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Gen info
Native to South America, The first
species recorded in the Philippines was Bougainvillea
spectabilis. The other species, B.
glabra and B. peruviana
were introduced much later. The cultivated hybrids have produced a considerable
variety in size, color, form and numbers of showy bracts. The genus
is derives its name from Antoiine de Bougainville, first Frenchman to
cross the Pacific.
Botany
Bogambilya is a woody climber that can grow to a
height of more than 10 meters, with large thorny stems and long drooping
branches. The leaves are dark green, petioled, alternate, ovate, with entire margins,
6 to 10 centimeters long, broadest near the base. Thorns are the axils assist
the plant in climbing. Flowers are in groups of threes, forming clusters at the terminal portion of the branches, each group subtended
by three, broad, purplish, oblong-ovate and acuminate bracts, about 3 to 5 centimeters long. Flowers are small,
each inserted on a bract, tubular, inflated midway through its length,
of varying colors.
Numerous cultivars are cultivated in the Philippines, with single or multiple bracts, in varied colors of red, purple, pink, yellow or white.
Distribution
- Native to South America.
- One of the most popular ornamental plants in the Philippines.
- Cultivars with variegated leaves were recently introduced.
Constituents
- Reported constituents on B. glabra
are pinitol, betacyanine, flavonoids, tannins and alkaloids.
- Study showed the presence of plastid-bound oxalic acid oxidase in the leaves.
- Studies have isolated flavonoids, phenolic compounds, ribosome inactivating proteins, amylase inhibitors, oxidase and pinitol.
Properties
- Leaves considered to have antiinflammatory activity.
- Considered anti-diabetic, antibacterial.
- Pinitol considered antidiabetic.
Parts utilized
Leaves, stems, flowers
Uses
Folkloric
- Not
known in the Philippines for any medicinal use.
- Traditional practitioners in Mandsaur
use the leaves for a variety of disorders, for diarrhea, and to reduce
stomach acidity.
- Used for cough and sore throat.
- For blood vessels and leucorrhea: a decoction of dried flowers, 10 g
in 4 glasses of water.
- For hepatitis, a decoction of dried stems, 10 g in 4 glasses of water.
- In Panama, an infusion of the flowers of B. glabra used as treatment
for low blood pressure.
- Nupe people of Niger use a crude extract of leaves for diabetes.
Studies
• Anti-ulcer
/ Anti-diarrheal / Anti-microbial: Leaves studied for
antidiarrheal, anti-ulcer, and anti-microbial activities.
• Pinitol / Insulin-like effect:
Pinitol, an active principle of the traditional antidiabetic plant
B. spectabilis, is claimed to exert insulin-like effects. The study
supported the view that D-pinnitol (3-O-methyl-chiroinositol) may exert an insulin-like effect
to improve glycemic control in hypoinsulinemic STZ-diabetic mice. D-
pinitol may act via a post-receptor pathway of insulin action affecting
glucose uptake.
• Antibacterial:
Study on various solvent extracts of Bougainvillea spectabilis leaves
showed maximum inhibitory effect on tested bacteria (S aureus, B subtilis,
S faecalis, Micrococcus luteus, E coli, P aeruginosa, S typhii, K pneumonia,
P vulgaris, S marcescens, S flexneri.
• Antidiabetic:
Study of B spectabilis aqueous and methanolic extracts showed good glucose
tolerance and significantly reduced intestinal glucosidase activity,
with regeneration of insulin-producing cells and increase in plasma
insulin. Results suggest a potential for development of new neutraceutical
treatment for diabetes.
• Amylase Inhibition:
Study of the chloroform extract of B spectabilis showed significant
alpha-amylase inhibitory property.
• Color and Bioactivity:
Study of the methanolic extracts of B spectabilis flowers of five different colors, screened biologically on antibacterial, antifungal, brine shrimp lethality and phytotoxicity assays showed that the extract of the white flowers was the most biologically active.
• Anti-Fertility:
Study showed the leaf extract showed adverse effects on male and female reproductive organs: male mice showed more degeneration of gonads in comparison to female mice, with decrease in total sperm count and titer of testosterone; extended the reproductive cycle of female mice by 1-2 days with prolonged metaestrus and decrease in serum estrogen.
• Antihyperlipidemic / D-pinitol:
Study showed the antihyperlipidemic effect of D-pinitol in STZ-induced type 2 diabetic rats, with significant lowering of LDL and VLDL cholesterol levels and significant increase in HDL cholesterol levels.
• Radical Scavenging Activity:
Study found the aqueous extracts of B spectabilis produced more free radical scavenging than B divaricata. Results were superior to common synthetic antioxidants used in the food industry and presents a potential for applications in pharmaceutical or alimentary preparations.
• Effects on Liver and Kidney Functions in Rats:
Study of extracts showed dose-dependent decrease in potassium ion concentration, possibly a result of cellular uptake of glucose effected by pinitol which may be accompanied by cellular uptake of potassium ion. An observed decrease in serum calcium ion concentration may be the result of impaired intestinal absorption of calcium and/or impaired conversion of vitamin D to the active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Results suggest the repeated administration of B. spectabilis extract may compromise the integrity of kidney and liver.
• Antidiabetic / Root-Bark:
Permanent hyperglycemia in alloxan-induced diabetic rats was reversed with a week's treatment with an ethanol extract of root bark. In the study, no considerable signs of toxicity were observed in the albino Wistar rats.
• Natural Red Pigment:
Study reported extraction of a red pigment with good solubility, light fastness, heat-resisting property, and good stability. The extraction is simple, the pigment reportedly non-toxic.
• Lipid-Lowering / Antiatherogenic:
Study of alcoholic extract on albino rats fed with a high-fat diet showed an excellent lipid lowering potential, with significant reduction in total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, VLDL and a significant increase in HDL. There was also significant improvement in atherogenic index.
• Renal and Liver Effects:
Study showed repeated administration of B. spetabilis may compromise the kidney and liver functions. There may also be ill-effects on patients with osteoporosis, renal diseases , and liver problems.
Availability
Cultivated.
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