Abutilon indicum

Abutilon indicum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Abutilon
Species: A. indicum
Binomial name
Abutilon indicum
(Link) Sweet[1]
Synonyms

Sida indica L.

Abutilon indicum (Indian Abutilon, Indian Mallow; is a small shrub in the Malvaceae family, native to tropic and subtropical regions and sometimes cultivated as an ornamental.[2] This plant is often used as a medicinal plant and is considered invasive on certain tropical islands.[1]

Distribution

The species occurs in a number of tropical and subtropical zones. An example occurrence is within parts of the Great Barrier Reef islands of the Coral Sea.[3]

Traditional medicine

In traditional medicine, A. indicum various parts of the plant are used as a demulcent, aphrodisiac, laxative, diuretic, sedative, astringent, expectorant, tonic, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, and analgesic and to treat leprosy, ulcers, headaches, gonorrhea, and bladder infection.[4] The whole plant is uprooted, dried and is powdered. In ancient days, maidens were made to consume a spoonful of this powder with a spoonful of honey, once in a day, for 6 months until the day of marriage, for safe and quick pregnancy.

The plant is very much used in Siddha medicines. The root, bark, flowers, leaves and seeds are all used for medicinal purposes by Tamils. The leaves are used as adjunct to medicines used for pile complaints. The flowers are used to increase semen in men.[5]

Abutilon Indicum

Chemistry

β-Sitosterol is present in A. indicum and a petroleum ether extract has larvicidal properties against the mosquito larvae Culex quinquefasciatus.[6] A methanol extract of A. indicum has some antimicrobial properties.[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Abutilon indicum". Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  2. ↑ Matlwaska (2002). "Flavonoid compounds in the flowers of Abutilon indicum (Linn.) Sweet" (PDF). Acia Poloniac Pharmaceutic - Drug Research 59 (3): 227–229.
  3. ↑ C.Michael Hogan (2011). "Coral Sea". In P. Saundry & C.J. Cleveland. Encyclopedia of Earth. Washington DC: National Council for Science and the Environment.
  4. ↑ Nishanta Rajakaruna, Cory S. Harris and G.H.N. Towers (2002). "Antimicrobial Activity of Plants Collected from Serpentine Outcrops in Sri Lanka" (PDF). Pharmaceutical Biology 40 (3): 235–244. doi:10.1076/phbi.40.3.235.5825.
  5. ↑ J.Raamachandran, "HERBS OF SIDDHA MEDICINES-The First 3D Book on Herbs, p4
  6. ↑ A. Abdul Rahuman, Geetha Gopalakrishnan, P. Venkatesan and Kannappan Geetha (2008). "Isolation and identification of mosquito larvicidal compound from Abutilon indicum (Linn.) Sweet". Parasitology Research 102 (5).
  7. ↑ Jigna Parekh, Nehal Karathia, Sumitra Chanda (2006). "Screening of some traditionally used medicinal plants for potential antibacterial activity". Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 68 (6): 832. doi:10.4103/0250-474X.31031.

External links

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