Butea monosperma

HABIT: Butea monosperma is an erect deciduous tree, upto 10-meter height,  Leaves are trifoliate, alternate; stipules small, lateral, cauducous. Flowers are bisexual, 5 cm long, bright red, in terminal or axillary, densely fascicled, racemes; calyx broadly campanulate. 

CONSERVATION STATUS: Evaluated as 'Least Concern' by IUCN.

MEDICINAL USES: Ethanolic extract of Butea monosperma flowers significantly reduces blood glucose, serum cholesterol, improved HDL-cholesterol and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes. The ethyl acetate, butanol and aqueous fractions from total methanolic extract of Butea monosperma flowers possess free radical scavenging activity. The aqueous extract of Butea monosperma flowers inhibites cell proliferation and accumulation of hepatoma cell in G1 phase with significance induction of apoptotic cell death suggesting chemopreventive and anti-cancer property. The aqueous extract of Butea monosperma flowers reported to restore serum transaminases, hepatic lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione and total protein levels against CCl4 induced acute liver injury.  The aqueous extract of Butea monosperma leave and roots are reported to show significant inhibition of motility of brugia malayi microfilariae as compare to control suggesting anti-filarial effects. The hydro-alcoholic flower extract of Butea monosperma has shown antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria viz., Escherichia coli. Similarly, the leaf-extracts of Butea monosperma with hot water and ethanol has shown significant antibacterial activity against all bacteria. 

( Sutariya, B. K., & Saraf, M. N. (2015). A comprehensive review on pharmacological profile of Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 5(9), 159-166.)

ETHNOBOTANICAL USES: Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub is used as one of the important ingratiates in most commonly used Ayurvedic preparations such as Kunkumadi Taila, Vanda Bhasma, Krmimudgara Rasa, Ayaskrti and Palasa Arka (The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia). As per the ancient Ayurvedic text book Charaka Samhita, seeds of Butea monosperma are insecticidal and Ayurvedic physicians used them to compound medicines for diarrhoea and dysentery. Juice made from the Butea monosperma roots, bark, and leaves are administered for regulating menstrual flow, colic and intestinal worms. The ointment made from the leaves is useful for boils, pimples, swellings, and for shrinking haemorrhoids. Flowers of Butea monosperma are useful as astringent, depurative and tonic.

(Sutariya, B. K., & Saraf, M. N. (2015). A comprehensive review on pharmacological profile of Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 5(9), 159-166.)