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Family Nyctaginaceae
Bogambilya
Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd.
GREAT BOUGAINVILLEA

Mao bao jin

Scientific names Common names
Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. Bogambilya (Tag)
B. spectabilis var. glabra (Choisy) Hook Bongabilya (Tag.)
Bougainvillea glabra Bougainvillea (Engl.)
B. peruviana Great bougainvillea (Engl.)
Ye zi hua (Chin.) Paper flower (Engl.)
  Mao bao jin (Chin.)

Other vernacular names
CHINESE: Mao bao jin, Jiu chong ge, San jiao hua
FRENCH: Bougainvillee, bougainvillier
ITALIAN: Buganvillea
JAPANESE: Felila
MAORI: Itaria, tiare taratara
SPANISH: Buganvilla, veranera
TAHITIAN: Tiare vareau
TONGAN: Ikadakazura

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.

Last Updated April 2012

Photos ©Godofredo Stuart / StuartXchange

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Anti-ulcer, anti-diarrheal, and antimicrobial effects of Bougainvillea glabra / Ars Pharm 2007; 48 (2): 135-144.
(2)
Nature of hypoglycaemic action of leaf juice of bougainvillea spectabilis. / Indian Journal of Indigenous Medicines. 1992 Oct-Mar; 8(2): 65-7
(3)
Insulin-like effect of pinitol / BATES S. H; JONES R. B; BAILEY C. J. / Br J Pharmacol. 2000 August; 130(8): 1944–1948 / doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0703523.
(4)
In vitro Antibacterial Activity of Bougainvillea spectabilis Leaves Extracts / A Umamaheswari et al / Advances in Biological Research 2 (1-2): 01-05, 2008 / ISSN 1992-0067
(5)
Other studies and publications (B R Nahata College of Pharmacy):
• Bajpai A., Pharmacognostical studies on stems of Bougainvillea glabra choisy, International Journal of Green Pharmacy, 1(1), 2006, 70
• Edwin E., Edwin S., Amalraj A., Soni R., Smita G., Gupta V. B., Antihyperglycemic activity of Bougainvillea Glabra, Choisy, Planta Indica, 2(3), 2006, 25-26
• Nature of hypoglycaemic action of leaf juice of bougainvillea spectabilis.
• Edwin E., Edwin S., Toppo E., Tiwari V., Amalraj A., Gupta V. B., Free radical scavenging activity of ethanol aqueous extract of Bougainvillea Glabra Choisy, Planta Indica, 2(3), 2006, 21-22
• Toppo E., Edwin E., Sheeja E., Amalraj A., Tiwari V., Saraswat V., Free radical scavenging activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Bougainvillea glabra, presented in IPC, Hyderabad, December 2-4, 2005
(6)
Antidiabetic Properties of Azardiracta indica and Bougainvillea spectabilis: In Vivo Studies in Murine Diabetes Model / Menakshi Bhat, Sandeepkumar K. Kothiwale / doi:10.1093/ecam/nep033 / Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
(7)
Effect of ethanolic extract of Bougainvillea spectabilis leaves on some liver and kidney function indices in rats
/ Malomo, S.O., Adebayo, J.O., Arise, R.O., Olorunniji, F.J., and Egwim, E.C. / Recent Progress in Medicinal Plants, 2007, 17: 261 -272.
(8)
D-Pinitol – Nonessential Micronutrient / Nutritional Supplement Facts
(9)
Pinitol Supplementation Does Not Affect Insulin-Mediated Glucose Metabolism and Muscle Insulin Receptor Content and Phosphorylation in Older Humans / The American Society for Nutritional Sciences J. Nutr. 134:2998-3003, November 2004
(10)
Antidiabetic Indian Plants: a Good Source of Potent Amylase Inhibitors. / Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2008 Jun 27.

(11)
Color versus bioactivity in the flowers of Bougainvillea spectabilis (Nyctaginaceae) / Muhammad Shaiq Ali et al / Natural Product Research, Volume 19, Issue 1 January 2005 , pages 1 - 5 / DOI: 10.1080/14786410310001630609
(12)
Evaluation of Anti-Fertility Potential of Aqueous Extract of Bougainvillea spectabilis Leaves in Swiss Albino Mice / Mishra N et al / International Journ of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research 2009; 1 (1): 19-23
(13)
Antihyperlipidemic effect of D-pinitol on streptozotocin-induced diabetic wistar rats / P K M Anu Geethan et al / Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology • Volume 22 Issue 4, Pages 220 - 224 / DOI 10.1002/jbt.20218
(14)
Determination of Radical Scavenging Activity of Hydroalcoholic and Aqueous Extracts from Bauhinia divaricata and Bougainvillea spectabilis Using the DPPH Assay / Chaires-Martinez L et al / aPharmacognosy Research • Vol 1 . Issue 5. pp 238- 244 , Sept-Oct 2009
(15)
An oxalic Acid Oxidase in the Leaves of Bougainvillea spectabilis / S K Srivastava and P S Krishnan / Biochem J., 1962, 85, 33
(16)
HYPOGLYCEMIC POTENTIAL OF BOUGAINVILLEA SPECTABILIS ROOT BARK IN NORMAL AND ALLOXAN- INDUCED DIABETIC RATS / Sunil Jawla, Y Kumar, M S Y Khan / Pharmacologyonline 3: 73-87 (2011)
(17)
Studies on Extraction and Properties of Natural Red Pigment from Bougainvillea Spectabilis Willd / Xie Qiming Luo Qin / DOI cnki:ISSN:53-1145.0.2000-03-010 / JOURNAL OF CHUXIONG TEACHERS'S COLLEGE, 2000-03
(18)
Effect of Bougainvillea spectabilis Leaves on Serum Lipids in Albino Rats Fed with High Fat Diet / H Saikia, A Lama / International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research 2011; 3(2): 141-145
(19)
Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. / Catalogue of Life, China 2011
(20)
Bougainvillea spectabilis: common name details from PIER / PIER
(21)
Effects of Ethanolic Extract of Bougainvillea spectabilis Leaves on Some Liver and Kidney Function Indices in Rats / S.O. MALOMO, J.O.ADEBAYO, R.O.ARISE, F.J.OLORUNNIJI, AND E.C.EGWIM / D: Salasar/Vol.-17/chp-12/Proof-3/Date : 8 // 2006


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