Assessment of credibility of some folk medicinal claims on Bombax ceiba L

The present paper is an attempt to assess the credibility of various folk claims on medicinal uses of Bombax ceiba L. in view of scientific studies done so far. Almost all parts of the plant are widely used by tribal communities for gastrointestinal and skin diseases, gynecological and urino-genital disorders, general debility, diabetes and impotence. There are direct evidences of scientific validation for six pathological conditions while its anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic and oxytocic potential provides indirect evidences for some of the folk medicinal claims and both these evidences authenticate the credibility of folk wisdom on B. ceiba L.