats of Karnataka, Kerela, and Tamil Nadu. It is assessed with brick red flowers that occur in patchy form throughout the evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. B.ungulata is a shrub variety native to tropical America. B. petersiana and B. macrantha are two of the best-known species of the genus in Southern Africa to Tanzania. Both have large showy flowers with white petals with characteristically strongly undulate-crisped margins. Trichomes in B. petersiana are minute and closely appressed, whereas in B. macrantha the trichomes are longer and irregularly spreading in ascending and non-appressed. Their ecology is related closely to one another which implies a marked difference in vegetative distribution.

3 Phytochemical analysis:

Phytoconstituents investigation reports the presence of alkaloids, proteins, amino acids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids was proved with their DPPH scavenging activity of the plant. These plant extracts of this species were found to contain chemical constituents in various solvent systems. Due to the presence of these active constituents, it would be a reason for its pharmacological activity. These constituents are reported which produce a protective effect against various disorders due to their anti-oxidant role and their maintenance of the pro-oxidant balance (S. Rhama et al., 2016). Earlier studies showed B. tomentosa has a wide range of constituents including kaempferol-7-o-rhamnoside, kaempferol-3-o-glucoside, and quercetin-3-o-rutinoside have been reported. HPTLC analytical method was developed for the determination of caffeic acid and quercetin in B. tomentosa which is used to determine the purity and quality control of herbal formulation. This analysis indicates less concentration of caffeic and quercetin, further this identified compound is used as a pharmacological tool in treating various diseases. It has been used as a chemosystamatic tool to classify and identify species. The compounds syringic, vanillic, caffeic acid, and kaempferol were quantified and characterized first time in the plant (Abhishek Gupta 2018). Isolation and structural elucidation of 1-(2′-hydroxy-4′-methoxyphenyl)-3-(4″-methoxyphenyl)-2-hydroxypropane-1,3-dione,5-hydroxyflavone, 3,5,7,3′,4′-pentahydroxyflavone, 3,5,7,2′,4′-pentahydroxyflavone and 5,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxyflavone-3-O-rhamnoside are reported from the air-dried flowering buds of B.tomentosa L (Raja Radha et al.,2016). Quantitative analysis carried out with B.tomentosa revealed a flavonoid content 15.08%, alkaloid content 5.61% and saponin content 0f 2.1% (Bharathidasan et al., 2013). (Krisnaiah et al., 2009) reported a range of 0.24-0.52% alkaloids ,.1-2.3% saponins and 0.32-0.62% flavonoids in Malaysian species variety. The water and alcoholic extractive value of B. tomentosa was found to be 12.9±1.1%, 3.1±0.3% and 8.5±0.7% reported by (Balabhaskar et al., 2017). The moisture content was found to be 10.13±0.9%. About 19 compounds were identified by means of GC-MS analysis those are phytol (23-96%), n-hexadecanoic acid (11.62%), squalene (8.85%) an, d the minor compounds such as trans-bis (2-methyl propyl)-4,6-dioxane,dihydro-cis-alpha-copane-8-ol,tetradeconoic acid were reported.

The total phenolic percentage yield was 19.2%, stem bark shows 3.5%, Root portion exhibits 3%, flower part reveals 27.9%, where as pod and seed portion of B.tomentosa reported to be 6.2 and 9.4%. The amount of total phenolic and tannin contents shows a ranged between 5 and 108mg GAE/g of the sample. It was reported that 70% of acetone is more effective in extracting the tannins and phenolic constituents (K.Thenmozhi et al., 2012). Total flavonoid and vitamin c were estimated in methanolic extracts of B.tomentosa as mg of rutin equivalent/100g of plant extract and mg of ascorbic acid equivalent/100g of plant extract.

4. Pharmacognostic examination:

Microscopic studies Stem bark The bark is fairly smooth and even surface. It is grey - white. The texture is fibrous. It has no specific odour or taste. Total thickness of the bark is 1.2mm. The bark consists of peridern and secondary phloem. Periderm

The periderm is superficial and wavy; it is continuous. The surface exhibits shallow wide fisseres. The periderm comprises twelve layers of phellem and seven or eight layers of phelloderm .The phellem is homogeneous; cells are tabular in shape and suberized. The phelloderm cells are living cells with storage of ergastic substances.

Secondary phloem It is the major part of the bark and measures about 1mm wide. The phloem can be differentiated into outer collapsed phloem and inner non-collapsed phloem. Collapsed phloem It is the wider zone measuring about 850µm thick. The collapsed phloem is characterized by wide, highly dilated, funnel-shaped phloem-rays which consist of horizontal rows of tangentially stretched cells. Alternating with the dilated rays are conical bands of sieve – elements and phloem fibres. The phloem elements are crushed into dark thin tangential lines and are located in between thick fibre segments.

Non-collapsed phloem Non collapsed phloem consists of intact sieve elements and parenchyma cells. The phloem rays are narrow (not dilated) and fiber segments reduced in frequency or they are absent.

The sieve elements are polyhedral in outline and are arranged in compact radial files. The sieve elements are 20µm wide. The companion cells are small and situated along the corners of the element. Microscopic studies Stem bark The bark is fairly smooth and even surface. It is grey - white. The texture is fibrous. It has no specific odour or taste. Total thickness of the bark is 1.2mm. The bark consists of peridern and secondary phloem. Periderm.

The periderm is superficial and wavy; it is continuous. The surface exhibits shallow wide fisseres. The periderm comprises twelve layers of phellem and seven or eight layers of phelloderm. The phellem is homogeneous; cells are tabular in shape and suberized. The phelloderm cells are living cells with storage of ergastic substances.

Secondary phloem It is the major part of the bark and measures about 1mm wide. The phloem can be differentiated into outer collapsed phloem and inner non-collapsed phloem.

Collapsed phloem It is the wider zone measuring about 850µm thick. The collapsed phloem is characterized by wide, highly dilated, funnel-shaped phloem-rays which consist of horizontal rows of tangentially stretched cells. Alternating with the dilated rays are conical bands of sieve–elements and phloem fibres. The phloem elements are crushed into dark thin tangential lines and are located in between thick fibre segments (Figure 2d).

Non-collapsed phloem Non collapsed phloem consists of intact sieve elements and parenchyma cells. The phloem rays are narrow (not dilated) and fiber segments reduced in frequency or they are absent.

The periderm is superficial and wavy; it is continuous. The surface exhibits shallow wide fisseres. The periderm comprises twelve layers of phellem and seven or eight layers of phelloderm. The phellem is homogeneous; cells are tabular in shape and suberized. The phelloderm cells are living cells with storage of ergastic substances.

Secondary phloem

It is the major part of the bark and measures about 1mm wide. The phloem can be differentiated into outer collapsed phloem and inner non-collapsed phloem.

Collapsed phloem it is the wider zone measuring about 850µm thick. The collapsed phloem is characterized by wide, highly dilated, funnel-shaped phloem-rays which consist of horizontal rows of tangentially stretched cells. Alternating with the dilated rays are conical bands of sieve–elements and phloem fibres. The phloem elements are crushed into dark thin tangential lines and are located in between thick fibre segments.

Non-collapsed phloem

Non collapsed phloem consists of intact sieve elements and parenchyma cells. The phloem rays are narrow (not dilated) and fiber segments reduced in frequency or they are absent. The sieve elements are polyhedral in outline and are arranged in compact radial files. The sieve elements are 20 µm wide. The companion cells are small and situated along the corners of the element.

4.1 Anatomy of the lamina:

The internal structure of leaf shows a dorsiventral and heteromorphic in nature. The lateral veinlets, veins and midrib are exposed prominently projecting on the abaxial side of the lamina. The adaxial side of the veins are flat. The vascular system of the veins consists of a single wide and thick vascular strand, which is more thicker in the middle part and thin on both side.

The vascular strand possesses as many as vertical rows of xylem elements. Phloem region possess a thick continuous sieve elements at the bottom of the xylem which was reported (R. Balabhaskar et al., 2015) The vascular strand is ensheated with lots of fibers.

The midrib is slightly elongated, midrib region shows a small tangential wall. The ground tissue region is highly parenchymatous of the veins is homogenous and parenchymatous. Epidermal layer consists of dorsiventral cells with distinct adaxial and abaxial sides. The epidermal layer consists of fairly wide, thin-walled cells with thin cuticle. Mesophyll tissue consists of adaxial and abaxial band whereas adaxial part shows the presence of oblong palisade cells, abaxial surface has a spongy parenchyma cell. The lamina is 100µm thick Calcium oxalate crystals are found in the mesophyll region of the lamina shows 15µm in diameter.

The abaxial epidermis surface randomly distributed stomata they are mostly paracytic. The stomata consists of a wing like subsidiary cells in both the sides, it has a guard cells which measures about 25 x 30µm in size The stomata shows a narrow slit like aperture surrounded with elliptical guard cells. The guard cells are nearly 25 x 30µm in size. Epidermal surface are small amoeboid shaped cells with thin highly compressed wavy anti clinal walls.

Calcium oxalate crystals are seen in lamina portion with two types of crystals are present. Prismatic type of crystals extension are restricted to the veins where the other type of crystals are found in vertical rows all along the veins. The prismatic crystals are 25 x 15µm in size. The other crystals are appeared as clusters in nature they are about 30µm in diameter. Venation pattern of the lamina is reticulate.Vein terminations are seen in mostly at islets regions, the vein terminations are either straight or undulate.

4.2 Powder microscopy:

The powder characteristics of the leaf shows the presence of epidermal cells, xylem vessels, stomata. It consists of non-glandular epidermal trichome densely distributed on the lamina surface they are straight, curved, multi cellular, uniseriate and unbranched. The cells are elongated vertically and the cell walls are thickened and wide. The trichomes are 520µm long and 10µm wide.

4.3 Microscopical characters of bark portion:

The stem portion is smooth and even surface, with greyish white in colour, the textureof the bark was fibrous in nature which has the thickness about 1.2mm. The bark consists of periderm and secondary phloem. Periderm exhibits a superficial and wavy cell; it is continuous in form. The surface shows a shallow wide fissure. The periderm comprises twelve layers of phloem and seven or eight layers of phelloderm. The phloem arranged in same line which is homogenous; cells are tabular in shape and suberized. Secondary phloem is the major part of the bark which measures about 1mm wide. The phloem region is differentiated into two types such as outer collapsed phloem and inner non-collapsed phloem. Collapsed phloem wider which measures about 850µm thick. The collapsed phloem has been characterized by highly porous, funnel-shaped phloem, which consist of horizontal rows of tangentially stretched cells. Alternate to the collapsed phloem cells a conical band of sieve – elements and phloem fibers are present. The phloem elements are expanded as a dark thin tangential lines and located in between the thick fiber segments.

In non-collapsed phloem region sieve elements and parenchyma cells are intact. The phloem regions are narrow in nature. Polyhedral sieve elements are present which arranged in compact manner they are 20µm wide, it also consists of small companion cells.

TLS (tangential longitudinal section) view of the phloem, shows that the phloem rays are arranged one above the other. They are mostly biseriate, less frequently uniseriate or 3-seriate and homocellular; the cells are wide, polyhedral and compact. The biseriate rows of cells are 220-250µm high and 20-40µm thick. Three-seriate rows of cells are 50-60µm thick and 250 µm high. Phloem parenchyma cells shows fusiform shape with wedge ends. They are arranged tangentially. Calcium oxalate crystals are abundant in the phloem region. They are exclusively prismatic type. They are located along the marginal row of cells or occur within the lumen of the fibers. The crystals are located very close to vertical rows and axial to parenchyma rows such crystals are called as crystal strands.

5. Antimicrobial Evaluation of Bauhinia tomentosa:

5. 1. Microbial strains^16-24

Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and fungi are utilized in these experiments. The gram-negative bacteria were Proteus vulgaris (ATCC 12454), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). The gram-positive microorganisms were Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus pumilus, and Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 10774). (ATCC 25923). A pair of fungi (ATCC 10231).

5.2 Anti-bacterial activity:

It was reported that Quercetin-3-O-rutinoside from B.tomentosa was isolated and screened for their antibacterial activity at different concentrations (100, 200μg) against gram positive organism S. aureus and gram negative organism E.coli whereas the inhibition activity compared with their percentage inhibition of growth of organism by comparing them with the standard antibiotic namely Penicillin against the S. aurus and Norfloxacin against E.coli (S. Jamine Mary et al., 2012). The % of inhibition was calculated by considering 100% inhibition of the standard drugs. The drug Quercetin-3-O-rutinoside isolated from B. tomentosa effectively inhibits the S.aureus by 84.2% at 100μg and a minimum inhibition of about 36.5% at 200μg concentration. The same drug shows a maximum inhibition in growth of E.coli by 76.2% at lower concentration (100μg) and shows a minimum inhibition (33.4%) at higher concentration. Results observed implies that the bacteriostatic effect of Quercetin-3-O-rutinoside effective against both the gram positive and negative organism (S. Jasmine Mary et al., 2012).

The antibacterial activity of biosynthesized powdered flower extracts of B. tomentosa Linn with Silver nanoparticle formulation (AgNPs) was investigated against Gram-negative (E. coli) and Gram-positive (S. aureus) pathogens. Antifungal activity of B. tomentosa Linn and AgNPs was analyzed against A. flavus and C. albicans by disk diffusion method (Senthil Renganathan et al., 2021). Antimicrobial analyses exhibits that the formulated AgNPs with B.tomentosa possess increased antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative), with larger zone of inhibition against S. aureus (9.25 mm) compared with that of E. coli (6.75mm)) and fungi shows a superior inhibition against A. flavus (zone of inhibition: 7mm) compared with C. albicans (zone of inhibition measured at 5.75mm).

5.3 Anthelmenthic activity:

The plant extract shows good anthelmintic activity towards the both parasites when compared with the standard drug (Piperazine citrate), especially a dose of 100% was found to be more potent as compared to aqueous extract, while a combination of two extracts was found even more potent as compared to individual potency of one extracts, which concludes that combination of extracts was showing additive effect and potentiate each other’s activity.

5.4 Other pharmacological activities:

Hepatoprotective effect:

The ethanolic concentrate of bark of B. tomentosa (at the dosage of 100 and 200 mg/kg orally) demonstrated hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats, it diminished the level of AST, ALT, ALP, and GGTP.

Wound healing:

Both water and ethanolic concentrates of Bauhinia tomentosa heal the wound and the injury while comparing it with a standard drug framycetin, the flowers of B.tomentosa plays a vital role in reducing the wound size, whereas the herbal formulations of B.tomentosa show a rapid absorption in surface of the skin. The wound size and skin lesions were reduced.

Anti-cancer activity:

Another review found that methanolic concentrate of B. tomentosa leaves at concentrations of 300, 600 and 900 mg/kg in cyclophosphamide-induced mutagenesis in bone marrow cells of mice demonstrate the anti-mutagenic activity in mice by reducing the aberration of chromosomes.

Anti-diabetic action:

Oral ethanolic and hydro-alcoholic concentrate of leaves and stem portions of Bauhinia variegata at various dosages that is 200 and 400mg/kg in streptozotocin (STZ) and alloxan-induced diabetic rats reduces the blood glucose level by expanding glucose metabolism.

Anti-helminthic activity:

Aqueous and Chloroform extracts of bark B. tomentosa were examined for their anti-helminthic action against Pheretima posthuma and Ascardia galli. All extracts at a concentrations (25, 50, 100mg/ml) exhibits the loss of motion and the mortality rates. These were compared with standard medication piperazine citrate at 20mg/ml and water as control. From the test performed, it can be said that the aqueous and chloroform concentrate of bark B. tomentosa bears a potential action towards helminthiasis.

Insecticidal activity:

Plant extracts act as an effective measure for controlling the pests like Plutella xylostella. B. tomentosa is a promising source of edible wild vegetable flowers with plenty of nutrients. This plant may serve as a potential source of low-cost proteins. The tree is susceptible to ‘Brown Root Rot’ caused by Phellinusnoxius 80, this type of pesticidal infection is exploited by the Bauhinia species.

Anti-arthritic:

Investigation towards the anti-arthritic activity of ethanolic extract of B. tomentosa through oral administration at a dose level of 250mg/kg compared with complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis in rats for 15 days. At the end of 15^th day, the rats were sacrificed, their blood was collected and then the serum was separated. After that these various parameters such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total cholesterol, and triglycerides were estimated. The level of various antioxidant enzymes also evaluated by isolating the liver and kidney of normal, arthritic control, and extract-treated rats such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and lipid peroxidase (LPO). The result of these studies shows that administration of Bauhinia plant extracts significantly reduces Paw Edema volume in rats and altered the biochemical parameters and also the level of various antioxidant enzymes which got affected in arthritic rats. From this study, it was concluded that the ethanolic extracts of this plant showed a significant antiarthritic effect in rats.

Anti-oxidant activity:

Both species of B. tomentosa and B. variegata have been accounted to contain quercetin, rutin, apigenin, and epigenin 7-O-glucoside.Flavonoids and quercetin are powerful cancer prevention and are used to cure different diseases. Ethanolic and aqueous concentrates of B. tomentosa root is reported to prevent life threatening diseases like cancer by in-vitro action of free radicals utilizing 1, 2- diphenyl1-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide, and superoxide. The flavonoids and other phytochemicals exhibited in the plant extracts might also been reported for its cell reinforcement activity.

Anti-ulcer activity:

Ethanolic concentrate of stem B. tomentosa was also reported to reduce the excess gastric discharge, corrosiveness, and ulceration in the stomach which was demonstrated by comparing with the standard drug ibuprofen inducing ulcer in rats.The leaf extracts show a markable effect of reducing the ulceration it is justified by pyloric ligation compared along with the standard drug and plant extracts.

Anti-goitrogenic:

Ethanolic concentration of B. tomentosa which demonstrates anti-goitrogenic effect against neomercazole-induced goiter in rats, by means of haematological and biochemical analysis it has been reported to treat thyroid diseases. From these considerations, it was persumed that the ethanolic leaf extracts of B. tomentosa shows anti-goitrogenecity effect.

Nephroprotective:

The nephroprotective movement in rats was investigated with ethanolic concentrate of B. tomentosa (Linn.) entire stem against cisplatin induced nephropathy in rats was researched by in vivo technique. Treatment with the ethanol concentrate of B. tomentosa at the dose level of 200 to 400mg/kg body weight for 14 days altogether limited the biochemical parameters in serum such as urea, creatinine aspartae-amino-transferase, alanine-amino-transferase,

Anti-inflammatory effects:

Traditionally Bauhinia leaves are well known for treating inflammatory diseases. Phytochemical examination of non-woody parts of B. tomentosa yields 6 flavonoids and caffeine which demonstrates the reduction in nitric oxide, It was reported that the leaves have an impact towards TNF alpha, interleukin levels, and cox 2 inhibitors which are the major factors of causing swelling and inflammation.

Anti-tubercular activity:

The clinical reviews have suggested that the bark portion of B. tomentosa reported to have an impact on Anti-tuberculosis medications utilized as a part of treating Tubercular Cervical Lymphadenitis, Tuberculosis may occur in any part of the body the study proves that Bauhinia species play an important role in inhibiting the bacterial microorganisms.^39-44

6. DISCUSSION:

According to pharmacognostical analyses of plant, cork cells, parenchyma, pitted parenchyma, a bundle of fibers, a fiber with a pointed end, and forked fibers are present, while the stem powder contains crystals, druses fibers, and vessels, parenchyma cells, rectangular crystals, and cork cells. Studies on phytochemistry reveal that the extracts contain phenolic constituents, tannins, fixed oils, glycosides, polysaccharides, and flavonoids. Chloroform> Ethyl acetate> Methanol>Hexane extract of B. tomentosa stem had the highest relative potency. Only B. tomentosa leaves and roots' antibacterial activity has been documented in the literature. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time the antibacterial activity of B. tomentosa stem has been documented. Traditionally use of B. tomentosa roots as a vermifuge in olden days. Furthermore, numerous studies have confirmed the antibacterial effectiveness of certain Bauhinia species, is explained by the presence of flavonoids and phenolic substances. The findings of this study are viewed as particularly promising in the context of finding new drugs in medicinal relevance of the studied microorganisms. With disturbingly high rates of antibiotic resistance, P. aeruginosa has emerged as one of the most problematic Gram-negative pathogens. Even with the most potent antibiotics available in market this bacterial resistance rates was found to be 15-20.4% among P. aeruginosa strains. The crude extracts (chloroform and ethyl acetate) of stem of B. tomentosa were found to be toxic to pathogens. As they become more prevalent, C. Albicans and other Candida species that cause candidiasis to become more significant are widely spread throughout the world, and they are common opportunistic infections in AIDS patients. Environmentally prevalent Proteus species cause 3% of nosocomial infections. In the United States, the in-depth investigation indicated that the presence of flavonoids may be associated with the antibacterial activity of stem containing ethyl acetate extracts of B. tomentosa by forming a complex with the bacterial cell wall, flavonoids are known to exhibit antibacterial action.

The presence of tannins may be the cause of the antimicrobial activity by the methanol extracts of stem B. tomentosa. Enzyme inhibition by oxidized substances, either by reacting with sulfhydryl groups or less specific interactions with proteins, is one possible explanation for these phenolic compounds' activity.

The study of ash content reveals B.tomentosa. had a total ash value of 5.73%, with acid-insoluble ash and water-soluble ash at 2.37% and 3.75%, respectively. It was discovered that the moisture content was 8.54%. In terms of extractive values with ethanol and water it shows 5.28% and 2.66%, respectively, and when the foaming index was calculated, there was no foam present. The foreign organic matter was discovered to be 3.82%. To identify the chemical constituent's various chemical tests were carried out. To confirm the number of compounds, present in the sample, thin-layer chromatography was used. It was discovered that four distinct compounds were identified, each with a different Rf value (Rf1 = 0.4, Rf2=0.54, Rf3 = 0.69, and Rf4 = 0.83).

7. CONCLUSION:

Fabaceae is the third biggest plant family. It has a wide range of 19,325 and 19,560 species spread throughout 791 genera. Numerous taxa have important ecological and economic implications. Molecular systematics has advanced, since the 1998 release of Flora Republican Popularis Sinicae, and as a result, several taxa classification categories have undergone significant modification. In this article, it was reported and reviewed all recent findings from domestic and international research, and also their ecology, habitat, cultivation, and varieties were studied to provide a reference for the further taxonomic study of native Chinese legumes.

8. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

The authors acknowledge the Management of Sathya Bama University School of Pharmacy for Providing support for the activity and for kind cooperation.

9. CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

The author declares there is no conflict of interest relevant to this article

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Received on 13.12.2022 Modified on 14.01.2023

Res. J. Pharmacognosy and Phytochem. 2023; 15(3):255-263.

DOI: 10.52711/0975-4385.2023.00040