| Latin Names |
English Names |
Sanskrit Names |
Hindi Names |
Abutilon indicum
Malvaceae
|
Country Mallow |
Atibala |
Kanghi |
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 History
The leaves, bark and seeds of the plant seem to
have been long in use among the Hindus; on account of their
mucilaginous and diuretic properties. Reference to it are
also found in Arabic and Persian books.
Habitat
The plant grows as a weed, and
is found abundantly in wastelands from the seashore to 1,200
meters high in India and in the sub-Himalayan tracts. |
Morphology Description (Habit)
It is a herbaceous or shrubby, softly tomentose plant. Stem
is round, often tinged with purple color. The leaves are
petiolate, ovate to orbicular-cordate, acuminate and
toothed. Flowers are borne solitary in long, jointed and
axillary pedicels. Calyx lobes divided in the middle, ovate
and apiculate. Corolla is yellow or orange-yellow and opens
in the evening. Carpels are 15-20 in number. Fruits are
hispid, scarcely longer than the calyx and the awns are
erect. Seeds are three to five, kidney-shaped, dark brown or
black, tubercled or with minutely stellate hairs. The plant
is variable and divided into many subspecies, but these
subspecies are not distinguished for economic or medicinal
purposes1.
Principal Constituents
Alantolactone, isoalantolactone2 and gallic acid from the
roots3 were isolated.
Pharmacology
Helenin (a mixture of alantolactone and isoalantolactone,
q.v.) shows antibacterial, antifungal activities4. Gallic
acid showed analgesic activity in animal models5.
Toxicology
It is not a poisonous plant and there are no reports of any
adverse effects.
Indications
It is tonic and rejuvenating. It is used as an expectorant,
cholagogue, as an antiseptic in urinary tract infections and
as a drug stimulating intestinal secretion. An infusion of
the root is prescribed in fevers as a cooling medicine, and
is considered useful in strangury and hematuria.
References
- Bot. Surv. India, 1970, 12, 276.
- Phytochemistry, 1989, Vol. 28, pp. 3225.
- Indian Drugs, 1989, Vol. 26, pp. 333.
- Harborne et. al., 1999, Phytochemical Dictionary, Taylor
and Francis Ltd., London.
- Indian Drugs, 1989, Vol. 26, pp. 333.
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