Indian Mallow/Country Mallow
Abutilon indicum · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (45 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Indian Mallow/Country Mallow, scientifically known as Abutilon indicum, is a versatile medicinal shrub native to tropical regions. Renowned in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, it possesses significant anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and diuretic properties. Various parts of this plant are utilized to treat ailments ranging from skin disorders to urinary tract infections.
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Fruit · Leaf
- Common names
- Indian Abutilon · Indian Lantern-Flower · 3 more
- Scientific synonyms
- Sida Indica
Names
Common Names
- Indian Abutilon
- Indian lantern-flower
- Indian mallow
- India Abutilon
- Indian Lantern flower
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Abutilon australe var. malvifolium
- Abutilon frutescens
- Abutilon elongatum
- Abutilon album
- Abutilon oxycarpum var. malvifolium
- Abutilon malvifolium
- Sida meridionalis
- Abutilon subpapyraceum
- Sida eteromischos
- Abutilon grandiflorum
- Sida guilleminiana
- Sida indica
- Abutilon indicum var. microphyllum
- Abutilon croizatianum
- Abutilon indicum var. asiaticum
- Abutilon leiospermum
- Malva índica
German:
- indische Samtpappel
French:
- Abutilon indien
- Mauve indienne
- Abutilon indien
- Mauve indienne
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Abutilon indicumSynonyms
- Sida indica
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, known scientifically as Abutilon indicum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Malvales and the family Malvaceae. Its taxonomic identity is completed by its placement within the genus Abutilon.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Malvales | WCVP |
| Family | Malvaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Abutilon | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several distinct global regions. In the Macaronesian islands, it can be found growing in Madeira. Its presence extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically within Rwanda. Within the Western Indian Ocean, the species is distributed across the Comoros, Mauritius, and the Chagos Archipelago.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Macaronesia | Madeira | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Rwanda | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Chagos Archipelago | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Comoros | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Rodrigues | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Seychelles | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Afghanistan | WCVP |
| Western Asia | Iraq | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known as Abutilon indicum, utilizes various components for its medicinal properties, most notably its leaves and fruit. The leaves are often employed in traditional remedies to treat ailments such as inflammation and respiratory issues, frequently used in decoctions or poultices. Additionally, the fruit, which consists of small, schizocarpic capsules containing numerous seeds, is also recognized for its therapeutic potential in treating digestive disorders and other systemic conditions.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| fruit | Ayu (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Abutilon indicum has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, BETA-SITOSTEROL, CHLOROFORM, Cryptolepine, ETHYL ACETATE.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Flavonoids | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| BETA-SITOSTEROL | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| CHLOROFORM | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cryptolepine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ETHYL ACETATE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| HEXANE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Phenols | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Saponins | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Steroids | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanol | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Flavonoids
- Ayu
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
BETA-SITOSTEROL
- Parasitology research
CHLOROFORM
- Parasitology research
Cryptolepine
- Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
ETHYL ACETATE
- Parasitology research
HEXANE
- Parasitology research
Phenols
- Ayu
Saponins
- Ayu
Steroids
- Ayu
methanol
- Parasitology research
Activities
Abutilon indicum has 12 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Anthelmintic, Antioxidant, Aphrodisiac, Astringent.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | Ayu (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Anthelmintic | Pharmaceutical biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Pharmaceutical biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aphrodisiac | Ayu (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Astringent | Ayu (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Demulcent | Ayu (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Digestive | Ayu (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diuretic | Ayu (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Expectorant | Ayu (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | Pharmaceutical biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Abutilon indicum has 14 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include analgesic, hemorrhoids, antihelmintic, aphrodisiac, astringent.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| analgesic | Ayu (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| hemorrhoids | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antihelmintic | Ayu (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aphrodisiac | Ayu (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| astringent | Ayu (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| constipation | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diuretic | Ayu (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| expectorant | Ayu (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fever | Medicines (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gonorrhea | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Extracts in organic solvents from the aerial parts and roots | Pharmaceutical biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chloroform extract | Parasitology research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ethyl acetate extract | Parasitology research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| extracts | Medicines (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hexane extract | Parasitology research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanol extract | Parasitology research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanolic seed extract | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| n-hexane and butanol fractions | Pharmaceutical biology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| paste | Medicines (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| powder | Medicines (Basel, Switzerland) (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |