Phytopharmacological Insights into Bauhinia purpurea: An Updated Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Bauhinia purpurea L., commonly known as the orchid tree, is a medicinally important member of the family Fabaceae and has been widely utilized in traditional medicine for the management of various ailments. This review summarizes the botanical characteristics, phytochemical composition, and pharmacological activities of B. purpurea reported up to 2026. The plant contains a diverse array of bioactive constituents, including carbohydrates, alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, phenolic compounds, steroids, sterols, saponins, proteins, amino acids, and fixed oils, which contribute to its broad therapeutic potential. Qualitative phytochemical screening indicates that leaves and flowers are particularly rich in carbohydrates, glycosides, tannins, phenolics, and fixed oils, while flowers exhibit comparatively higher flavonoid content. Pharmacological investigations have demonstrated a wide spectrum of biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, antimicrobial, antidiarrheal, antidiabetic, antiulcer, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, cardioprotective, cardiotonic, wound healing, antidepressant, antiepileptic, antiarthritic, anticancer, antitubercular, antimalarial, antifungal, anti-obesity, fibrinolytic, and antibiotic-potentiating effects. Most of these findings have been established through in vitro experiments and animal models using extracts from leaves, bark, roots, stems, flowers, and seeds. Despite encouraging preclinical evidence, clinical validation remains limited, and the molecular mechanisms responsible for many reported activities are not fully understood. Furthermore, studies on the flowers and isolated bioactive compounds remain comparatively scarce. Future research should prioritize bioactivity-guided isolation of phytoconstituents, mechanistic investigations, toxicological and pharmacokinetic evaluations, and well-designed clinical trials to establish the safety, efficacy, and therapeutic applicability of B. purpurea in evidence-based medicine.