Bauhinia racemosa arechettu tataki Katmuli

Bauhinia racemosa Lam.
Family: Caesalpiniaceae
English: Mountain ebony, Bidi leaf tree
Bengali: Banraj
Hindi: कठमूली katmauli, Kachnal
Kannada: ಅಪ್ತಾ aapta, ಅರಳುಕದುಮನ್ದರ aralukadumandara, Vana samtige
Konkani: आप्टो apto
Malayalam: അരംപാലി arampaali, കുടബുളി kutabuli, മലയത്തി malayaththi
Marathi: अपटा apta, सोना sona
Sanskrit: यमलपत्रक yamalapatrakah, युग्मपत्र yugmapatra, Ashmantaka, Kanchini
Tamil: ஆத்தி atti, தாதகி tataki, Kokku mandarai
Telugu:  ఆరెచెట్టు arechettu
Unani: Kachnaar.

Bauhinia racemosa Lam.; Encycl. [J. Lamarck & al.] 1(2): 390. 1785 [1 Aug 1785]
Trees, deciduous, small, to 15 m tall. Bark blackish, rough; branches spreading or pendulous, zigzag, slender, glabrous. Stipules caducous; petiole 0.8-1.2 cm; leaf blade broadly orbic¬ular, 1.5-4 × 2.2-6 cm, 7-9-veined, leathery, abaxially pubes¬cent or glabrous, adaxially glabrous, base cordate, apex bifid to ca. 1/3, lobes rounded at apex.

Inflorescence  lateral or terminal raceme,  20-flowered; peduncle short; bracts and brac¬teoles linear. Flowers white, buds obovoid, puberulent, apex protruding. Calyx split spathaceously at anthe¬sis. Petals creamy white, subequal, oblanceolate, 8-10 mm, subses¬sile. Fertile stamens 10, unequal; filaments 6-7 mm; anthers small, ca. 3 mm. Ovary stalked, glabrous; stigma subsessile, peltate, small. Legume linear-cylindric, 15-20 × 1.8-2.2 cm; valves woody, glabrous. Seeds 12-20, dark brownish, ellipsoid, 8-10 mm in diam. Fl. Apr-May, fr. Jun-Aug. 2n = 28.

Distribution: Native to South Asia, in dry valeys.

Leaves are used as cattle fodder, coarse fibre is extacted from the bark. In Ayurveda the bark is useful for the treatment of malaria, dysentery and dyarhoea. It is also useful as astigent. The stem bark of the plant is an astringent and is used in the treatment of headache, fever, skin
diseases, tumors, blood diseases, dysentery, and diarrhea

Phytochemistry: ß-sitosterol and ß-amyrin(bark) , five flavonols (kaempferol and quercetin) and two coumarins (scopoletin and scopolin)
were also isolated from the leaves of the plant; Stilbene (resveratrol) was isolated from the heartwood  Dibenzoxepin derivative, pacharin, from the heartwood of  is reported.

Bark—highly astringent, anti-inflammatory (used in glandular inflammations, skin diseases, ulcers), cholagogue. Leaves—anthelmintic; with onion for diarrhoea. Flowers—used in haemorrhages, piles; also in cough. Seed—antibacterial.

Astringent, anthelmintic, cephalalgic

Images Content Courtesy: Ms. Avadhanam Lalithamba, Lecturer in Botany, Nellore

38 Published articles of Bauhinia racemosa
1.    Galactolipids from Bauhinia racemosa as a new class of antifilarial agents against human lymphatic filarial parasite, Brugia malayi
Sashidhara Koneni V.; Singh Suriya P.; Misra Sweta; et al. - EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY  Volume: 50   Pages: 230-235   DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2012.01.057   Published: APR 2012
2.    Pharmacognostic studies on stem bark of Bauhinia racemosa Lam.
Prakash V. G.; Abhay K. S.; Hundiwale J. C. - Journal of Pharmacy Research  Volume: 5   Issue: 2   Pages: 1156-1159   Published: 2012
3.    Antihistaminic effect of Bauhinia racemosa leaves.
Nirmal Sa; Laware Rb; Rathi R A; et al. - Journal of young pharmacists : JYP  Volume: 3   Issue: 2   Pages: 129-31   Published: 2011-Apr
4.    Antianxiety effect of methanolic extract of Bauhinia racemosa ( Lamk) stem bark in mice.
Davey M. S.; Atlee W. C.; Bharathi S. R. S. A.; et al. - International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences  Volume: 2   Issue: 2   Pages: P-224   Published: 2011
5.    In-vitro antibacterial efficacy of solvent extracts of leaves of Bauhinia racemosa Lam. ( Caesalpiniaceae) against enteric bacterial pathogens.
Dahikar S. B.; Bhutada S. A.; Tambekar D. H.; et al. - International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research  Volume: 3   Issue: 1   Pages: 32-34   Published: 2011
6.    Floral visitors on Bauhinia racemosa, a threatened medicinal plant.
Karmakar P.; Layek U.; Mitra B.; et al. - Bionotes  Volume: 12   Issue: 2   Pages: 60-61   Published: April-June 2010
7.    Phytochemical composition and in vitro antimicrobial activity of Bauhinia racemosa Lamk (Caesalpiniaceae).
Gaurav Kumar; Karthik L.; Rao K. V. B. - International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (IJPSR)  Volume: 1   Issue: 11   Pages: 51-58   Published: 2010
8.    Antibacterial activity of hexane and acetone extracts of Peltophorum pterocarpumCalvillea racemosa and Bauhinia purpurea.
Ravikumar A.; Rathinam K. M. S. - International Journal of Chemical Sciences  Volume: 7   Issue: 3   Pages: 1751-1756   Published: 2009
9.    Study of analgesic activity of Bauhinia racemosa Lam. in rats.
Borikar V. I.; Jangde C. R.; Rekhe D. S.; et al. - Veterinary World  Volume: 2   Issue: 4   Pages: 135-136   Published: 2009
10.    Study of antiulcer activity of Bauhinia racemosa Lam in rats.
Borikar V. I.; Jangde C. R.; Preety Philip; et al. - Veterinary World  Volume: 2   Issue: 6   Pages: 215-216   Published: 2009
11.    Study of antipyretic activity of Bauhinia racemosa Lam in rats.
Borikar V. I.; Jangde C. R.; Preety Philip; et al. - Veterinary World  Volume: 2   Issue: 6   Pages: 217-218   Published: 2009
12.    Bioactivities of polyphenolics from the roots of Bauhinia racemosa
Jain Renuka; Saxena Umesh; Rathore Kiran; et al. - ARCHIVES OF PHARMACAL RESEARCH  Volume: 31   Issue: 12   Pages: 1525-1529   DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12272-001-2145-7   Published: DEC 2008
13.    Hepatoprotective effect of stem bark of Bauhinia racemosa Lam against paracetamol induced toxicity in rats.
Jangde C. R.; Bhandarkar A. G.; Philip P.; et al. - Royal Veterinary Journal of India  Volume: 4   Issue: 2   Pages: 57-61   Published: 2008
14.    Effect of Bauhinia racemosa stem bark on N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.
Kumar R. S.; Sunderam R. S.; Thangavel Sivakumar; et al. - American Journal of Chinese Medicine  Volume: 35   Issue: 1   Pages: 103-114   DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S0192415X07004667   Published: 2007
15.    Effect of Bauhinia racemosa stem bark on N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats
Kumar Ramanathan Sambath; Sunderam Rajagopal Shanmuga; Sivakumar Thangavel; et al. - AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE  Volume: 35   Issue: 1   Pages: 103-114   DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S0192415X07004667   Published: 2007
16.    Anticancer activity of Bauhinia racemosa Lam on mice bearing ehrlich ascites carcinoma.
Mohamad R. H.; El-Bastawesy A. M.; Hegazi A. G. - Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Sciences  Volume: 40   Pages: 49-59   Published: 2006
17.    Effects of methanol extracts of Caesalpinia bonducella and Bauhinia racemosa on hematology and hepatorenal function in mice
Kumar Ramanathan Sambath; Gupta Malaya; Mazumdar Upal Kanti; et al. - Journal of Toxicological Sciences  Volume: 30   Issue: 4   Pages: 265-274   DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2131/jts.30.265   Published: DEC 2005
18.    Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Bauhinia racemosa L. stem bark
Kumar RS; Sivakumar T; Sunderam RS; et al. - BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL AND BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH  Volume: 38   Issue: 7   Pages: 1015-1024   Published: JUL 2005
19.    Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects of methanol extract from Bauhinia racemosa stem bark in animal models
Gupta M; Mazumder UK; Kumar RS; et al. - JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY  Volume: 98   Issue: 3   Pages: 267-273   DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2005.01.018   Published: APR 26 2005
20.    Antitumor activity and antioxident role of Bauhinia racemosa against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in Swiss albino mice
Gupta M; Mazumder UK; Kumar RS; et al. - ACTA PHARMACOLOGICA SINICA  Volume: 25   Issue: 8   Pages: 1070-1076   Published: AUG 2004
21.    Effect of orientation of seed placement in soil on seedling emergence in two Bauhinia species Bauhinia vahlii Wight et. Arn. and Bauhinia racemosa Lam.
Prasad P; Nautiyal AR - SEED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY  Volume: 31   Issue: 2   Pages: 497-503   Published: 2003
22.    Nutritive value of Apta ( Bauhinia racemosa) leaves for goats.
Dhore R. N.; Bhinge S. D.; Udar S. A.; et al. - Indian Journal of Small Ruminants  Volume: 9   Issue: 1   Pages: 69-70   Published: 2003
23.    A new tetracyclic phenol and other constituents from the roots of Bauhinia racemosa
Jain R; Alam S; Saxena U - INDIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY SECTION B-ORGANIC CHEMISTRY INCLUDING MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY  Volume: 41   Issue: 6   Pages: 1321-1322   Published: JUN 2002
24.    Characterisation of flavonoids from seed coat of Bauhinia racemosa
Swantijian K; Pathak V; Srivastava BK - ASIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY  Volume: 14   Issue: 2   Pages: 1067-1068   Published: APR-JUN 2002
25.    Extraction and physico-chemical properties of oils from Bauhinia racemosa seeds.
Amoo I. A.; Moza L. - Rivista Italiana delle Sostanze Grasse  Volume: 76   Issue: 9   Pages: 399-400   Published: 1999
26.    Notes on the distribution of Bauhinia racemosa Lam. (Leguminoase: Caesalpinioideae) in India
Bandyopadhyay S. - Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany  Volume: 21   Issue: 3   Pages: 662   Published: Feb. 10, 1997 (1998)
27.    Notes on the distribution of Bauhinia racemosa Lam. (Leguminoase: Caesalpinioideae) in India
Bandyopadhyay S. - Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany  Volume: 21   Issue: 3   Pages: 662   Published: Feb. 10, 1997 (1998)
28.    Physiology of germination in Bauhinia: Involvement of seed coat in inhibition of germination in B-racemosa Lam seeds
Prasad P; Nautiyal AR - SEED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY  Volume: 24   Issue: 2   Pages: 305-308   Published: 1996
29.    CHEMICAL AND NUTRITIONAL-EVALUATION OF 2 GERMPLASMS OF THE TRIBAL PULSE, BAUHINIA-RACEMOSA LAMK
MOHAN VR; JANARDHANAN K - PLANT FOODS FOR HUMAN NUTRITION  Volume: 46   Issue: 4   Pages: 367-374   DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01088438   Published: DEC 1994
30.    DE-O-METHYLRACEMOSOL - A TETRACYCLIC 2,2-DIMETHYLCHROMAN FROM THE ROOTS OF BAUHINIA-RACEMOSA
PRABHAKAR P; GANDHIDASAN R; RAMAN PV; et al. - PHYTOCHEMISTRY  Volume: 36   Issue: 3   Pages: 817-818   DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)89827-1   Published: JUN 1994
31.    CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION AND NUTRITIONAL POTENTIAL OF THE TRIBAL PULSES BAUHINIA-PURPUREA, B-RACEMOSA AND B-VAHLII
RAJARAM N; JANARDHANAN K - JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE  Volume: 55   Issue: 3   Pages: 423-431   DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.2740550310   Published: 1991
32.    THE SYNTHESIS OF PACHARIN - A DIBENZOXEPINE FROM THE HEARTWOOD OF BAUHINIA-RACEMOSA LAMK
COMBER MF; SARGENT MV - JOURNAL OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY-PERKIN TRANSACTIONS 1  Issue: 5   Pages: 1371-1373   DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/p19900001371   Published: MAY 1990
33.    The synthesis of pacharin: a dibenzoxepine from the heartwood of Bauhinia racemosa Lamk.
Comber M. F.; Sargent M. V. - Perkin Transactions I  Issue: 5   Pages: 1371-1373   Published: 1990
34.    RACEMOSOL - A NOVEL TETRACYCLIC PHENOL FROM BAUHINIA RACEMOSA LAMK
ANJANEYULU ASR; REDDY AVB; REDDY DSK; et al. - TETRAHEDRON  Volume: 42   Issue: 9   Pages: 2417-2420   DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0040-4020(86)80004-7   Published: 1986
35.    PACHARIN - A NEW DIBENZO(2,3-6,7)OXEPIN DERIVATIVE FROM BAUHINIA-RACEMOSA LAMK
ANJANEYULU ASR; REDDY AVR; REDDY DSK; et al. - TETRAHEDRON  Volume: 40   Issue: 21   Pages: 4245-4252   DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0040-4020(01)98799-X   Published: 1984
36.    CHEMICAL STUDIES ON BAUHINIA-RACEMOSA
PRAKASH A; KHOSA RL - CURRENT SCIENCE  Volume: 45   Issue: 19   Pages: 705-705   Published: 1976
37.    PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STUDIES ON BAUHINIA-RACEMOSA
WAHI S P; PRAKASH A; WAHI A K - Indian Journal of Pharmacy  Volume: 38   Issue: 6   Pages: 158   Published: 1976
38.    A NEW BACTERIAL LEAF-SPOT DISEASE OF BAUHINIA RACEMOSA LAMK
PADHYA AC; PATEL MK; KOTASTHA.WV - CURRENT SCIENCE  Volume: 34   Issue: 7   Pages: 224-&   Published: 1965