International Research Journal of Plant Science (ISSN: 2141-5447) Vol. 2(7) pp. 215--219, July 2011
Available online http://www.interesjournals.org/IRJPS
Copyright © 2011 International Research Journals
Full length Research Paper
Butea monosperma (LAM.) kuntze – A comprehensive
review
Manas Kumar Das 1*, Papiya Mitra Mazumder 2 , Saumya Das3, Sanjita Das3
1*
Department of Pharmacy, IEC-CET, Greater Noida, India.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Birla Institut of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, India.
3
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Noida Institute of Engineering & Technology, Greater Noida, India
2
Accepted 9 June, 2011
The traditional systems of medicine together with folklore medicine continue to play a significant role in our
health care system for the betterment of mankind. Butea monosperma (Lam.) kuntze is a commonly used
herb in Ayurvedic medicine. B. monosperma (Palas) belongs to the family Fabaceae, grown wildly in many
parts of India. The plant is highly used by the rural and tribal people in curing various disorders. B.
monosperma has effective natural origin that has a tremendous future for research. The novelty and
applicability of B. monosperma are hidden. Such things should be overcome through modern scientific
concept. The present article enumerates various traditional and medicinal utility of the plant and an attempt
was made to gather information about the chemical composition and pharmacological aspects of the plant.
Keywords: Butea monosperma, traditional uses, scientific reports, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities.
INTRODUCTION
Butea monosperma (Lam.) kuntze, family- Fabaceae, is
also known as ‘Flame of the Forest’ and Bastard Teak in
English; in Hindi: Dhak, Tesu; Sans.:
Kimsuka,
Raktapuspaka, Beng.: Palash; Ori.: Porasu, Guj.:
Kesudo; Urdu.: Dhak, Palaspada; Kan.: Muttug, Muttala;
Mal.: Plasu, Camata; Mar.: Palas; Punj.: Palas, Dhak,
Tesu; Tam.: Parasu, Paras; Tel.:Moduga,hettu.( Patil et
al., 2006, Kirtikar KR and Basu 1935)
It grows throughout the Indian subcontinent, especially
in Indo-Gangetic plains. It is said that the tree is a form of
Agnidev, ‘God of Fire’. This tree grows up to 50 ft high,
with cluster of flowers. It loses its leaves as the flowers
develop in the month of January – March [Kirtikar and
Basu, 1935; Kapoor 2005]. The flowers yield an orange
dye, used as an insecticide. Leaves are essential for
various religious rituals in Hindu homes as plates and
cups. It is a sacred tree: its dry stem pieces are used to
make sacred fire. In different areas these are used for
wrapping tobacco to make biddies. The leaves are further
used to pack parcel materials. The seeds are used in
Ayurvedic and Unani medicine for treating different
disorders. Flowers are offered in place of blood in
*
Corresponding author Email: manas_kd@rediffmail.com, Ph:
0091-9911756080, 0091-9911940620
sacrifices and rituals to goddess Kali. [Ambasta 1994]
MORPHOLOGY
It is an erect, medium-sized, 12-15 m high, deciduous
tree with a crooked trunk and irregular branches. It grows
slowly and attains a height of about 5 to 8 m and
diameter of about 20 to 40 cm when it matures at the age
of about 50 years or so. Its wood is greenish white in
color, soft and weighs about 14 to 15 kg per cubic foot
[Boutelje, 1980]. The bark is ash colour. The leaves have
3 foliate, large and stipulate, 10-15 cm long petiole.
Leaflets are obtuse, glabrous above, finely silky and
conspicuously reticulately veined beneath with cunnate or
deltoid base. [4] Calyx is dark, olive green to brown in
colour and densely velvety outside. The corolla is long
with silky silvery hairs outside (Agarwal 1976). The bark
of palas is fibrous and bluish gray to light brown in color.
When injured, it exudes a kind of red juice. The leaves
are compound, with three leaflets. The texture of the
leaflets is tough, coriascious with the surface glabrescent
above and hairy silken beneath. The shape is obliquely
ovate and broadly elliptic. The leaves fall off by
December and reappear during spring. When the tree is
leafless, it bears flaming orange to red-colored flower.
216 Int. Res. J. Plant Sci.
These flowers start appearing in February and stay on
nearly up to the end of April [Cowen, 1984]. The size is
nearly 2 to 4 cm in diameter. These tend to be densely
crowded on leafless branches. Flowers are large, rigid
racemes, 15 cm long, 3 flowers together form the tumid
nodes of the dark olive-green velvety rhachis. The calyx
i.e. the lower whorl of the flower tends to be darkish gray
like the supporting branch itself. The upper parts are brick
red. The flowers on the upper portion of the tree form the
appearance of a flame from a distance [Kirtikar and Basu
1935; Suguna et al., 2005]. The fruit of palas is a flat
legume. Pods are stalked 12.5-20 by 2.5-5 cm, thickened
at the sutures. Young pods have a lot of hair, a velvety
cover and mature pods hang down. The seeds are flat,
from 25 to 40 mm long, 15 to 25 mm wide, and 1.5 to 2
mm thick. The seed-coat is reddish-brown in colour,
glossy, and wrinkled, and encloses two large, leafy,
yellowish cotyledons. The hilum is conspicuous, and
situated near the middle of the concave edge of the seed.
[Boutelje, 1980; Huxley, 1996]. It is porous and soft in
texture and has not very distinct annual rings. It generally
perishes fast when used open to vagaries of weather, but
lasts much longer when used under water. It is therefore
used for making well curbs and piles [Kala 2004].
TRADITIONAL USES
Flower of B. monosperma is traditionally used as
anticonvulsant, antioxidant, antistress, memory and
behaviour stimulant, antigout, diuretic, antileprotic, antiinflammatory, antiulcer, astringent and antihepatotoxic.
Flower is also used to treat enlarged spleen, menstrual
disturbances, burning sensation and eye diseases.
Leaf of B. monosperma is traditionally used as antiinflammatory,
antitumor,
diuretic,
antidiabetic,
antimicrobial, anthelmintic, appetizer, carminative,
astringent and aphrodisiac. These are also used to treat
stomach disorders, diabetic soar throat, irregular bleeding
during menstruation, flatulent colic, cough and cold.
Stem bark is traditionally used as aphrodisiac,
antidysentery,
antiulcer,
antitumor,
antimicrobial,
antifungal, antipyretic, blood purifier and anti-asthmatic. It
is also used in bleeding hemorrhoid disorder,
dysmenorrheal, hydrocele, liver disorders, gonorrhoea,
wound, worm infections, scorpion sting, cough and cold
[Kirtikar and Basu, 1935; Kala, 2004].
Root is used in night blindness, elephantiasis,
impotency and in snake bite. It also causes temporary
sterility in women and is applied in sprue, piles, ulcers,
tumors and dropsy.
Seed of B. monosperma is used in inflammation, skin
and eye diseases, bleeding piles, urinary stones,
abdominal troubles, intestinal worms and tumour. When
seeds are pounded with lemon juice and applied to the
skin, they act as a rubefacient.
Gum is used in stomatitis, corneal apacititis, ring
worm,
leucorrhoea, septic soar throat, excessive perspiration
and diarrhea [Kirtikar and Basu, 1935].
MEDICINAL USES
Flowers
Kasture et al. (2002) evaluated anticonvulsive activity of
Butea monosperma flowers in laboratory animals (Veena
and Kasture, 2002). Mishra et al. (2007) reported free
radical scavenging activity of various extracts of flower by
using different in-vitro models like reducing power assay,
scavenging of 2,2 diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)
radical, nitric oxide radical, super oxide anion radical,
hydroxyl radical and inhibition of erythrocytes hemolysis
by using 2,2 azo-bis (amidinopropane) dihydrochloride
(AAPH). Methanolic extract along with its ethyl acetate
and butanol fractions showed potent free radical
scavenging activity. The observed activity could be due to
higher phenolic contents in the extracts [Mishra and
Lavhale, 2007.] Kasture et al. (2007) evaluated antistress
and anticonvulsive activity of flowers. Water soluble part
of ethanolic extract improved water immersion stress,
induced elevation of brain serotonin and plasma
corticosterone levels. The ulcer index also decreased in
dose dependent manner. The anticonvulsive principle
was found to be a triterpene present in the n-hexane :
ethyl acetate (1:1) fraction of the petroleum ether extract.
Triterpene exhibited anticonvulsant activity against
seizures induced by Maximum Electro Shock MES,
pentylene tetrazole, electrical kindling and the
combination of lithium sulphate and pilocarpine nitrate.
Further studies are required to investigate its usefulness
in the treatment of epilepsy. Gawale et al. (2001)
reported effect of flowers in memory and behaviour
mediated via monoamine neurotransmitters. The acetone
soluble part of petroleum ether and ethanolic extract
exhibited nootropic activity in the elevated plus maze
paradigm and active avoidance learning [Gawale et al.,
2001). Wagner et al. (1986) reported isobutrin and butrin
as the antihepatotoxic principles of flowers. The
antihepatotoxic principles isolated consisted of two
known flavonoids, isobutrin and the less active butrin
[Wagner et al. 1986]. Mishra et al. (2000) reported the
presence of flavonoids in ethyl acetate fraction of
methanolic extract [Mishra et al., 2000]. Shah et al.
(1990) reported that flowers have phytochemical studies
and antiestrogenic activity. Alcoholic extract exhibited
significant antiestrogenic activity, while ethyl acetate
extract containing butrin and isobutrin exhibited poor
activity. Significant inhibition of uterus weight gain,
vaginal epithelium cornification and characteristic
histological changes have been observed [Shah et al.,
1990]
Das et al. 217
Seeds
Zafar et al. (2006) and Prashant et al. (2001) reported invitro anthelmintic activity of methanol extract of seed [
Zafar et al., 2006; Prashant et al., 2006]. Bavarva et al.
(2001)
evaluated
the
antihyperglycemic
and
antihyperlipidemic effects of B. monosperma in NIDDM
rats [Bavarva and Narasimhacharya, 2008]. Bhargava
(1986) published the estrogenic and postcoital
anticonceptive activity in rats of butin isolated from B.
monosperma seed [Bhargava, 1986]. Pandey et al.
(2001) reported the use of seed oil as traditional sexual
toner and contraceptive [Pandey, 2001].
screening of the dried flowers of the allied species B.
frondosa showed the presence of seven flavones and
flavonoid constituents including butrin and isobutrin and
also four free amino acids [Gupta et al., 1970; Singh et
al., 1974].
Gupta et al. (1970) investigated three glucosides,
identified as coreopsin, isocoreopsin and sulphurein. The
remaining two are new and have been assigned the
structures monospermoside and isomonospermoside
[Gupta et al., 1970]. Shah et al. (1992) isolated and
identified free sugars and free amino acids from the
petroleum ether extract of flowers [Shah et al., 1992].
Seeds
Leaves
Soman et al. (2004) evaluated the effect of leaves on
stress, anxiety and cognition in rats [Soman et al., 2004].
Mengi et al. (1999) reported the anti-inflammatory activity
of B. frondosa leaves [Mengi et al., 1999].
Roots
Bodakhe et al. (2004) reported in vitro lens protective and
antimicrobial activity of roots [Bodakhe and Ahuja, 2004].
Stems
Savitri et al. (1989) reported antifungal constituents from
petroleum and ethyl acetate extracts of stem bark.
Extract exhibited significant antifungal activity against C.
cladosporiodes [Savitri and Swama, 1989]. Gunakkunru
et al. (2005) reported antidiarrhoeal potential of ethanolic
extract in castor oil induced diarrhoea model, PGE2
induced enteropoolingin in rats. Extract also reduced
gastrointestinal motility after charcoal meal administration
[Gunakkunru et al., 2005]. Suguna et al. (2005)
investigated the effect of alcoholic bark extract on
cutaneous wound healing in rats [Suguna et al., 2005].
Agarwal et al. (1994) reported use of “Ayurvedic
Rasayana” (herbal medicine) containing B. monosperma
in the management of giardiasis perhaps by
immunomodulation as the “Rasayana’ did not exhibit
killing effect on the parasite in vitro [Agarwal et al., 1994].
PHYTOCHEMISTRY
The seed of B. monosperma contains oil, proteolytic and
lypolytic enzymes, plant proteinase and polypeptidase, a
nitrogenous acidic compound, along with palasonin. It
also contains monospermoside (butein 3-e-D-glucoside)
and somonospermoside. From seed coat allophonic acid
has been isolated and identified [Jawaharlal et al., 1978;
Rastogi and Mehrotra, 1979].
Singh et al. (1974) reported components of soft resin.
Four essentially pure acid esters, which together
constitute the bulk of soft resin were isolated. These acid
esters were termed as jalaric ester-I, jalaric ester-II,
laccijalaric ester-I and laccijalaric ester-II [Singh et al.,
1974].
Leaves
Glucoside, Kino-oil contain oleic and linoleic acid, palmitic
and lignoceric acid [Nadkarni, 2002l].
Mishra et al. (2000) reported 3,9-dimethoxypterocapan
from ethyl acetate fraction of methanol extractives from
leaves, and hexane fraction of methanol extractives
yielded 3-alphahydroxyeuph- 25-enylheptacosanoate.
[Mishra et al., 2000].
Barks
Contain kino-tannic acid, gallic acid and pyrocatechin
[Nadkarni, 2002]. The plant also contains palasitrin, and
major glycosides as butrin, alanind, allophanic acid,
butolic acid, cyanidin, histidine, lupenone, lupeol, (-)medicarpin, miroestrol, palasimide and shellolic acid
[Mishra et al., 2000; Schoeller et al., 1938].
Flowers
The main phytoconstituents of B. monosperma are butrin
(1.5%), butein (0.37%) and butin (0.04%) [Lavhale and
Mishra, 2007]. Triterpene, isobutrin, coreopsin,
isocoreopsin
(butin
7-glucoside),
sulphurein,
monospermoside
(butein
3-e-D-glucoside),
isomonospermoside, chalcones, aurones, flavonoids
(palasitrin,
prunetin)
and
steroids
are
other
phytoconstituents present in the flower. Phytochemical
Stems
Guha et al. (1990) isolated 3-Z-hydroxyeuph-25-ene and
2,14-dihydroxy-11,12-dimethyl-8-oxo-octadec-11enylcyclohexane from B. monosperma [Guha et al.,
1990]. Shukla et al. (2000) isolated Stigmasterol-e-Dglucopyranoside and nonacosanoic acid [Shukla et al.,
2000]
218 Int. Res. J. Plant Sci.
CONCLUSION
From the time immemorial, plants have been used as
curative agent for variety of ailments. Herbs are the
natural drugs used to regain the alterations made in
normal physiological system by foreign organisms or by
any malfunctioning of the body. In every ethnic group
there exists a traditional health care system, which is
culturally patterned. In rural communities, health care
seems to be the first and foremost line of defense. It is
very essential to have a proper documentation of
medicinal plants and to know their potential for the
improvement of health and hygiene through an eco
friendly system. Thus importance should be given to the
potentiality of ethnomedicinal studies as these can
provide a very effective strategy for the discovery of
useful medicinally active identity. A detailed and
systematic study is required for identification, cataloguing
and documentation of plants, which may provide a
meaningful way for the promotion of the traditional
knowledge of the herbal medicinal plants. The present
review reveals that the plant B. monosprema is used in
treating various ailments. Wherein a detailed research
work in the characterization and standardization is utmost
required for this potential plant for developing its various
formulations, which can ultimately be beneficial for
human beings as well as animals. However, various
studies are carried out, and authenticated comparative
study will explore much depth about this plant used in the
name “Flame of the forest”.
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