Bauhinia purpurea, also known as the Hong Kong Orchid Tree, is a flowering plant from the Fabaceae family and is native to Southeast Asia and South China.
The extracts of this plant are known to be used for various medical conditions, especially for the treatment of certain potential diseases.
Reported Effects
1) Exhibits anti-toxic activities.
2) Heals wounds faster.
3) Treats grandular diseases.
Reported effects include:
Exhibits anti-toxic activities – The ethanol extracts from Bauhinia purpurea leaves and the unripe pods of this plant have been used for controlling the toxin levels in the body. As per experiments performed, these extracts were found to be effective in terms of reducing the symptoms of congestion in blood vessels, desquamation of the epithelial cells, necrosis of the kidney cells, and accumulation of inflammatory cells in the body.
Exhibits anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and antipyretic activities – The aqueous extracts of this flowering plant are also known to be helpful for the body in case of certain pain and inflammation. These extracts provide the advantage of potential pharmacological effects and are commonly used by individuals like bodybuilders and athletes.
Treats grandular diseases – Bauhinia purpurea also promotes the production of certain thyroid hormones, especially triiodothyronine and thyroxine, which triggers most of the body functions. Therefore, this plant extract is believed to be effective as a therapeutic agent for treating grandular disease.
Exhibits antihyperlipidemic and antiatherogenic properties – One of the key uses of this plant extract is for reducing cholesterol levels and reducing hyperlipidemia caused by a cholesterol high fat diet (CHFD). Because of these properties, bodybuilders and athletes usually take supplements containing Bauhinia purpurea extracts for maintaining low cholesterol levels in their body.
Heals wounds faster – Another benefit of Bauhinia purpurea extract is its use for recovery from skin injuries or wounds. The methanol and chloroform extracts of this plant were found to be very beneficial for healing wounds.
Reduces symptoms of stomach tumors – One of the key medicinal uses of Bauhinia purpurea is for the treatment of tumors in the stomach.
Possible Dangers
Bauhinia purpurea extracts are used for medicinal purposes and therefore are normally considered safe when used with the advice of healthcare professionals. However, some reported side effects of the plant extracts include stomach upset, nausea, and headache which may induce the symptoms of migraines if not taken as prescribed.
FDA Approved?
Bauhinia purpurea has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Studies
As per a study published in the International Journal of PharmTech Research, 2011, Bauhinia purpurea exhibited a significant effect on high cholesterol blood vessels. The extracts of this plant showed a remarkable reduction in the cholesterol levels and was therefore reported to impart antihyperlipidemic activities. Based on these results, it was concluded that the plant extracts have the potential to reduce body weight and control serum lipids in the body.
As found in a study published in the Academic Journal of Plant Sciences, 2010, Bauhinia showed similar results as listed above. This study was conducted to evaluate the antilipidemic and anti-obesity properties of this plant that showed positive results when the extracts of the plant were administered to rats.
Another significant finding from a research article reported that an ethanol extract from Bauhinia was found to exhibit analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. According to this article, the plant extracts contain phytonutrients, which can help treat wounds and other common health issues.
Supplements using this ingredient:
1. Lyophilized Bauhinia powder
2. OxyElite Pro
3. BAUHINIA PURPUREA LECTIN, BIOTINYLATED
4. BAUHINIA PURPUREA AGGLUTININ
5. Alkaline Phosphatase Conjugated Bauhinia Purpurea Lectin –BPA
6. Bauhinia purpurea Gel -BPA- Immobilized Lectin
7. Biotin Conjugated Bauhinia purpurea Lectin (Camel’s Foot Tree) –BPA
8. BPA Macrobeads
9. Pure Bauhinia purpurea Lectin (Camel’s Foot Tree) –BPA
10. TRITC Conjugated Bauhinia purpurea Lectin (Camel’s Foot Tree) –BPA
Conclusion
Bauhinia purpurea is a commonly used medicinal plant; it is also considered an effective fat burner because of the regulating properties of this plant’s extracts. Many commercial products today use Bauhinia purpurea as the main ingredient along with another important compound called Rauwolfia Canescens (Rauwolscine).