Keywords

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Scientific Name

Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Sw.

Synonyms

Caesalpinia pulcherrima var. flava Bailey and Rehder, Poinciana bijuga Lour., Poinciana elata Lour., Poinciana pulcherrima L.

Family

Fabaceae also in Caesalpiniaceae

Common/English Names

Barbados Flower-Fence, Barbados Pride, Barbados-Pride, Bird-Of-Paradise Flower, Dwarf Poinciana, Flower Crest, Flower-Fence, Flowerfence, Paradise Flower, Paradise-Flower, Peacock Flower, Peacock Tree, Poinciana, Poincillade, Pride of Barbados, Pride-Of-Barbados, Red Bird of Paradise, Spanish Carnation

Vernacular Names

  • Argentina: Chivato Chico

  • Brazil: Barba-De-Barata

  • Bolivia: Pajarillo; Chamorro: Caballero, Kabayeros

  • Burmese: Daungsop

  • Chuukese: Simmata, Simota, Warepik

  • Cook Islands: ‘Ōva‘I, ‘Ōvai, Pī Tiare (Maori)

  • Czech: Sapan Nádherný

  • Danish: Påfuglebusk, Påfuglehale

  • German: Stolz Von Barbados

  • French: Aigrette, Poincillade, Faux Flamboyant, Orgueil De Chine, Petit Flamboyant

  • Hawaiian: Ohai Alii

  • India: Krishnachura (Assamese), Krishnachura, Krishanchura (Bengali), Guletura, Gul-Tora, Torai, Gulu Tora (Hindi), Kenjige, Komari, Ratnagandhi, Ratnaganhi, Kenjige Mara, Keneige, Kendge, Kenji Gida, Kanjage, Kenchige, Kencige, Ratnagandi, Channakeshava Gida, Eejimullu, Hote Seege, Kenjigemara, Kenjuga, Komaari, Nalligaane (Kannada), Settimandaram, Techimandaram, Tsjetti-Mandarum, Cekkimandaram, Chekkimandaram, Chettimandaram, Teccimandaram, Tsettimandaram (Malayalam), Krishanchura (Manipuri), Sankeshvara (Marathi), Tarra (Oriya), Krishnachuda, Krishnachura, Ratanagandhi, Sidhakhya, Sidhanasha, Sidheshwara (Sanskrit), Mayirkonrai, Mayuram, Nalal, Sirumayirkonrai, Mayilkonnai, Mayil-Konai, Cemmayirkkonrai, Cirontakam, Cirontakamaram, Cittimantarai, Cittimantaram, Irattinakanti, Kittimantaram, Kotinalal, Maikkonrai 1, Mancika 2, Mayikonnai, Mayilkonrai, Mayirkkonrai 1, Mayirpelavam, Mayirpelavamaram, Mayurakonnai, Mayuram 3, Mayuramaram, Perumayirkonrai, Pillicarikai, Pillicarikaimaram, Pirayakacceti, Piriyakam 2, Ponmayirkkonrai, Puccilakkonnai, Pumalekkinam 2, Tuccimam, Tuccimamaram, Mucuppira, Mucuppiramaram, Muyarcevitakkonnai, Muyarcevitam, Nalal2, Narikkonrai2, Vatamatakki 2 (Tamil), Pamiditangedu, Ratnagandhi, Sinnaturayi, Turayi, Pamidi Tangedu, Peydi-Tangedu, Ratna Gandhi, Kapura Maddi, Chinaturayi, Cinnaturayi, Paidithangedu, Pamidithangedu, Rathnagandhi, Sinnathuraayi, Thuraayi (Telugu)

  • Indonesia: Bunga Merak, Kembang Merak, Kembang Patra

  • Khmer: Dok Fang, Kan Gok Meas, Fang Ham

  • Kosraean: Rapotin, Repawtin

  • Malaysia: Chana, Cuban Haji, Bunga Cina, Hambul Merak

  • Marshallese: Emenawa, Jeimata, Jeimota, Jeimõta, Jemata

  • Mexico: Maravilla, Siikim; Mokilese: Shimatada

  • Niuean: Fisihetau, Fitihetau, Clavellina

  • Philippines: Bulaklak Ng Paraiso, Caballero (Tagalog)

  • Pingelapan: Seh Muatah

  • Pohnpeian: Sehmwida, Sem Tah, Semutha

  • Samoan: Lau Pa, Lau Pā

  • Satawalese: Waripik

  • Spanish: Flor De San Francisco, Caballero, Guacamaya; Macata, Francillade, Carzazo, Tabachín

  • Swedish: Påfågelsträd

  • Thailand: Khwaang Yoi (Eastern), Som Pho (Northern), Haang Nok Yuung Tai, Nok Yung Tai (Central)

  • Ulithian: Warapig

  • Vietnam: Diep Ta, Diep Cung, Kim Phuw Owng

Origin/Distribution

The plant is a native of the West Indies and Mexico and Central America. It is widely distributed and naturalized in the tropics.

Agroecology

A tropical tree species, adapted to temperatures of 15–35 °C in full sun to partial shade, from sea level to 1,000 m altitude or higher but is adapted to semi-drought conditions and tolerate extreme heat. It grows in a wide range of well-drained soils, from alkaline to acidic. It is moderately tolerant of saline conditions and is frost sensitive.

Edible Plant Parts and Uses

The flowers and young pods and seeds are eaten (Tanaka 1976; Pongpangan and Poobrasert 1985; Facciola 1990). Green seeds are sweetish and eaten raw in Thailand or cooked.

Botany

An erect, smooth much-branched shrub or small tree, 1.5–6 m high, branches unarmed or with a few straight prickles. The leaves are alternate, paripinnate, rachis 10–40 cm long, with 5–9 pairs of pinnae, stipules subulate, minute, caducous, leaflets opposite (Plates 1, 2 and 3), apetiolate, 6–12 pairs per pinnae, base unequal, rounded, apex rounded to retuse. Inflorescence in axillary and terminal raceme or panicle, 20–50 cm long; flowers bisexual, red, reddish-pink, orange, orangey-yellow, orange, bright yellow or creamy white; sepals 10–15 × 5–7 mm; petals crisped and clawed, 10–25 × 6–8 mm; stamens very long and very far exserted; ovary with 8–12 ovules (Plates 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) . The pod is nearly straight, flat, smooth, 6–12cb by1.5–2 cm wide with 6–8 rectangular, brown or black seeds.

Plate 1
figure a

Reddish-pink flowers, young pods and pinnate leaves

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Plate 2
figure b

Close view of reddish-pink flowers

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Plate 3
figure c

Orangey-yellow flowers, pods and leaves

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Plate 4
figure d

Orange and orangey-yellow flowers with long exserted stamens

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Plate 5
figure e

Bright yellow flowers, pods and leaves

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Plate 6
figure f

Creamy-white flowers

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Nutritive/Medicinal Properties

Analyses carried out in Nigeria (Yusuf et al. 2007) on the proximate composition of whole seeds and seed nuts (dehulled and dried) are % dry weight basis: moisture 9.5 %, 7.3 %; dry matter 90.95 %, 92.7 %; ash 4.5 %, 6.22 %; carbohydrates 39.1 %, 18.3 %; crude lipid 6.6 %, 5.65 %; crude fibre 9.06 %, 5.98 %; crude protein 48.08 %, 42.97 %; energy 312.15 kcal/100 g, 217.47 kcal/100 g; mineral composition per 100 g : Na 49.5 mg, 40.5 mg; K 39.5 mg, 31 mg; Ca 37.5 mg, 30.5 mg; Mg 58.5 mg, 69.5 mg; Fe 21 mg, 15 mg; P 56 mg, 124 mg; respectively. The results of another analysis conducted in Nigeria (Omole 2003) revealed that the crude protein and crude fat of the seeds were 33.50 and 16.80 %, respectively. The fatty acid profile indicated that the glycerides of oleic, linoleic and linolenic acid accounted for 82.46 % of the total glycerides. Iodine value and saponification number were 104.09 and 195.0, respectively, while the unsaponifiable matter showed a high value of 20 %.

Various scientific studies reported that Caesalpinia pulcherrima had antiviral, antiinflammatory, antitumorous, antiulcerogenic and antimicrobial properties.

Antiviral Activity

One study showed that aqueous extracts of C. pulcherrima and its related quercetin possessed a broad-spectrum antiviral activity against herpes viruses (HSV-1, HSV-2) and adenoviruses (ADV-3, ADV-8, ADV-11). Among them, the strongest activities against adenovirus ADV-8 were fruit and seed (EC50 = 41.2 mg/l, SI = 83.2), stem and leaf (EC50 = 61.8 mg/l, SI = 52.1) and flower (EC50 = 177.9 mg/l, SI = 15.5), whereas quercetin possessed the strongest anti-ADV-3 activity (EC50 = 24.3 mg/l, SI = 20.4). In conclusion, some compounds of C. pulcherrima which possess antiviral activities may be derived from the flavonoid of quercetin. The mode of action of quercetin against HSV-1 and ADV-3 was found to be at the early stage of multiplication and with SI values greater than 20, suggesting the potential use of this compound for treatment of the infection caused by these two viruses.

Antiinflammatory Activity

The following homoisoflavonoids, (E)-7-methoxy-3-(4′-methoxybenzylidene) chroman-4-one and (E)-7-hydroxy-3-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxybenzylidene) chroman-4-one, (Z)-7-hydroxy-3-(4′-methoxybenzylidene) chroman-4-one (isobonducellin), (E)-7-hydroxy-3-(4′-methoxybenzylidene) chroman-4-one (bonducellin) and (E)-7-hydroxy-3-(2′,4′-dimethoxybenzylidene) chroman-4-one, were isolated from the whole plant of Caesalpinia pulcherrima. Five flavonoids, namely, 5,7-dimethoxyflavanone (1), 5,7-dimethoxy-3′,4′-methylenedioxyflavanone (2), isobonducellin (3), 2′-hydroxy-2,3,4′,6′-tetramethoxychalcone (4) and bonducellin (5), exhibited significant antiinflammatory activity. They significantly and dose-dependently inhibited the inflammatory mediators: nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines [tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-12]. According to their inhibitory results, the order of antiinflammatory potency was compounds 3 > 5 > 4 > 2 > 1. Furthermore, peritoneal macrophages were pre-activated with lipopolysaccharide LPS/IFN-gamma (interferon-gamma) for 24 hours and determined the inhibitory effects of the above-mentioned isolates on the production of NO after a further 24 hours. The findings supported the use of Caesalpinia pulcherrima for the treatment of inflammatory diseases in traditional medicine. Two new flavonoids, 5,7-dimethoxy-3′,4′-methylenedioxyflavanone and isobonducellin along with 2′-hydroxy-2,3,4′,6′-tetramethoxychalcone, 5,7-dimethoxyflavone and bonducellin, were isolated from the aerial parts of Caesalpinia pulcherrima. Both flavonoids also exhibited antimicrobial activity.

Antimicrobial Activity

A new cassane-type diterpene isovouacapenol E (1) was isolated from the leaves of Caesalpinia pulcherrima, together with the known compounds caesaldekarin A (3), spathulenol (4), caryophyllene oxide (5), phytol and sitosterol. Four new cassane-type furanoditerpenoids (1–4) were isolated from the air-dried leaves of Caesalpinia pulcherrima. The exocyclic methylene compound 1 readily isomerized and oxidized to the benzofuran 4. Benzyl 2, 6-dimethoxybenzoate (5) was also identified in this study. Antimicrobial tests on 1–5 indicated that they were active against several bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis) and fungi (Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes). An ethanolic extract of the dry fruits of Caesalpinia pulcherrima exhibited a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, particularly against Escherichia coli (enteropathogen), Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.

Antitumorous Activity

Cassane diterpenoids: pulcherralpin, pulcherrin A, pulcherrin B, pulcherrin C, neocaesalpin P, neocaesalpin Q and neocaesalpin R, together with eight known compounds: isovouacapenol C, 6-p-cinnamoyl-7β-hydroxy-vouacapen-5α-ol, pulcherrimin E, pulcherrimin C, α-cadinol, 7-hydroxycadalene, teucladiol and bonducellin—were isolated from the stem of Caesalpinia pulcherrima. Five new cassane diterpenoids (1–5) were isolated from the roots of Caesalpinia pulcherrima, along with the known isovouacapenol C (6), pulcherrimin A (11) and 6β-cinnamoyl-7β-hydroxyvouacapen-5α-ol (12). Two cassane-furanoditerpenoids, 6β-benzoyl-7β-hydroxyvouacapen-5 α-ol (1) and 6β-cinnamoyl-7β-hydroxyvouacapen-5α-ol (2), expressed moderate cytotoxic activity towards KB (human oral carcinonoid cancer), BC (human breast cancer) and NCl-H187 (small cell lung cancer) cell lines. Compound 2 showed strong antitubercular activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 6.25 μg/ml, whereas the benzoyl analogue (1) was less active (MIC 25 μg/ml).

Antiulcerogenic Activity

Caesalpinia pulcherrima also has antiulcerogenic property. Pretreatment of the petroleum ether extract of Caesalpinia pulcherrima prevented the formation of gastric lesions in HCI/ethanol model in rats. In the aspirin and pylorus ligation model, the extract was able to significantly reduce the ulcer score and increased mucus content, but had no effect on gastric juice volume or acid content. Thus the results indicated that the extracts’ antiulcerogenic effect was attributable to augmentation of gastric defence mechanisms.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

The bark, leaves, flowers, fruits and roots serve medicinal purposes in folkloric medicine. In general a decoction or infusion of roots, bark, leaves or flowers is used as a purgative and emmenagogue. Bark, root and flower have been used in traditional medicines for cutaneous and subcutaneous parasitic infection, febrifuges, pulmonary troubles; leaf especially for nasopharyngeal affections and as laxatives; and leaf and flower as abortifacients and ecbolics. Wood, leaf, root, flower and seed-pod provide tannins and astringents and seeds provide mucilage.

Medicine men in the Amazon Rainforest have long known some of the medicinal uses for Caesalpinia pulcherrima, which is known as ayoowiri. The juice from the leaves is said to cure fever, the juice from the flower is said to cure sores, and the seeds are said to cure bad cough, breathing difficulty and chest pain. Roots are used as abortifacient. In Papua New Guinea, the roots are used as an abortifacient, whereas the leaves are taken to relieve constipation. In Vietnam, the roots are used as an emmenagogue in folk medicine. In Indonesia, the pounded roots are given to children for convulsions, the bark employed for diarrhoea. The leaves are used with acorn and onions and applied to distended stomach. The leaves are also purgative and used as abortifacient to bring on abortion and used for fever infusion in Indochina. In the West Indies, the leaves and flowers are taken for fever. The flowers are reputed to have purgative, febrifuge and emmenagogue properties. A decoction is a popular remedy for erysipelas and for inflammation of the eyes. They are used also as a tonic. The flowers are used as vermifuge and a decoction for coughs and chronic catarrh. The fruit is astringent and is employed against diarrhoea and dysentery. The seeds are used as an effective abortifacient.

Other Uses

Peacock flower is a popular ornamental throughout the tropics. It is commonly used for living fences, hedge plant and windbreaks in tropical countries. The flowers, in powder, are used as insecticides. The plant has been used as fish poison. By-products from the leaves include dyes, tannin, stains, inks, tattoos and mordants. The seeds contain galactomannans which can be used as food stabilizers. The firm heartwood serves the production of wooden pegs or tree nails. A yellow-flowering race of this species is used by the Chinese in Malaysia for ritual purposes. It is also the national flower of the Caribbean island of Barbados and is depicted on the Queen’s personal Barbadian flag.

Comments

The plant is readily propagated from seeds or stem cuttings.