Main description:

This work is the first monograph devoted solely to Bombax ceiba, popularly known as the Red Silk Cotton Tree. Consisting of seven chapters, it covers all relevant aspects of this plant, from its historical and spiritual importance, to its botanical characterization, pharmacognostical details and ethnobiological uses, to its scientific validation in various animal and human studies. Each part of the tree is of medicinal value and possesses many novel chemical constituents such as shamimicin, bombasin, bombamalone, bombamaloside etc. along with other bioactive secondary metabolites. The book presents the chemical structures of the most important constituents and highlights various pharmacological activities, predominantly antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, hepatoprotective and fibrinolytic, which may prove to be a source for the development of a novel phyto-pharmaceutical agent to treat diabetes, heart disease and cancer. In addition, separate chapters deal with the commercial and ecological significance of B. ceiba, as well as a case study on its conservation. Numerous color illustrations are included to identify the plant and to justify its nickname, the "Little Bird's Cafeteria".

Contents:

1. Introduction

1.1 Distribution

1.2 Botanical characterization and pharmacognostic details

1.3 Importance in traditional medicine systems

2. Ethno-biology

2.1. Introduction

2.2. Medicinal uses

2.3. Socio-cultural importance

2.4. Magico-religious beliefs

2.5. Ethno-conservation

3. Phytochemical studies

3.1. Introduction

3.2. Root

3.3. Stem-bark

3.4. Leaf

3.5. Flower

3.6. Seed

3.7. Gum

4. Pharmacological investigations and toxicity studies

4.1. Introduction

4.2. Antioxidant activity

4.3. Antimicrobial activity

4.4. Anthelmintic activity

4.5. Larvicidal acitivity

4.6. Anti-inflammatory activity

4.7. Analgesic effect

4.8. Anti-pyretic activity

4.9. Anti-angiogenic and anti-mutagenic activities

4.10. Hepatoprotective activity

4.11. Hypotensive activity

4.12. Hypoglycemic activity

4.13. Fibrinolysis enhancing activity

4.14. Androgenic and anabolic activity

4.15. Other biological activities

4.16. Toxicity studies

4.17. Conclusion

5. Commercial importance

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Floss

5.3 Wood

5.4 Oil

6. Ecological importance and need of conservation

6.1. Bombax ceiba - a multipurpose tree species

6.2. The need of conservation

6.2.1 Case study

6.2.2 Conservation efforts

6.2.3 Awareness campaign

6.2.4 In situ conservation

6.2.5 Ex situ conservation

6.2.6 Conclusion

7. Future research

Index