A Comprehensive Review of Pharmacological Potential of Bougainvillea Glabra

There are fourteen species in the genus Bougainvillea glabra, which belongs to the Nyctinaginaceae family of plants. New hybrids have been created by several crossings between the different species. Glabra Bougainvillea Choisy is a climber, evergreen shrub with prickly stems. It typically reaches a height of 10 to 12 feet (3.0 to 3.7 meters), though it can occasionally grow as high as 30 feet (9 meters). The name "paper flower" comes from the fact that the tiny white flowers typically bloom in clusters encircled by vibrant papery bracts. The dark green, asymmetrical leaves can grow up to 4 inches (10 cm) in length. The diameter of the blossoms is approximately 0.4 cm. Bougainvillea glabra decoctions are used in Nigeria to treat digestive disorders, inflammation-related conditions, and discomfort^. According to a study, B. glabra extracts can suppress tyrosinase activity and TNF-α while also increasing or promoting collagen formation. Extracts of B. glabra have been shown to exhibit antioxidant, antibacterial, and bioinsecticidal properties against armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, and insect pest larvae. Additionally, it is known that B. glabra extracts have anti-diabetic, anti-lipidemic, anti-diarrheal, and anti-ulcer qualities. Crude extracts of B. glabra have also been shown to have anthelmintic, analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory properties. More recently, they have been shown to have cardiotonic effects and in vitro anticancer activities against Hela cell lines. ^[3]

II. Description ^[4]:

An important ornamental plant that is native to South America is bougainvillea. Introduced and dispersed throughout warm parts of the Caribbean, Mexico, Asia, Australia, South Africa, the United States, and other nations. They are climbing shrubs or woody plants that produce leaves all year long. It can climb thanks to its thorny stems.

Leaves: Arranged alternately, entire, ovate to elliptic or lanceolate in shape

Flowers: flowers are small tubular, appear in groups of three, white or yellow, bloom in spring and summer and even in early autumn the flowers are surrounded  by three colorful bracts, which have the consistency of paper, size and appearance of leaves. Flowers 0.4 cm in diameter, bisexual, in a cymose inflorescence with three white to cream-colored flowers, perianth 1–2.5 cm long.

Growth habit: B. glabra habits warm, semi-warm, dry, semi-dry, and temperate climates, direct sunlight allows the growth and flowering of bougainvillea, as well as acidic and well-drained soils, with a pH of 5.5–6; they are tolerant to droughts.

Fruit: its fruit is elongated, no more than 1 cm long.

III. Habitat ^[5]:

According to botanical textbooks, certain species of the genus Bougainvillea glabra are found all over the world and are not unique to any one location, species, cultivar, or hybrid. A more thorough investigation was conducted in the scientific literature in light of these findings. Regarding the distribution, we highlight a more trustworthy update in this review that is based on scientific study or literature. Originally from Italy, Spain, and France, bougainvillea glabra Egypt, China, India, Israel, and Bangladesh United States of America, Guatemala, Honduras, Virgin Islands, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Brazil, Madagascar, Nigeria, Nigeria, Hawaii, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Thailand.

IV. Plant Profile ^[6]:

Plant Name: Bougainvillea glabra

Fig No.: 1, 2: The Bougainvillea glabra leaves and flower.

Common name: Paper flower

Synonyms: Genus Bougainvillea, Bougainvillea Glabra, vine, Paper flower.

Kingdom: Plantae

Subkingdom: Tracheobionta

Super division: Spermatophyta

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Subclass: Caryophyllidae

Order: Caryophyllales

Family: Nyctaginaceae

Genus: Bougainvillea.

? Common names

Hindi name: Booganbel

Marathi name: Booganbel

Bengali name: Kathigala Puvvu.

V. Morphology ^[7]:

B. glabra was discovered in 1850 by Swiss botanist Jacques Denys Choisy (Napoleon et al., 2013). It's a perennial climbing shrub that grows 1–7 m tall. Its branches have curled spines and simple, dark green, somewhat glossy leaves that are 5–15 mm long. Its petiole is 1 cm long, and its adaxially glabrous and abaxially pubescent leaves are around 10 cm long. Bisexual, 0.4 cm in diameter, with three white to cream-colored flowers in a cymose inflorescence; perianths are 1–2.5 cm long, somewhat pubescent, and include an ovary, six–eight stamens, and a single carpel; Chartaceous bracts of various colors, ovate, 5 cm long, 1.54 cm broad, with a cardioid base and pointy points, are attached to the flowers at the middle rib's terminal region. The achene fruit is small, dry, one-seeded, and ribbed. B glabra thrives in temperate, dry, semi-dry, warm, and semi-warm regions.

VI. Medicinal uses: ^[8]

Bougainvillea glabra shows Antiulcer activity, Ant diarrheal activity Antimicrobial activity and for cough &sore throat treatment. Plant also used for hepatitis and leucorrhea treatment, Act as antacid for reducing acidity. However B. glabra also shows Antibacterial activity Ant diabetic activity, Anti fertility activity.  Moreover Bougainvillea glabra also possess Antioxidant activity Anti-inflammatory activity.

VII. Chemical Constituents: ^[9]

1. Phenolic compounds from Genus Bougainvillea Glabra.

Table1: chemical constituents of Bougainvillea Glabra

2. Peltogynoids and Flavonoids from genus Bougainvillea Glabra:

3. Phytosterol, terpenes, and carbohydrates from genus Bougainvillea Glabra:

VIII. Phytochemicals of Bougainvillea glabra^{. [10]}

Phytochemical constituents of aqueous extract of B. glabra Linn. Were evaluated by elementary phytochemical screening examination; screening was performed utilizing standard systems. The strategies for discovery of phenols, sterols, carbohydrates, alkaloids, quinines, tannins and triterpinoids.

1. Antidiabetic Activity:

In this study, 25 male wistar rats were used to examine the anti-diabetic and anti-lipidemic properties of Bougainvillea glabra. Five groups of five rats each were created from the rats. These groups consist of a diabetes control (untreated group), an extract control (100 mg/kg of extract), and a normal control (saline). The extract was given to the other two groups at doses of 100 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, respectively. Although blood samples were taken from the rat tails once a week, the trial lasted for three weeks. The findings indicate that the extract Decreased the hyperglycemia from 12±0.40 mmol/L (Diabetic Control) to 4.04±0.03 mmol/L (400 mg/kg group) considerably (p<0.05). The extract also resulted in a large increase in HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and a significant decrease in TC, TG, and LDL-cholesterol. In summary, the findings of this study support the use of Bougainvillea glabra by practitioners of traditional medicine to treat diabetes mellitus since it has anti-diabetic and positive effects on blood lipid profiles.

2. Anthelmintic Activity:

Explains the goal of the current study was to investigate the anthelmintic activity of several leaf extracts from Bougainvillea glabra utilizing water, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and methanol as solvents. All of the extracts were tested at different concentrations (25 and 50 mg/ml), and the worms' paralysis and death times were recorded. Normal saline was used as the control and albendazole as the standard reference. According to the study, Manihot esculenta may be helpful in preventing earthworm infestations.

3. Antioxidant Activity:

Explains numerous medications, including antispasmodics, emetics, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, and others, are derived from plants. According to WHO estimates, 80% of people in underdeveloped nations still get their primary medical treatment from traditional medicine, primarily plant-based medications. Therefore, research into the antioxidant qualities of herbs that can be used to cure a variety of illnesses is desperately needed. Antioxidants serve a variety of physiological functions in the body because they block the oxidation process, even at very low concentrations. There are two types of antioxidants: natural and synthetic. According to recent reports, synthetic antioxidants like BHT and BHA are harmful to human health. Thus, in recent years, there has been a greater effort to find natural compounds with anti-oxidative properties that are both effective and non-toxic. In this review, an effort has been made to give information about the antioxidant activity of Bougainvillea Glabra, which is an immensely showy, floriferous and hardy plant.

4. Antibacterial Activity:

Explains that the current study's objective was to assess and contrast the antibacterial activity of the extracts of Bougainvillea glabra "Snow White" and "Choicy" leaves. The cultivated cultivar of Bougainvillea glabra "Choicy," known as "Snow White," features white bracts with greenish veins. By looking at the zone of inhibition, the antimicrobial activity of various solvent extracts of these plant leaves was evaluated against strains of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Using ofloxacin (5 g/disc) as the reference, antimicrobial activity was assessed using the disc diffusion method at a concentration of 500 g/disc of the extract. Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhii, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, and Vibrio cholera were the bacterial strains used in the investigation. All microorganisms were more susceptible to the effects of the hydroalcoholic extract. While B. glabra "choicy" was ineffective against Proteus vulgaris, B. glabra "snow white" was ineffective against Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus leuteus.^.[12]

5. Analgesic activity:

When taken orally, B. glabra's analgesic properties were assessed. The highest percentage of analgesic effect achieved in male Wistar rats utilizing the tail method for B. glabra methanol extracts was 79.88%. Using the acetic acid and formalin techniques, the analgesic efficacy of B. buttiana (var. Orange) ethanol extracts was investigated in female CD1 mice. The analgesic percentage for the acetic acid approach was 95.65%, but the extract demonstrated inhibition in both stages for the formalin method. In a different investigation, the acetic acid, tail immersion, and formalin models were used to assess the analgesic efficacy of the B. buttiana ethanol extract in BALB/c mice following oral treatment. The extract had a strong analgesic impact across all techniques^{. [13]}

5. Antiulcer activity: 

The oral administration of extracts of acetone of leaves of B. glabra “Choicy” and their    antiulcer effect were evaluated in male Wistar rats, and this extract showed a marked antiulcer activity.

6. Anti-diarrhoeal:

A significant anti- diarrheal activity was observed in male wistar rats orally treated with the acetone extract obtained from leaves of B. glabra “Choicy”.

7. Antipyretic:

The oral administration of methanol extracts from B. glabra in groups of rats showed a significant antipyretic activity^{. [13]}

X. Bioactivities of Bougainvillea glabra: