Kovidara
Bauhinia purpurea L.
Kovidara (Bauhinia purpurea L.) is a plant drug, also called Raktakamcana, Raktakovidara and Lala kacanara, from the Fabaceae (Caesalpinioideae) family. Listed in Ayurvedic texts as Kovidara.
| Botanical name | Bauhinia purpurea L. |
|---|---|
| Family | Fabaceae (Caesalpinioideae) · other entries in this family |
| Order | Fabales |
| Pharmacopoeia status | Listed in Ayurvedic texts as Kovidara. Used interchangeably with B. variegata in some formulations, although the safety notes advise differentiating the two. No dedicated WHO monograph. Recognized in Thai traditional medicine and Indian AYUSH systems. |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 2953871 · Wikidata Q3245410 · NCBI Taxonomy 3806 |
| Sanskrit | रक्तकांचन (raktakāṃcana), रक्तकोविदार (raktakovidāra) |
|---|---|
| Hindi | लाल कचनार (lāla kacanāra) |
| Tamil | மந்தாரை, நீலத்திருவத்தி |
Sources: efloraofindia and IMPPAT, Bauhinia purpurea: Sanskrit "devakanchan, raktakanchan, raktakovidara".; efloraofindia and IMPPAT, Bauhinia purpurea: Sanskrit raktakanchan / रक्तकांचन (also Marathi and Bengali রক্তকাঞ্চন).; efloraofindia's Bauhinia purpurea page gives Tamil "மந்தாரை (mandarai), நீலத்திருவத்தி (nilattiruvatti)"; IMPPAT's Bauhinia purpurea record gives Tamil "mandarai".; efloraofindia, Bauhinia purpurea: Hindi "कांचन (kanchan), लाल कचनार (lal kachnar), केवनार (kevnar)"; IMPPAT gives Hindi "kanchan, lal kachnar, kevnar".; efloraofindia, Bauhinia purpurea: Tamil "மந்தாரை (mandarai), நீலத்திருவத்தி (nilattiruvatti)".. How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 1991 to 2026, every one with a DOI.
- 4Other clinical studies and reviews
- 8Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Kovidara |
| Latin/Botanical | Bauhinia purpurea L. |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Astragalin (kaempferol-3-glucoside)
- Isoquercetin
- Quercetin
- Pelargonidin-3-glucoside
- Pelargonidin-3-triglucoside
- Butein galactoside
- Beta-sitosterol
- Stigmasterol
- Terpenoids (lupeol)
- Cardiac glycosides
- Saponins (oleanane type)
How does it work?
- Anti-inflammatory action via flavonoid-mediated (quercetin, astragalin) inhibition of COX-2 and suppression of prostaglandin synthesis
- Antidiabetic activity through polyphenol-mediated enhancement of insulin sensitivity and alpha-glucosidase inhibition
- Analgesic effect via peripheral and central pain pathway modulation, with maximum effect at 120 min post-administration
- Hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effects via antioxidant-mediated restoration of SOD, catalase and reduction of lipid peroxidation
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Traditionally used for inflammation and pain. Animal studies have reported reduced edema in a carrageenan model.
- Traditionally used for wound healing. Animal studies in excision wound models have reported more collagen deposition and epithelialization.
- Traditionally used for diabetes. Animal studies in alloxan-induced diabetic rats have reported hypoglycemic effects.
- Traditionally used for diarrhea. Animal studies have reported anti-diarrheal activity in castor oil-induced diarrhea models.
What do recent studies show?
- Verma R, Dash S, Ankita and others 2024. Genus Bauhinia (Fabaceae): A review from phytochemistry to pharmacology- Exploring traditional uses and toxicological insights across Asia. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. PMID 39571414 · doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2024.156246
Comprehensive genus-level review summarised reported anticancer, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, nephroprotective and antimalarial activities across Bauhinia species. - Gudavalli D, Pandey K, Ede VG and others 2024. Phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of five species of Bauhinia genus: A review. Fitoterapia. PMID 38286316 · doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2024.105830
Identified flavonoids (astragalin, quercetin), steroids and terpenoids as major bioactive classes across Bauhinia species with significant anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic potential.
Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.
Recent safety updates
- Ethanol extracts at tested doses (50-100 mg/kg) showed no significant acute toxicity in rodent models
- Formal long-term safety studies are limited; differentiation from B. variegata is important for correct therapeutic application. Not recommended during pregnancy.
What is it made of?
Key Active Markers
- Kaempferol
- Isoquercetin
- Quercetin
- Sitosterol
- Stigmasterol
- Terpenoids
- Lupeol
- Glycosides
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (bark powder), Kashayam (decoction), Capsule, Kwatha (concentrated decoction), Lepa (paste)
Standard Dosage: 3-6 g bark powder twice daily; 50-100 mL decoction; 500 mg capsule twice daily
Storage: Store in airtight containers at 15-30°C. Protect bark powder from moisture and insect infestation. Decoctions refrigerated (2-8°C).
Marker Compounds: Quercetin, Kaempferol, Gallic acid, Ellagic acid, Beta-sitosterol, Lupeol, Bauhiniastatin, Stigmasterol
Synergistic Combinations
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Other clinical studies and reviews4
- 2024. Genus Bauhinia (Fabaceae): A review from phytochemistry to pharmacology- Exploring traditional uses and toxicological insights across AsiaPhytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. PMID 39571414 · doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2024.156246
- 2024. Phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of five species of Bauhinia genus: A reviewFitoterapia. PMID 38286316 · doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2024.105830
- 2022. Hepatoprotective Potential of Malaysian Medicinal Plants: A Review on Phytochemicals, Oxidative Stress, and Antioxidant MechanismsMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 35268634 · doi:10.3390/molecules27051533
- 1991. Purification and characterization of a carbohydrate-binding peptide from Bauhinia purpurea lectinFEBS letters. PMID 2015903 · doi:10.1016/0014-5793(91)80406-s
Laboratory and animal studies8
- 2026. N-Doped Carbon Quantum Dots From Bauhinia purpurea With Anti-Inflammatory and Wound-Healing PropertiesChemistry & biodiversity. PMID 42503226 · doi:10.1002/cbdv.71549
- 2025. Assembly and characterization of the complete mitogenome of Bauhinia purpurea (Leguminosae)BMC genomic data. PMID 39828674 · doi:10.1186/s12863-025-01296-4
- 2024. Antibiotic potentiating effect of Bauhinia purpurea L. against multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureusFrontiers in microbiology. PMID 38694794 · doi:10.3389/fmicb.2024.1385268
- 2023. Proteomics and transcriptomics explore the effect of mixture of herbal extract on diabetic wound healing processPhytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. PMID 37267693 · doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154892
- 2022. Evaluation of the Toxic Effect of Bauhinia purpurea Mediated Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles against In-vitro and In-vivo ModelsToxics. PMID 36668735 · doi:10.3390/toxics11010009
- 2019. In vivo anti-arthritic activity of Bauhinia purpurea Linn. Bark ExtractIndian journal of pharmacology. PMID 31031464 · doi:10.4103/ijp.IJP_107_16
- 2016. Biofabrication of broad range antibacterial and antibiofilm silver nanoparticlesIET nanobiotechnology. PMID 27676385 · doi:10.1049/iet-nbt.2015.0091
- 2009. Screening of Bauhinia purpurea Linn. for analgesic and anti-inflammatory activitiesIndian journal of pharmacology. PMID 20336222 · doi:10.4103/0253-7613.51345
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.