Did you know that the Abutilon indicum or Indian mallow as the name suggests found throughout tropical India as a hairy undershrub with golden yellow flowers is a herb which is commonly used in Siddha medicines?

Abutilon indicum or Indian mallow

Did you know that the Abutilon indicum or Indian mallow as the name suggests found throughout tropical India as a hairy undershrub with golden yellow flowers is a herb which is commonly used in Siddha medicines?

Abutilon indicum or Indian mallow of the Malvaceae family, which is a herbal plant, a valuable medicinal and ornamental plant, is grown thoughout tropical India and Sri Lanka , and also within parts of the Great Barrier Reef islands of the Coral Sea. It is commonly used in traditional Siddha medicines. The plant is sometimes gathered from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of fibre. 

The plant known in English as Country-mallow, Indian abutilon, Indian mallow, has many vernacular names such as: Atibala, Kanakatika, Balika, Kanakaliks in Sanskrit; Kanghai कंंघाइ in Hindi; Tutti Tree ತುಥ್ಥಿ ಗಿಡ Mudre Gida, Srimudrigida, Harichitta, Halaugidde, Mulludurdrave, and Turave in Kannada; Pettaka, Uram, Vellurma, Katturam in Malayalam; Tutti, Thuthithi; Peruntutti, Nalla tutti in Tamil; Pedi Pedika in Oriya; Tutiri-chettu, tutiribenda in Telugu; Kanghi in Urdu. In Siddha medicines in Tamil Nadu, its root, bark, flowers, leaves and seeds are all used for medicinal purposes.

Abutilon indicum is an erect, many branched, usually perennial plant with stems up to about 2 metres tall that become rather woody, especially at the base, and persist for a number of years. Sometimes though, the stems are annual, with the plant dying back each year to a woody base. It is grown as an ornamental plant in gardens. Plant blooms (gloden yellow flowers) throughout the year, particuarly from September to February. There are three seeds in each carpel. The whole plant is uprooted, dried and is powdered for medicinal purposes.  

The chemical constituents of this whole plant consists of two new compounds, abutilin A (1) and (R)-N-(1′-methoxycarbonyl-2′-phenylethyl)-4-hydroxybenzamide (2), as well as 28 known compounds. β-Sitosterol is present in A. indicum and a petroleum ether extract has larvicidal properties against the mosquito larvae Culex quinquefasciatus. A methanol extract of A. indicum has some antimicrobial properties.

Its Leaves are demulcent. aphrodisiac, laxative, effective in chest infections and sedative. Bark is astringent and diuretic, Seeds are laxative, expectorant, and demulcent. Mucilege yielded by leaves is diuretic and demulcent. 

In Sidda medicince it is known to have been administered, since ancient days, particularly to maidens who 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 a safe and quick pregnancy. The leaves are used as adjunct to medicines used for pile complaints. It is also used to enhance the libido of men.

- Narasipur Char