Bauhinia Galpinii Research Articles

Puzzling androecium development in Bauhinia galpinii (Fabaceae) facilitates wing pollination by butterflies

Floral adaptation to pollinators often involves key modifications of floral development. We investigated floral development and its function for pollination in Bauhinia galpinii, a legume species native to eastern and southern Africa with a unique arrangement of stamens and staminodes. Flowers and floral buds at different stages were prepared for observation under Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Light Microscopy (ML), and X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT). Pollinator observations were conducted in populations in southern Africa and floral advertising and reward traits were quantified. Five (rarely six) sepals emerge helically, followed by the petal primordia in unidirectional order. The carpel arises synchronously with the stamens and expands rapidly. Stamen initiation occurs unidirectionally, with three abaxial antesepalous stamens fully developing while other stamen primordia remain sterile and underdeveloped (staminodial). The number of adaxial staminode tips can fluctuate by branching, regardless of their original whorl. Concentric collateral bundles supply all the staminodes. Swallowtail butterflies transfer pollen through their fluttering wings that touch the abaxial anthers and stigma while feeding on nectar in the hypanthium located on the adaxial side. Bauhinia galpinii exhibits an androecium characterised by secondary, unstable branching of staminodes, which form adaptive structures suited to its pollinators. The variation in androecium structure may be attributed to heterochronic changes during development, marked by an early carpel initiation and its basal expansion leading to spatial restriction. This ontogenetic contingency, associated with selective pressures from pollinators, notably swallowtail butterflies, seems to play a role in selecting this complex and distinct floral architecture.

GC-ToF-MS Profiling and In Vitro Inhibitory Effects of Selected South African Plants against Important Mycotoxigenic Phytopathogens.

The harmful effects following the ingestion of mycotoxin-contaminated food include the induction of cancers, mutagenicity, immune suppression, and toxicities that target organs of the digestive, cardiovascular, and central nervous systems. Synthetic fungicides are generally associated with a high toxic residue in food and the development of excessive fungal resistance. This study aimed to determine the antifungal activities against mycotoxigenic fungi of selected South African plant leaves and potentially develop plant-derived bio-fungicides, and, furthermore, to explore the in vitro antioxidant activity and the phytochemical spectra of the compounds of the selected medicinal plant extracts. The extracts were tested for antifungal activity against phytopathogenic strains using a microdilution broth assay. Bauhinia galpinii extracts exhibited the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against C. cladospoides and P. haloterans at 24 h incubation periods. C. caffrum had good antioxidant activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 0.013 mg/mL while B. galpini had IC50 values of 0.053 against free radicals of 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-suphonic acid (ABTS). The antimycotoxigenic and antioxidant activity exerted by both B. galpinii and C. caffrum may well be attributed to high TPC. In the GC-ToF-MS analysis, all the selected medicinal plants exhibited the presence of Hexadecanoic acid at varying % areas, while both B. galpinii and C. caffum exhibited the presence of lupeol at % area 2.99 and 3.96, respectively. The compounds identified, particularly the ones with higher % area, may well explain the biological activity observed. Although the selected medicinal plants exhibited a notable biological activity, there is a need to explore the safety profiles of these plants, both in vitro and in vivo.

Bauhinia galpinii

This datasheet on Bauhinia galpinii covers Identity.

Pharmacological evaluation of hydro-ethanol and hot water leaf extracts of Bauhinia galpinii (Fabaceae): A South African ethnomedicinal plant

Bauhinia galpinii is one of several plant species native to South Africa that has been reported to be used traditionally to manage ailments including gastrointestinal disorders, infectious diseases and inflammation. This study was designed to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activities of the hydro-ethanol (70% ethanol) and hot water extracts of Bauhinia galpinii leaves. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the extracts were determined using the serial microplate dilution technique. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of seven bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium), Salmonella enterica Serotype Dublin (S. Dublin), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and three clinical fungal isolates (Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans) were determined. The extraction yield and MIC values were used to determine the total activity (TA) of the extracts. Radical scavenging potential of the extracts was determined using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay while the lipoxygenase (LOX) enzyme inhibitory assay was used to ascertain the anti-inflammatory activity. The safety of the extracts was determined using the colorimetric mitochondrial viability assay against Vero, Caco-2 and C3A cells. UPLC-MS analysis was also conducted to detect and identify the compounds present in the plant. Results from the study showed that the extracts had inhibitory activities against the growth of all tested pathogens with MIC values ranging from 0.04 to 1.25 mg/ml. Both extracts were most active against S. Typhimurium with MIC = 0.16 mg/ml, while the hot water extract was very active at 48 h incubation against Candida albicans with MIC = 0.04 mg/ml. The hydro-ethanol and hot water extracts had high total antibacterial activity (TAA) of 1000 and 937 ml/g against Salmonella Typhimurium respectively. The highest total antifungal activity of 3750 ml/g was recorded against Candida albicans by the hot water extract. The extracts showed strong DPPH radical scavenging activity with the hydro-ethanol extract displaying higher scavenging activity (IC50 = 3.72 mg/ml) than the hot water extract (IC50 = 10.82 mg/ml). Both extracts had moderate lipoxygenase inhibitory activity. The extracts had relatively low cytotoxic to non-cytotoxic effects with LC50 values of 0.094 to ˃1.000 mg/ml and selectivity index values of 0.075 to 22.698. Three compounds with known biological activity (2′'-O-rhamnosylvitexin, myricetin 3-O-galactopyranoside and quercetin 3-O-galactopyranoside) were tentatively identified from UPLC-MS analysis. Therefore, this study supports the folkloric use of the plant in treating gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation and infectious diseases.

Antifungal and anti-mycotoxigenic activity of selected South African medicinal plants species

Antifungal and anti-mycotoxigenic activity of 25 acetone leaf extracts of South African medicinal plants with potent antioxidant activity were investigated against three phytopathogenic fungal strains. The extracts exhibited varying degrees of in vitro anti-mycotoxigenic effect against Fusarium verticillioides, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus ochraceous. Markhamia obtusifolia (Baker) Sprague exhibited the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values as low as 0.08 mg/ml against Aspergillus flavus and Furasium verticilloides at both 24 and 48 hr incubation period, while Curtisia dentata exhibited similar MIC value against Aspergillus ochraceous. Curtisia dentata further yielded the highest total activity of 1583 ml/g against Aspergillus ochraceous at 24 and 48 hr incubation period. In the mycelial growth inhibition (MGI) evaluation, Fusarium verticilloides was more sensitive to plants extracts, while Kirkia wilmsii exhibited highest MGI of 50.08% against Fusarium verticilloides on the 6th day of incubation. Five acetone extracts from Acokanthora oppositifolia, Bauhinia galpinii, Combretum caffrum, Ricinus communis and Solanum aculeastrum exhibited lowest IC50 value of 0.01 mg/ml against (2,2’-azinobis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-suphonic acid (ABTS). Curtisia dentata and Markhamia obtusifolia extracts were further subjected to gas chromatography mass-spectrophotometry (GC-MS) analysis. Curtisia dentata revealed the presence of triterpenoid compounds, β-amyrin (53.30%) and α-amyrin (6.42%), while Markhamia obtusifolia yielded the presence of neophytadiene (4.38%) and palmitic acid (3.61%) The results suggest that natural products from plants may well be used as possible substitutes for synthetic fungicides. Given the antifungal and antioxidant potential of the selected plants, they may have potential as possible leads for the development of biofungicides that may well prevent oxidation related food spoilage.

Bioactive compounds from the leaf extract of Bauhinia galpinii (Fabaceae) used as antidiarrhoeal therapy in southern Africa

Bauhinia galpinii N. E. Br is a shrub or small tree that grows 3–9 m tall throughout South Africa in nature and as ornamental plant. Various parts of the plant are used to cure gastrointestinal tract (GIT) disorders, epilepsy, convulsion, infertility, and amenorrhoea. Despite popular use, the phytochemicals responsible for the medicinal efficacy of the plant has not been exhaustively investigated.Bioautography-guided fractionation was used to isolate the antimicrobial phytochemicals of the acidified 70% acetone leaf extract. A combination of open column chromatography using silica gel 60, Sephadex LH-20, normal phase thin-layer chromatography (TLC) on precoated Kieselgel 60F254 plates and the spots visualized under UV366 and UV254 light, and spray reagents (vanillin/sulphuric acid) were used to isolate compounds. The compounds were identified by UV spectra, extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and comparison of the data with those reported in the literature. The antimicrobial activity of isolated compounds was determined against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Candida albicans (ATCC 10231), clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus fumigatus, C. albicans (M0824), C. albicans (M0825), C. albicans (1051604),and C. albicans (1051608) using a serial dilution microplate method.Result: Six compounds including two novel (24-Isopropylcholest-5-en-3,8-diol(1) and 5, 7, 4′ 5′ tetrahydroxy-2′-methoxyflavone (isoetin 2′ methyl ether) (4)) and four known (3, 5, 7, 3′, 4′-pentahydroxyflavone (quercetin) (2); 3, 5, 7, 3′, 4′, 5′-hexahydroxyflavone (myricetin) (3); quercetin-3-O-β-galactopyranoside (5) and myricetin-3-O-β-galactopyranoside (6)) were isolated and characterised. The isolated compounds inhibited antimicrobial growth with MICs ranging between 3.9 and 125 μg/.The results may provide a rational support for the traditional use of Bauhinia galpinii leaf in the treatment of infectious gastrointestinal disorders, since antimicrobial compounds especially the flavonoids isolated from the 70% acetone extract may also present in the traditional water extract. They could be responsible for the broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity of B. galpinii extract.

Lectotypification of Bauhinia galpinii (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae)

The name Bauhinia galpinii is lectotypified here.

Phytochemical, antioxidant and antidiabetic evaluation of eight Bauhinia L. species from Egypt using UHPLC–PDA–qTOF-MS and chemometrics

Bauhinia L. (Fabaceae) comprises ca. 300–350 plant species, many of which are traditionally used in folk medicine for their antidiabetic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Bauhinia s.l. recently has been subdivided into 9 genera based on phylogenetic data: Bauhinia s.str., Barklya, Brenierea, Gigasiphon, Lysiphyllum, Phanera, Piliostigma, Schnella (American Phanera) and Tylosema. The aerial parts of 8 species corresponding to 5 genera were analyzed: Bauhinia forficata, Bauhinia variegata, B. variegata var. candida, Bauhinia galpinii, Schnella glabra, Piliostigma racemosa, Phanera vahlii and Lysiphyllum hookeri. Leaves and shoots were subjected to metabolite profiling via UHPLC–PDA–qTOF-MS coupled to multivariate data analyzes to identify compound compositional differences. A total of 90 metabolites were identified including polyphenols and fatty acids; flavonoid conjugates accounted for most of the metabolite variation observed. This study provides a comprehensive map of polyphenol composition in Bauhinia and phytochemical species aggregations are consistent with recent Bauhinia genus taxonomic relationship derived from phylogenetic studies. DPPH radical scavenging and α-glucosidase inhibitory assays were also performed to assess selected aspects of the antioxidant and antidiabetic potential for the examined species with respect to metabolite profiles.

An ethnobotanical survey of indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants used by the traditional healers of the Lwamondo area, Limpopo province, South Africa

The use of medicinal plants in the treatment and prevention of diseases is attracting the attention of scientists worldwide. Approximately 3000 plant species are currently used by an estimated 200,000 indigenous traditional healers in South Africa. The specific part of the plant used for medicinal applications varies from species to species, and from one traditional healer to another. This study was carried out to explore and record those plants and plant parts used for treating various human ailments by the traditional healers of the Lwamondo area in the Limpopo province, South Africa for medicinal purposes. Ethnobotanical data were collected from 30 traditional healers (24 females and 6 males) in the Lwamondo area of Venda, by means of a data capture questionnaire focusing on the local names of the medicinal plants, their medicinal uses, the plant parts used, and methods of preparation and of administering treatments to patients. The survey identified 16 medicinal plants from 7 families, with 14 genera, used to treat a range of ailments in the Lwamondo area. The Fabaceae family was the most commonly used plant family representing 43.8% of all the medicinal plants species recorded by this study, followed by the Varbenaceae family at 18.8%. The plant parts most frequently used were the roots (44.5%), followed by the leaves (25.9%), bark (14.8%), the whole plant (11%), and flowers (3.7%). Most of the traditional healers obtained their extracts by boiling the medicinal plants. The most often recurring ailment treated by healers was stomach problems, using 31.3% of all the medicinal plants reported in this study for preparing such treatments. The following medicinal plants were covered by this study: Annona senegalensis, Schkuhria pinnata, Diospyros mespiliformis, Piliostigma thonningii, Senna obtusifolia, Bauhinia galpinii. The rural communities of the Lwamondo area possess a wealth of information on medicinal plants and their applications. This ethnobotanical survey can help scientists identify for further research those plants whose medicinal properties may be useful in the development of new drugs.

The antimicrobial, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory activity and cytotoxicity of different fractions of four South African Bauhinia species used traditionally to treat diarrhoea

Ethnopharmacological importanceMany Bauhinia species, including those indigenous to South Africa, are used in traditional medicine across the world for treating ailments such as gastrointestinal tract (GIT) disorders, diabetes, infectious diseases and inflammation. AimsSeveral relevant aspects of different fractions of leaf extracts of Bauhinia bowkeri (BAB), Bauhinia galpinii (BAG), Bauhinia petersiana (BAP), and Bauhinia variegata (BAV) used in South African traditional medicine to alleviate diarrhoea related symptoms were evaluated. Materials and MethodsThe antioxidative activities of the extracts were determined using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS+) radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods. In vitro antimicrobial activities of the extracts were determined against bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis) and clinical isolates of the opportunistic fungal strains (Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans) using a serial dilution microplate method. The polyphenolic contents were quantified using standard methods, and anti-inflammatory activities of the crude extracts were determined using the cyclooxygenase and soybean 15-lipoxygenase enzyme inhibitory assays. The safety of the extracts was evaluated by determining the cytotoxicity against Vero cell lines. ResultsThe acidified 70% acetone crude extract and their fractions had good antiradical potency against the DPPH and ABTS radicals. The methanol soluble portions of the butanol fractions were more potent (EC50 ranges from 0.64±0.05 to 1.51±0.07 and 0.88±0.18 to 1.49±0.09μg/ml against DPPH and ABTS radical respectively) compared to the standard, trolox and ascorbic acid (EC50 ranges from 1.47±0.24 to 1.70±0.27μg/ml) for both DPPH and ABTS. The crude extracts contained variable quantities of phenolic content. The crude extracts and their fractions had weak to good antimicrobial activities, inhibiting the growth of the organisms at concentrations ranging from 39 to 2500μg/ml. The BAG crude extract and its fractions were the most active against the fungi (MICs ranging from 39 to 625μg/ml) while the BAB extract and its fractions were the least active with the MICs ranging between 39 and 2500μg/ml. Aspergillus fumigatus was the least susceptible fungus while Cryptococcus neoformans was the most susceptible.The phenolic-rich crude extracts of BAB, BAG, and BAP had moderate to good dose-dependent cyclooxygenase-1 enzyme inhibitory activity with inhibitions between 22.8% and 71.4%. The extracts were however, inactive against cyclooxygenase-2. The extracts had some level of cytotoxicity towards Vero cell lines, reducing cell viability to less than 10% at concentrations more than 50μg/ml. ConclusionThe biological activities observed in Bauhinia species provide a scientific basis for the use of the plants in traditional medicines to treat diseases with multi-factorial pathogenesis such as diarrhoea, with each aspect of activity contributing to the ultimate therapeutic benefit of the plants. However, the use of the phenolic-rich extracts of these plants to treat diarrhoea or any other ailments in traditional medicine needs to be monitored closely because of potential toxic effects and selective inhibition of COX-1 with the associated GIT injury.

The socioeconomic status of the non-timber forest product subsector in Swaziland

A wide spectrum of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) generally has a remarkable contribution to the household economy in rural areas. Most communities make a living either through their domestic or commercial use. The objective of this study was to review the current status of the NTFP sector and further compile an up-to-date list of major use categories of NTFPs. The review of the national study on the NTFP sector indicate an average annual value of the selected NTFPs groups of between US$19.8 million and US$79 million with a median value of US$49.38 million. The most important group from an economic point of view is medicinal plants with an average annual value of US$32.1 million, followed by fuel wood with an estimated annual value of US$13.5 million. In the natural accounting study it was revealed that the contribution of natural forests and woodlands in flow benefits, including the highlighted NTFPs, was equivalent to 2.2% of the total GDP, 20% of agriculture's GDP and 439% of the contribution of forestry reported in the national accounts for 2000. This current study reviewed past national, regional and international studies and developed a new list of 19 NTFP use categories subdivided into direct, indirect and intermediate uses. Subsequently, a matrix of commonly used botanical NTFPs was designed and includes most highly preferred species such as Sclerocarya birrea, Bauhinia galpinii, Berchemia zeyheri, Dichrostachys cinerea and others. However, the study concluded that there is still a profound lack of information on the status and total value of NTFPs in Swaziland and recommended that government, NGOs, the private sector, communities, and other interested and affected parties (including resource users) should work together to conduct research in order to generate, compile and disseminate information on the quantitative and qualitative statistical data on NTFPs, their socioeconomic uses and ecological and environmental values.

Mutagenic and antimutagenic properties of extracts from South African traditional medicinal plants

Aim of the study The aim of this paper was to summarize the results of our investigations on the in vitro genotoxic as well as antigenotoxic effects of a great number of selected South African traditional medicinal plants. Materials and methods Investigations of methanol and dichloromethane extracts of selected plants were conducted with the bacterial Ames, Umu-C and VITOTOX ® tests, and with the cytochalasin B micronucleus test and alkaline comet assay in human white blood cells. Results A number of extracts were found to have genotoxic properties. Amongst the genotoxic plant extracts, especially methanol extracts of Helichrysum simillimum DC. (Asteraceae) should be highlighted. On the other hand, some plant extracts also showed antimutagenic potential. Here Bauhinia galpinii N.E.Br. (Fabaceae) and especially Chlerodendrum myricoides (Hochst.) Vatke (= Rotheca myricoides (Hochst.) Steane & Mabb.; Lamiaceae) appear to have antimutagenic properties. Conclusion The safe use of Helichrysum similimum should be questioned and further investigations on its mutagenicity and overall biological properties should be encouraged. Antimutagenic properties of especially Bauhinia galpinii and Rotheca myricoides are considered of particular interest as it may be assumed that these antimutagenic natural substances are able to lower the cancer risk from everyday exposures to environmental mutagens as well as to mutagenic pharmaceuticals.

Evaluation of the mutagenic and antimutagenic effects of South African plants

Dichloromethane and 90% methanol extracts of 42 South African plants were screened for mutagenicity and antimutagenicity using the Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity assay (Ames) against Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 bacterial strains in the presence and absence of metabolic activator S9. The methanol extracts from whole plants of Helichrysum simillimum, Helichrysum herbaceum and Helichrysum rugulosum indicated mutagenicity. These are the first reported tests on the mutagenicity of Helichrysum species. Six species indicated antimutagenic properties, all in the presence of S9: methanol leaf extract of Bauhinia galpinii, and dichloromethane leaf extracts of Bauhinia galpinii, Clerodendrum myricoides, Datura stramonium, Buddleja saligna, Millettia sutherlandii and Sutherlandia frutescens.

Determination of the angle of incidence of angle probes for ultrasonic testing : Kolb, K., Wölfel, M. 14 (December 1972) 423

Bauhinia L. (Fabaceae) comprises ca. 300–350 plant species, many of which are traditionally used in folk medicine for their antidiabetic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Bauhinia s.l. recently has been subdivided into 9 genera based on phylogenetic data: Bauhinia s.str., Barklya, Brenierea, Gigasiphon, Lysiphyllum, Phanera, Piliostigma, Schnella (American Phanera) and Tylosema. The aerial parts of 8 species corresponding to 5 genera were analyzed: Bauhinia forficata, Bauhinia variegata, B. variegata var. candida, Bauhinia galpinii, Schnella glabra, Piliostigma racemosa, Phanera vahlii and Lysiphyllum hookeri. Leaves and shoots were subjected to metabolite profiling via UHPLC–PDA–qTOF-MS coupled to multivariate data analyzes to identify compound compositional differences. A total of 90 metabolites were identified including polyphenols and fatty acids; flavonoid conjugates accounted for most of the metabolite variation observed. This study provides a comprehensive map of polyphenol composition in Bauhinia and phytochemical species aggregations are consistent with recent Bauhinia genus taxonomic relationship derived from phylogenetic studies. DPPH radical scavenging and α-glucosidase inhibitory assays were also performed to assess selected aspects of the antioxidant and antidiabetic potential for the examined species with respect to metabolite profiles.