The hypoglycemic activity of aqueous extracts from Bauhinia forficata L. and Bauhinia monandra Kurz leaves (10% w/v) was evaluated in normoglycemic mice. Both extracts have shown hypoglycemic activity using this methodology. It was also possible to isolate two flavonoids from B. forficata L., 3,7-di-O-alpha-rhamnopyranosylquercetin and 3,7-di-O-alpha-rhamnopyranosylkaempferol (kaempferitrin), whose structures were elucidated by usual NMR techniques. Only the quercetin derivative was identified in B. monandra aqueous extract by HPLC.
Bauhinia forficata; Bauhinia monandra; Leguminosae; hypoglycemic activity; flavonoids; HPLC
