An Overview of Abutilon Indicum (L) Sweet

Medicinal plants are of great importance to the health of individuals and communities. The medicinal value of the plants lies in some chemical substances that produce a definite physiological action on the human body. Higher plants are sources of bioactive compounds continue to play a dominant role in the maintenance of human health. Reports available on the green plants to represent a reservoir of effective chemotherapeutics, which are non-phytotoxic, more systemic and biodegradable. Plants are rich source of secondary metabolites with interesting biological activities. In general, these secondary metabolites are important source with a variety of structural arrangements and properties (1). The medicinal values depend on presence of phytoconstituents in plants. The phytoconstituents are also known as plant secondary metabolites which are available in less quantity in plants. The availability of these plant secondary metabolites are mainly depend on minerals uptakes by the plant Abutilon indicum (Linn.) Sweet plant is commonly known as Indian mallow/Atibala/Thuthi, originated in India. In hot temperature zone, the plant is mainly distributed but due to habitat lost, this plant became endangered especially in Karnataka, India (2). A. indicum is an herbaceous plant belongs to family Malvaceae. It is a weed abundantly found in hotter part of India along road sides This plant has been widely used in ayurvedic, herbal and folk medicine for the treatment of many diseases like diabetes, leprosy, ulcer, jaundice. Plants of A. indicum possess many phytochemicals with various bioactivities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer. The plant is widely used as hepato-protective, anti- inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidative, hypoglycemic, antifungal, wounds healing, lipid lowering and larvicidal properties. The leaves are effective in ulcer, for the treatment of diabetes, diuretic infection and gingivitis (3). Many components of the A. indicum plant, including leaves, stems, roots, flowers, bark, and seeds are used for diversified activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, diuretic, laxative, anti-ulcer, immunomodulatory, hypoglycemic, antimicrobial, infertility and analgesic treatments in traditional medical systems. Due to cytotoxic properties, plant secondary metabolites have been employed in the treatment of tumors. The chloroform leaf extract of A. indicum contains several cytotoxic substances, including methyl caffeate, syringic acid, stigmasterol, quercetin, and cholesterol (4). This plant offers numerous physical condition benefits, together with anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects, arthritis pain relief, pain management, calming properties, liver protection, diabetes and cancer prevention, diarrhea and seizure control, lice eradication, wound healing, asthma alleviation, diuretic effects, and estrogen level reduction (5).

Plant Description

Abutilon indicum (Linn.) Sweet plant is commonly known as Indian mallow/Atibala/Thuthi, originated in India. In hot temperature zone, the plant is mainly distributed but due to habitat lost, this plant became endangered especially in Karnataka, India (2). It is a perennial shrub, softly tomentous and upto 3m in height, the flowers are yellow in colour, peduncle jointed above the middle. The petioles are 3.8-7.5 cm long (6). A. indicum is an herbaceous plant belongs to family Malvaceae. It is a weed abundantly found in hotter part of India along road sides (3).

Botanical Description