Background

• Pata de vaca is derived from the leaf of Bauhinia forficata, a flowering tree native to Brazil and Peru. It has traditionally been used to treat high blood sugar levels in diabetics.
• At this time, there is a lack of high-quality evidence to support Bauhinia for any medicinal use. Further research is needed.

References

1. Agrawal, R. C. and Pandey, S. Evaluation of anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic potential of Bauhinia variegata extract in Swiss albino mice. Asian Pac.J.Cancer Prev. 2009;10(5):913-916. View Abstract
2. de, Oliveira C., Santana, L. A., Carmona, A. K., et al. Structure of cruzipain/cruzain inhibitors isolated from Bauhinia bauhinioides seeds. Biol.Chem. 2001;382(5):847-852. View Abstract
3. Dugasani, S., Balijepalli, M. K., Tandra, S., et al. Antimicrobial activity of Bauhinia tomentosa and Bauhinia vahlii roots. Pharmacogn.Mag. 2010;6(23):204-207. View Abstract
4. Gupta, M., Mazumder, U. K., Kumar, R. S., et al. Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects of methanol extract from Bauhinia racemosa stem bark in animal models. J.Ethnopharmacol. 4-26-2005;98(3):267-273. View Abstract
5. Jain, R., Saxena, U., Rathore, K., et al. Bioactivities of polyphenolics from the roots of Bauhinia racemosa. Arch.Pharm.Res. 2008;31(12):1525-1529. View Abstract
6. Kannan, N., Renitta, R. E., and Guruvayoorappan, C. Bauhinia tomentosa stimulates the immune system and scavenges free radical generation in vitro. J.Basic Clin.Physiol Pharmacol. 2010;21(2):157-168. View Abstract
7. Kumar, R. S., Sivakumar, T., Sunderam, R. S., et al. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Bauhinia racemosa L. stem bark. Braz.J.Med.Biol.Res. 2005;38(7):1015-1024. View Abstract
8. Lin, P. and Ng, T. B. Preparation and biological properties of a melibiose binding lectin from Bauhinia variegata seeds. J.Agric.Food Chem. 11-26-2008;56(22):10481-10486. View Abstract
9. Marchetti, M., Mastromarino, P., Rieti, S., et al. Inhibition of herpes simplex, rabies and rubella viruses by lectins with different specificities. Res.Virol. 1995;146(3):211-215. View Abstract
10. Oliveira, C. Z., Maiorano, V. A., Marcussi, S., et al. Anticoagulant and antifibrinogenolytic properties of the aqueous extract from Bauhinia forficata against snake venoms. J.Ethnopharmacol. 4-8-2005;98(1-2):213-216. View Abstract
11. Rajkapoor, B., Murugesh, N., and Rama, Krishna D. Cytotoxic activity of a flavanone from the stem of Bauhinia variegata Linn. Nat.Prod.Res. 2009;23(15):1384-1389. View Abstract
12. Reid, K. A., Maes, J., Maes, A., et al. Evaluation of the mutagenic and antimutagenic effects of South African plants. J.Ethnopharmacol. 6-15-2006;106(1):44-50. View Abstract
13. Samie, A., Obi, C. L., Lall, N., et al. In-vitro cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities, against clinical isolates of Campylobacter species and Entamoeba histolytica, of local medicinal plants from the Venda region, in South Africa. Ann.Trop.Med.Parasitol. 2009;103(2):159-170. View Abstract
14. Shang, X. Y., Liu, W., and Zhao, C. W. [Advances in research of chemical constituents and pharmacological activites of Bauhinia]. Zhongguo Zhong.Yao Za Zhi. 2008;33(6):709-717. View Abstract
15. Vasconcelos, F., Sampaio, S. V., Garofalo, M. A., et al. Insulin-like effects of Bauhinia forficata aqueous extract upon Tityus serrulatus scorpion envenoming. J.Ethnopharmacol. 2004;95(2-3):385-392. View Abstract