Antimicrobial Activities of Gray Nickerbean (Caesalpinia bonduc Linn.)

Publisher Summary This chapter provides insights into the medicinal potential of gray nickerbean. In Ayurvedic medicine, and also in traditional medicine, C. bonduc seeds are used for the treatment of different diseases, such as fever, diabetes, inflammation, liver disorders, cysts, tumors, etc. Preparations of the seeds and other plant parts are used to treat a large range of ailments. Extract from the seed is reported to lower blood sugar and effectively suppress or cure infections due to several species of round worms. Petroleum ether extract also exhibited a broad range of activity at the higher concentrations. Seed kernel (CBSK) extracts exhibited variable activity at higher concentrations than did C. bonduc Caesalpinia bonduc seed coat (CBSC). It was observed that the extracts of C. bonduc were effective against the methicillin- and ampicillin-resistant strains of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa . Seed-coat as well as kernel extracts were reported to have anti-stress activity when administered orally at a dose of 300 mg/kg. Ethanolic extract (70%) of C. bonduc seed kernel has been reported as having antipyretic and antinociceptive activities in doses of 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg. Aqueous and ethanol extracts of C. bonduc seeds produced a hypoglycemic effect and anti-hyperglycemic activity as well as hypolipidemic activity. The seed extract of C. bonduc inhibited human trypsin and chymotrypsin in intestinal secretion. Various parts of the plant have also been reported to possess multiple therapeutic properties, such as antipyretic, antidiuretic, anthelmintic, antibacterial, anticonvulsant, antiviral, anti-asthmatic, anti-amebic, and anti-estrogenic activities.