• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.207-216
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• 2009

Bauhinia variegata Linn (Mountain Ebony) is a medium-sized, deciduous tree, found throughout India, ascending to an altitude of 1,300 m in the Himalayas. The plant is widely used by the tribals throughout India and popular in various indigenous systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Unani and Homoeopathy. Following the various traditional claims on utility of this plant in curing number of diseases, considerable efforts have been made by researchers to verify its utility through pharmacological screenings. The notable biological activities reported are anthelmintic, antiulcer, antitumour, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antigoitrogenic, hepatoprotective and haemagglutination. Industrially, the plant is widely used for the manufacture of wood wool board, production of tannin, oil, gum and fibre. The plant is also utilized for afforestation to conserve the nature. In this article, a comprehensive account of the cultivation, microscopy, phytochemical investigation, traditional and biologically evaluated medicinal uses of B variegata is presented.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2020

Objectives: The objective of the study was to prepare Bauhinia variegata loaded nanoemulsion(formulation and determine the efficacy of herbal drug formulation against diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain through acupuncture technique. Methods: Nine different ba tches of nanoemulsion (NE1 NE9) of BVN was prepared by varying the S_mix ratio and the concentration of oil. BVN was characterized to determine particle size, shape, zeta potential, polydispersity index, optical transmittance, drug release profile and stora ge stability. The optimized formulation was subjected to plantar test, behavioral tests of neuropathic pain and Von Frey filament stimulation test. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of freshly prepared solution of Streptozotocin (60 mg/kg) to the experimental rats. Animals were made diabetic divided into four groups, Group I was untreated normal control group, Group II was diabetic control group, Group III was Bauhinia variegata extract ( treated group (100 mg/kg/day, p.o) and Group IV was BVN treated groups (100 mg/kg/day, p.o) acute and chronically. Results: The prepared B. variegata loaded nanoemulsion was nanosized (124 nm), spherical, uniform and stable over the period of 180 days with no change in physiochemical properties. The bl ood glucose and body weight of animals was normalizing after four weeks of treatment that was significant with BVN in comparison to diabetic control group. The chronic administration of BVN significantly (P<0.001) decreased hind paw withdrawal latency an d attenuated mechanical allodynia as compared with diabetic rats. Conclusion: Thus, BVN may be an effective drug formulation against diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain.

• CELLMED
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.20.1-20.7
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• 2014

Ethanolic leaf extract of Bauhinia variegata has been tested for its possible antioxidant potentials against sodium arsenite induced toxicity in mice. Mice were randomized into two groups of five and fifty mice. Group I consisting of 5 mice without any treatment with food and water ad libitum which served as normal control. Group II mice were fed with sodium arsenite in drinking water at 100 ppm concentration for two monthsthen they were segregated into five groups which were treated differently. Group II a mice received only arsenic as sodium arsenite with drinking water, Group II b were fed chronically 1 : 20 alcohol to distilled water (vehicle), Group II c, d, e mice were orally fed 50 mg/kg, 150 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg of B. variegata leaf extract of once daily for 15 and 30 days respectively along with arsenic. Several toxicity marker enzymes such as gamma glutamyl transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate and alanine aminotransferase, acid and alkaline phosphatase, catalase and superoxide dismutase along with haematological variables such as glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, creatinine, bilirubin, haemoglobin and sugar in different groups of treated and control mice were studied. Results obtained from the in vivo experiment revealed that administration of sodium arsenite caused a significant increase in some enzymes while decrease in some. A similar trend was also observed with haematological variables. In contrast B. variegata treatment at 150 mg/kg favourably modulated these alterations and maintained the antioxidant status than other two doses i.e. 50 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg thereby making it a good candidate to be used as supportive palliating measures in arsenic induced toxicity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2005

A study was conducted with the objective of evaluating the nutritive value of some browse species from Kenya. The species evaluated included: Bauhinia alba, Bauhinia variegata, Bridelia micrantha, Calliandra calothyrsus, Carisa edulis, Cratylia argentea, Gliricidia sepium, Lantana camara, Maerua angolensis, Sesbania micrantha and S. sesban. The browses were evaluated by their chemical composition including phenolics, in vitro gas production and tannin activity (tannin bioassay). All the species had high crude protein content (149-268 g/kg DM) and low NDF content (239-549 g/kg DM). The feeds had varying contents of total extractable tannins (TET) ranging from low (3-22 mg/g DM), moderate (42-58 mg/g DM) and high (77-152 mg/g DM). Calliandra calothyrsus had the highest tannin content. Significant (p<0.05) variation in gas production was recorded among the species. Sesbania micrantha had the highest (p<0.05) potential gas production while Gliricidia sepium had the highest (p<0.05) rate of gas production. Use of polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000), to assess the adverse affect of tannins, indicated that tannins in browse species with high tannin content had inhibitory effects on rumen microbial fermentation as indicated by the gas production. Estimated organic matter digestibility and metabolizable energy also increased with PEG addition. The results of this study indicate that such Kenyan browse species have the potential to be used as feed supplements for ruminant animals.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2017

Trees at farm are considered as one of the option to reduce poverty of smallholders by contributing to livelihood security and resilience to climate change. A perception based study was conducted to assess the cultural importance of tree species suitable for practicing agroforestry in randomly selected agroforestry-dominated villages in Alaknanda valley of Western Himalayas during 2015-16. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data on the provisioning services of major agroforestry tree species in randomly surveyed 87 households. Based on cultural importance (CI) index value, the most suitable agroforestry tree species was Morus alba (3.32) followed by Celtis australis (3.22), Mangifera indica (3.01), Grewia optiva (2.79), Toona ciliata (2.22), Bauhinia variegata (2.08), Leucaena leucocephala (1.76) and Emblica officinalis (1.74). The preference of use has also been governed based on their indigenous knowledge. This study will also facilitate in evaluating the importance of provisioning services of agroforestry tree species in improving livelihood as well as facilitates smallholder's resilience to climate change in Western Himalayas.