Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub.
Synonym B. frondosa Koenig ex Roxb.
Family : Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.
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Habitat Throughout India, up to 1,200 m except in very arid regions.
English Flame of the Forest, Butea Gum, Bengal Kino.
Ayurvedic Paalasha, Kimshuka, Raktapushpaka, Kshaarshreshtha, Brahmavriksha, Samidvar.
Unani Dhaak, Samagh Dhaak, Kamarkas.
Siddha/Tamil Palasam, Purasus. Folk Tesu.
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Action Bark—astringent, styptic (prescribed in bleeding piles, ulcers, haemorrhages, menstrual disorders), anthelmintic. Flowers— astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue (also given for leucorrhoea). A decoction of flowers is given in diarrhoea and haematuria, also to puerperal women.
Seeds—clinical use of seeds as an anthelmintic drug is not considered safe in humans.
Leaves—antibacterial. Stem bark— antifungal.
An aqueous extract of flowers has shown hepatoprotective activity against CCI4-induced liver injury in albino rats. Extracts of flowers have exhibited
anti-oestrogenic activity in
mice. The seed suspension, on oral
administration to albino rats (175 and
350 mg/kg body weight), showed 38.46
and 68.75% cases, respectively, where
pregnancy was not interrupted but foe
tus was malformed.
Alcoholic extract of the whole plant
produced persistent vasodepression in
cats.
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The plant contains flavonoids and
glucosides—butin, butrin, isobutrin
and palastrin. Flowers contain butrin,
coreopsin, monospermoside and their
derivatives and sulphurein; also chal
cones.
Dosage Stem bark—5—l0 g powder
(API Vol. II); flower—3—6 g powder;
seed—3 g powder; gum—0.5—L5 g
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