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Int J Pharm
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Vol 4; Issue
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Volume 4 • Issue 2 • July –September 2011
Review Article
MS ID: IJPSN-17-07-11-MAZUMDER
Butea Monosperma (LAM.) Kuntze
– A Comprehensive Review
1
2
3
P. M. Mazumder , M. K. Das , S. Das , and S. Das
1
3
Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, India; 2Department of Pharmacy, Greater Noida, India.
3
Noida Institute of Engineering and Technology, Greater Noida, India.
Received April 2, 2011; accepted July 17, 2011
ABSTRACT
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.
Butea monosperma (Palas) belongs to the family Fabaceae,
grown wildly in many parts of India. The plant is used highly by
the rural and tribal people in curing various disorders. Butea
monosperma has an effective natural origin that has a
tremendous future for research. The novelty and applicability
of Butea monosperma are hidden. Such things can be
overcome through modern scientific research. The present
article describes various traditional and medicinal utility of the
plant and an attempt was made to gather information about
the chemical composition and pharmacological activity of the
plant and/ or its constituents.
KEYWORDS: Butea monosperma; traditional uses; scientific reports; phytochemistry; pharmacological activities.
Introduction
Butea monosperma (Lam.) kuntze, family Fabaceae
(Figure 1), 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 and Basu 1935).
It grows throughout the Indian subcontinent,
especially in the 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 clusters of flowers. It loses its
leaves as the flowers develop in the months of JanuaryMarch (Kirtikar and Basu 1935; Kapoor 2005). The
flowers yield an orange dye, used as an insecticide. The
leaves are essential for various religious rituals in Hindu
homes as plates and cups. It is a sacred tree, dry stem
pieces are used to make sacred fire (The Wealth of India,
1988). 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 sacrifice rituals to Goddess Kali
(Ambasta, 1994).
Fig. 1. Butea monosperma plant.
Morphology
It is an erect, medium-sized, 12-15 m high, deciduous
tree with a crooked trunk and irregular branches. It is
slow growing and attains a height of about 5 to 8 m and
diameter of about 20 to 40 cm when mature at the age of
about 50 years or so. The wood is greenish white in color,
soft and weighs about 14 to 15 kg per cubic foot
(Boutelje, 1980). The bark is ash colored. The leaves
have 3 foliate, large and stipulate, 10−15 cm long
petioles. Leaflets are obtuse, glabrous above, finely silky
and conspicuously reticulately veined underneath with a
cunnate or deltoid base (The Wealth of India, 1988). The
calyx is dark, olive green to brown in color and densely
velvety outside. The corolla is long with silky silvery
hairs outside (Agarwal, 1976). The bark of the palas is
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Mazumder et al: Butea Monosperma (LAM.) Kuntze – A Comprehensive Review
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. 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 with 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; Hara et al., 1987). The fruit of the palas is a
flat legume, pods stalked 12.5−20 by 2.5−5 cm, thickened
at the sutures. Young pods have a lot of hair and 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 color,
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
(The Wealth of India, 1988; Boutelje, 1980; Huxley,
1996). It is porous and soft in texture and has not very
distinct annual rings. It generally perishes fast when
open to vagaries of weather, but lasts much longer when
used under water. It is therefore used for making good
curbs and piles (Kala, 2004).
Traditional uses
The flower of Butea monosperma is traditionally used
as an anticonvulsant, antioxidant, antistress, memory
and behavior stimulant, antigout, diuretic, antileprotic,
anti-inflammatory,
antiulcer,
astringent
and
antihepatotoxic. The flower is also used to treat cases of
enlarged spleen, menstrual disturbances, burning
sensations and eye diseases.
The leaves of Butea monosperma is traditionally used
as
an
anti-inflammatory,
antitumor,
diuretic,
antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, appetizer,
carminative, astringent and aphrodisiac. These are also
used to treat stomach disorders, diabetic sore throat,
irregular bleeding during menstruation, flatulent colic,
cough and cold.
The stem bark is traditionally used as aphrodisiac,
antidysentery, antiulcer, antitumor, antimicrobial,
antifungal, antipyretic, blood purifier and antiasthmatic. It is also used in bleeding hemorrhoid
disorder, dysmenorrheal, hydrocele, liver disorders,
gonorrhoea, wound, worm infections, scorpion stings,
cough and cold (Kirtikar and Basu, 1935; Kala, 2004).
The root is used in night blindness, elephantiasis,
impotency, and snake bites. It also causes temporary
sterility in women and is applied in sprue, piles, ulcers,
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tumors and dropsy. The seed of Butea monosperma is
used in inflammation, skin and eye diseases, bleeding
piles, urinary stones, abdominal troubles, intestinal
worms and tumor. When seeds are pounded with lemon
juice and applied to the skin, they act as a rubefacient.
The gum is used in stomatitis, corneal opacititis, ring
worm, leucorrhoea, septic sore throat, excessive
perspiration and diarrhea (Kirtikar and Basu, 1935;
Boutelje, 1980).
Medicinal uses
Flowers. Kasture et al (2002) evaluated the
anticonvulsive activity of Butea monosperma flowers in
laboratory animals. Mishra and Lavhale and Misra
(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. Kasture et al (2002) evaluated
the antistress and anticonvulsive activity of flowers. The
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 a 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
maximal
electroshock
(MES),
pentylenetetrazol,
electrical kindling and the combination of lithium and
pilocarpine. Further studies are required to investigate
its usefulness in the treatment of epilepsy.
Kasture et al (2000) reported effect of flowers in
memory and behavior, mediated via the 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. 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. Mishra et al (2000; 2007) reported
the presence of flavonoids in ethyl acetate fraction of
methanolic extract. Shah et al (1990; 1992) reported that
flowers having phytochemical studies and antiestrogenic
activity.
Alcoholic
extract
exhibit
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.
Seeds. Zafar et al (2006) and Prashant et al (2001)
reported in-vitro anthelmintic activity of the methanol
1392
extract of seeds. Bavarva and Narasimhacharya (2008)
evaluated the antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic
effects of Butea monosperma in NIDDM rats. Bhargava
(1986) published the estrogenic and postcoital
anticonceptive activity in rats of butin isolated from
Butea monosperma seed. Pandey (2001) reported the use
of seed oil as a traditional sexual toner and
contraceptive.
Leaves. Soman et al (2004) evaluated the effect of
leaves on stress, anxiety and cognition in rats. Mengi
and Deshpande(1999) reported the anti-inflammatory
activity of Butea frondosa leaves.
Roots. Bodakhe and Ahuja (2004) reported in vitro
lens protective and antimicrobial activity of roots.
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. The potential
antidiarrhoeal potential of ethanolic extract was
evaluated in castor oil−induced diarrhea model, and
PGE2−induced enteropooling in rats. Extracts also
reduced gastrointestinal motility after charcoal meal
administration. Suguna et al (2005). investigated the
effect of alcoholic bark extract on cutaneous wound
healing in rats. Agarwal (1976) reported use of
“Ayurvedic Rasayana” (herbal medicine) containing
Butea monosperma in the management of giardiasis
perhaps by immunomodulation as the “Rasayana’ did
not exhibit a killing effect on the parasite in vitro.
Phytochemistry
Flowers. The main phytoconstituents of Butea
monosperma are butrin (1.5%), butein (0.37%) and butin
(0.04%). 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 screening of dried flowers of the allied
species Butea frondosa showed the presence of seven
flavones and flavonoid constituents, including butrin and
isobutrin and also four free amino acids.
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.
Shah et al. isolated and identified free sugars and free
amino acids from the petroleum ether extract of the
flowers.
Seeds. The seeds of the Butea monosperma contains
oil, proteolytic and lypolytic enzymes, plant proteinase
and polypeptidase, a nitrogenous acidic compound, along
with palasonin. (The Wealth of India, 1988) It also
contains monospermoside (butein 3−e−D-glucoside) and
somonospermoside. From the seed coat, allophonic acid
has been isolated and identified (Jawaharlal et al., 1978;
Rastogi and Mehrotra 1979).
Int J Pharm Sci Nanotech
Vol 4; Issue 2 • July−September 2011
Singh et al (1974) reported components of soft resin.
They isolated four essentially pure acid esters, which
together constituted the bulk of soft resin. They termed
these acid esters, jalaric ester-I, jalaric ester-II,
laccijalaric ester-I and laccijalaric ester-II.
Leaves. It contains glucoside, kino-oil containing
oleic and linoleic acid, palmitic and lignoceric acid
(Nadkarni’s, 2002)
Mishra et al (2000) reported 3,9-dimethoxypterocapan from an ethyl acetate fraction of methanol
extractives from leaves, and a hexane fraction of
methanol extractives yielded 3-alphahydroxyeuph- 25enylheptacosanoate.
Barks. Contains kino-tannic acid, gallic acid and
pyrocatechin. The plant also contains palasitrin, and
major glycosides such as butrin, alanind, allophanic acid,
butolic acid, cyanidin, histidine, lupenone, lupeol,
(−)−medicarpin, miroestrol, palasimide and shellolic acid.
Stems. Guha et al (1990) isolated 3−Zhydroxyeuph−25−ene
and
2,14−dihydroxy−11,
12−dimethyl-8-oxooctadec−11−enyl−cyclohexane
from
Butea monosperma. Shukla et al (2000) isolated
Stigmasterol−e−D−glucopyranoside and nonacosanoic
acid.
Conclusion
From the time immemorial, plants have been used as
curative agents for a variety of ailments. Herbs are the
natural drugs used to regain the alterations made in the
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 ecofriendly system. Thus importance should be given to the
potentiality of ethnomedicinal studies as these can
provide a very effective strategy for the discovery of
medicinally active agents. A detailed and systematic
study is required for the 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 Butea
monosprema is used in treating various ailments. A
detailed research work in the characterization and
standardization is strongly required for this potential
plant in developing its various formulations, which can
ultimately be beneficial for humans as well as animals.
Further studies are warranted to explore much depth
about this plant known by the name “Flame of the
forest”.
Mazumder et al: Butea Monosperma (LAM.) Kuntze – A Comprehensive Review
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Address correspondence to: M.K. Das, Department of Pharmacy, Greater
Noida, India. E-mail: [email protected]