Flower of Paradise, also known as Caballero and Peacock Flower ( San Vicente Botanical Garden 12)

San Vicente Botanical Garden 12:

Flower of Paradise 

Bulaklak ng Paraiso - Caesalpinia pulcherrima Linn

(also known as Caballero and Peacock Flower)

Photos and Verse by Dr Abe V Rotor

 

Caballero - horseman, cavalier, in name,

 peacock's flair and Paradise symbol,

 behind a fence at sunset in yellow flame,

all glory is yours after the Fall.

Common names of Peacock Flower or Bulaklak ng Paraiso - Caesalpinia pulcherrima Linn include Poinciana, Peacock Flower, Red Bird of Paradise, Mexican Bird of Paradise, Dwarf Poinciana, Pride of Barbados. The plant is native to the tropics and subtropics of the Americas. It is an erect, smooth shrub or small tree, 1.5 to 5 meters high. Branches are armed with a few scattered spines. After flowering, the fruits appear which are pod-like. When they ripen, the pods split open and disperse the small seeds. The seeds contain tannic acid that is poisonous and can result in gastrointestinal discomfort if ingested. 

On the other hand, the plant has beneficial properties owing to its anti-oxidant and anti-microbial properties as reported by researchers of the University of the Philippines and published in a scientific journal. Here is the abstract of the study. [ISSN 0975-413X CODEN (USA): PCHHAX Der Pharma Chemica, 2016, 

8(17):99-104 (http://derpharmachemica.com/archive.html) 99] (Internet)

Antioxidant Activity and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of the Crude Methanolic Extract of Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Swartz 

Angelina A. Atienza1*, Erna C. Arollado2,3, Richelle Ann M. Manalo3 , Leslie B. Tomagan3 and Gerwin Louis T. Dela Torre3 1Department of Basic Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of the Philippines - Manila, Philippines 2Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, University of the Philippines – Manila, Philippines 3 Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences – National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines- Manila, Philippines 

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ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to determine the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the leaves, flowers and seeds of Caesalpinia pulcherrima L.(Swartz) methanolic extracts. The methanolic extracts were subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening, minimum inhibitory concentration (125, 250, 500 and 1000 µg/mL) and antioxidant activity by 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl assay (DPPH, 50, 100, 250, 400 and 800 µg/mL). All the extracts showed potent antioxidant activity at 800 µg/mL concentrations comparable to the ascorbic acid standard (p values: leaves=0.088, flowers=0.102, seeds=0.056). For the antimicrobial activity, the leaf extracts showed inhibition against all the selected microorganisms, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aureginosa, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans, Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans, at 1000 µg/mL. These activities can be attributed to the phytochemicals present in the extracts including carbohydrates, reducing sugars, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, alkaloids and triterpenoids. In conclusion, all the C. pulcherrima plant parts used possess antioxidant activity while the leaves have potent antimicrobial activity against the selected microorganisms. These results can be used to utilize this plant as a potential source of new antioxidant compounds and antimicrobial agents for several infectious diseases, particularly in endodontic infections where microorganisms such as C. albicans and E. faecalisare dominant pathogens.~