Nutritional and pharmacological health benefits of Bombax ceiba L.

Abstract

Bombax ceiba L. also called red silk cotton tree is a large deciduous tree which belongs to family Bombacaceae. The tree and its many parts such as leaves, bud, flower, stem bark, roots and gum are claimed for its therapeutic and used in pharmacologic activities like Cytotoxicity, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-diabetic, Hypotensive, Anti-obesity, Antioxidant, Antiangiogenic, Antimicrobial, and Aphrodisiac. It is noted to contain some important phyto constituents like mangiferin, vanillin, anthocyanins, polysaccharides, shamimin and lupeol. This paper is an overview to support the credibility of B. ceiba with the few scientific studies that have been conducted so far.