Bauhinia forficata

Bauhinia/Nutrient Depletion:

  • GlucoseGlucose: In patients with type 2 diabetes, there was a lack of effect of Bauhinia forficata on fasting plasma glucose, insulin, or glycated hemoglobin levels (73). However, hypoglycemic effects of various Bauhinia species, including the dried or butanol extracts, as well as decoction, of Bauhinia forficata Link (62; 63; 64; 65), the butanolic extract or dried leaf infusion of Bauhinia candicans leaves (66; 67), Bauhinia divaricata (68), Bauhinia retusa (69), the methanolic extract of Bauhinia cheilandra leaves (70), and constituents (kaempferitrin) from Bauhinia forficata (71; 72) were shown in animal studies. Reduced urinary glucose levels due to Bauhinia candicans (66) and Bauhinia forficata (65) have also been shown in animal models. In animal research, treatment with oral Bauhinia megalandra simultaneously with oral glucose improved glucose tolerance; this improvement did not occur when glucose was given subcutaneously (100).
  • LipidsLipids: In a diabetic animal model, an extract of Bauhinia purpurea normalized serum concentrations of lipids when administered with dexamethasone and metformin (26). In a diabetic animal model, Bauhinia forficata extracts reduced serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels (63). Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Bauhinia variegata reduced levels of cholesterol, very-low-density lipids (VLDL), and triglyceride, as well as increased levels of high-density lipids in an animal model (104).