Pithecellobium dulce

Constituents
• Tannin, 25.36%; fixed oil, 18.22%, olein.
• A glycoside quercitin has been isolated.
• Seeds have been reported to contain steroids, saponins, lipids, phospholipids, glycosides, glycolipids and polysaccharides.
• Bark yields 37% tannins of the catechol type.
• Leaves yield quercitin, kaempferol, dulcitol and afezilin.
Properties
• Considered abortifacient, anodyne, astringent, larvicidal, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, febrifuge, antidiabetic. 
• Bark and leaves considered astringent.
• Leaves considered astringent, emollient, antidiabetic, and abortifacient.
• Roots reported to be estrogenic.

Uses 
• Frequent bowel movements: Decoction of bark taken as tea.
• The leaves, when applied as plasters, used for pain, venereal sores.
• Salted decoction of leaves, for indigestion; also used as abortifacient.
• Bark used in dysentery, dermatitis and eye inflammation.
• In Brazil, P. avaremotem, used as a cancer elixir.
• In Mexico, decoction of leaves for earaches, leprosy, toothaches and larvicide.
• In India, bark of the plant used as astringent in dysentery, febrifuge. Also used for dermatitis and eye inflammations. Leaves used as abortifacient.
convulsions, dyspepsia, peptic ulcers, sores and skin of the stem is used for dysentery, leaves for intestinal disorders and seeds for ulcers. 
• In Guiana, root bark used for dysentery and as febrifuge.

Studies
• Anti-Inflammatory / Antibacterial: Pithecellobium dulce yielded a glycoside quercitin. The activity of the flavonol glycoside confirmed its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
• Phenolics / Antioxidant: Pithecellobium dulce leaves revealed phenolics including flavonoids and showed potent free radical scavenging activity. 
• Anti-inflammatory Triterpene: Anti-inflammatory triterpene saponins of Pithecellobium dulce. A new bisdesmodic triterpenoid saponin, dulcin, was isolated from the seeds of PD. 
• Genotoxicity / Mutagenic and Antimutagenic Activities: Pithecellobium dulce was exhibited detectable genotoxicity in any system.
• Anti-Ulcer / Free Radical Scavenging: Study of the hydroalcoholic extract of PD was found to possess good antioxidant activity and suggests possible antiulcer activity .
• Hepatoprotective: Study of an aqueous extract of P. dulce in a murine model showed hepatoprotection against CCl4-induced oxidative impairments probably through its antioxidative property. Results were supported by histological findings. 
• CNS Depressant: Study evaluating the locomotor activity of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of PD in albino mice showed significant CNS depression, the alcoholic extract exhibiting greater effect when compared to chlorpromazine. The activity was attributed to an increase in the concentration of GABA in the brain
• Analgesic / Anti-Inflammatory: Study showed significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects comparable to standard drugs.
• Antioxidant / Antibacterial: Study of fruit peel for antioxidant and antibacterial potential revealed significant activity.
• Hypolipidemic / Free Radical Scavenging: Study evaluated the anti-hyperlipidemic activity of an aqueous extract of leaves against triton induced hyperlipidemia in rats. Results showed lipid effects with a decrease in total serum cholesterol, LDL, and an increase in serum HDL cholesterol level.
• Antimicrobial / Leaf Extracts: Study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of leaf of P. dulce against 20 pathogenic microorganisms. Results showed extracts possess bioactive compounds with significant antimicrobial activities.
• a-Glucosidase and a-Amylase / Leaf Extracts: Study evaluated bark and leaves of P. dulce for a-amylase and a-glucosidase inhibition in vitro. a-amylase and a-gluscosidase inhibitors from food-grade plant sources offer an alternative approach for the treatment of post-prandial hyperglycemia by decrease glucose release from starch and delaying carbohydrate absorption. Results confirmed a-glucosidase and a-amylase inhibitory activity of a methanol and ethanol extract. 
• Skeletal Muscle Relaxant / CNS Depressant: Study showed an acutely administered single dose of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of leaves possess skeletal muscle relaxant activity and CNS depressant activity but no anticonvulsant action.