Butea monosperma is a member of the Fabinaceae or legume family. Common names for the plant include flame of the forest and Bastard Teak. The plant grows throughout India and can reach a height of 50 feet. Evidence suggests that the leaves, seeds, stems and flowers may possess medicinal effects. In particular, extracts of the plant have been shown to possess anticonvulsant, antigout, diuretic, antileprotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, astringent and antihepatotoxic effects. Like most plants, extracts are high in antioxidants, and this may explain the anti-inflammatory effects of the plant. The main phytochemicals present in the plant include the polyphenols (butrin, butin and butein), triterpenes (isobutrin, coreopsin, isocoreopsin, sulphurein, monospermoside, isomonospermoside), chalcones, aurone, flavonoids and steroids. The Bark is rich in tannins and gallic acid. The plant also contain oils (particularly in the seeds), proteolytic, lipolytic enzymes and proteases.
Butea monosperma plant. Image from By SumaTagadur 05:01, 28 March 2007 (UTC) – Own work, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1853394.
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