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Gallic acid and gallate derivatives have been isolated from the leaves of ''Caesalpinia benthamiana''. Gallic acid and its methyl ester (methylgallate) inhibit the growth of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, but the other gallate derivatives only suppress Gram-positive bacteria. Petroleum spirit, chloroform and ethanol extracts of the roots of ''Caesalpinia benthamiana'' showed antimicrobial activity on a range of organisms. Also, a 4-fold and 2-fold potentiation of the activity of norfloxacin, a standard antibiotic against ''Staphylococcus aureus'', was observed for the ethanol and petroleum spirit extracts, respectively. The petroleum spirit and chloroform extracts display strong free radical scavenging activity.
== Botany Description ==
Climbing or straggling shrub with stems up to 20 m long and up to 8 cm in diameter, armed with recurved spines. Leaves alternate, bipinnately compound, with 5–6 pairs of pinnae; stipules small, inconspicuous; petiole 5–10 cm long, swollen at base, rachis 15–20 cm long with recurved spines, especially at base of pinnae; leaflets alternate, c. 5 pairs per pinna, elliptical, 3–4 cm × 1.5–2.5 cm, base and apex rounded, glabrous. Inflorescence a branched or unbranched terminal raceme up to 20 cm long, hairy, densely flowered. Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, 5-merous; pedicel 5–10 mm long; sepals free, unequal, the lower one hood-shaped and embracing the others; petals free, unequal, 2–2.5 cm wide, yellow, the upper one larger; stamens 10, free, c. 11 mm long, hairy; ovary superior, style slender. Fruit a linear-oblong, flattened pod c. 10 cm × 2–2.5 cm, thin, reflexed, indehiscent, winged along upper suture, wing 3–5 mm wide, bright red to pink, 4–6-seeded.
== Other botanical information == ''Caesalpinia'' is pantropical and comprises about 200 species, the majority of them native to tropical America. In tropical Africa about 25 species are indigenous, naturalized or cultivated. The generic delimitations of ''Caesalpinia'' have long been disputed. The former genus ''Mezoneuron'', distinguished by the thin, winged pods, is now included as subgenus ''Mezoneuron'' within ''Caesalpinia''. === ''Caesalpinia hildebrandtii'' ===''[[Caesalpinia hildebrandtii]]'' (Vatke) Baill. is endemic to Madagascar, and is used to counteract poison. === ''Caesalpinia cucullata'' ===''[[Caesalpinia cucullata]]'' Roxb., a medicinal plant from Asia, has been introduced in Tanzania where it is used to cure convulsion and cramps. Piceatannol, trans-resveratrol, apigenin and scirpusin A have been isolated from it. The hydroxystilbenes piceatannol and trans-resveratrol have been shown to act as chemopreventive agents of cancer.
== Ecology ==
== Correct citation of this article ==
Bosch, C.H., 2007. '''Caesalpinia benthamiana''' (Baill.) Herend. & Zarucchi. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>. Accessed {{CURRENTDAY}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}.
