870

12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2

Abutilon Miller

Gard. Dict., abr. ed. 4 (1754).

MALVACEAE

x = unknown; Abutilon hirtum: 2n = 14, 36; Abutilon indicum: 2n = 36, 42

Major species Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet.

Mallow (En). Mauve (Fr).

Abutilon is a large genus comprising 100—150 species in the tropics and subtropics. Native species are encountered in all continents. Nine species are known from Malesia, but Abutilon indicum, Abutilon hirtum and Abutilon theophrasti Medic. have gained a pantropical distribution as weeds or for fibre use.

Abutilon is used medicinally and occasionally as a fibre plant. Abutilon indicum leaves contain much mucilage, and are therefore used as a demulcent, a diuretic and a sedative, in Malesia, Thailand and in India. In general, a decoction of the leaves, flowers or seeds is also used to treat fever, colic and diseases of the urinary tract, for cleaning wounds and ulcers and for treating snake bites. In India, the leaves are believed to be an aphrodisiac. In Indonesia, a decoction of the leaves is rubbed on the body against rheumatism. In Peninsular Malaysia, a poultice of the leaves is applied on gums for toothache, and an extract is dropped into the ear for earache. The leaves of Abutilon indicum in decoction are used in the Philippines and in India for enemas and vaginal rinses or lotions. In Indo-China, the leaves, flowers and seeds are applied against colds and headaches, and the juice is given as a medicine against jaundice in newborn babies. In India, an infusion of the roots or the leaves is used as a cooling medicine, and for relieving strangury or haematuria. The bitter bark is astringent and is used as a diuretic. In Thailand, the whole plant is considered a blood tonic, promoting digestion and appetite, the root in decoction relieves cough, leucorrhoea with unpleasant odour and gall bladder dysfunction, and the flower is used as a laxative.
In Malesia, Abutilon hirtum has the same use as Abutilon indicum, as a poultice or bath against kidney gravel, and also for fevers and on ulcers, often mixed with glutinous rice, to ease the pain.
The stems of Abutilon indicum yield a good quality fibre, which resembles that of Abutilon theophrasti, and is suitable for making ropes. In Malesia, it is used in a domestic way, but not commercially. In India and Kenya, the bark of Abutilon hirtum is used to make string.

In South-East Asia, Abutilon is traded only at a local level by Chinese herbalists.

Upon steam distillation, the flowering tops of Abutilon indicum yield 0.15% of an essential oil, which contains several terpenes, e.g. 'ALFA'-pinene (0.1%), 1:8-cineole (1%), caryophyllene (11.6%), borneol (0.6%), geraniol (13%), geraniol acetate (2%), caryophyllene-oxide (2%), eudesmol (22%) and farnesol (2.8%).
Leaves of Abutilon indicum are rich in mucilage. In general the aerial parts of the plant are a rich source of sugars, amino acids and simple phenolic compounds as vanillic, p-coumaric, p-hydroxybenzoic and caffeic acids. Two sesquiterpene lactones, alantolactone (helenin) and isoalantolactone, were isolated from the aerial parts, which are known contact-allergens. The herb also contains a considerable amount of 'BETA'-carotene, and thus can help to overcome problems of vitamin A deficiency. The seeds contain raffinose and glycerides of linolenic, linoleic, palmitic and stearic acids.
In India, the hexane, benzene, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone and ethanol extracts from Abutilon indicum roots were tested against 5 bacteria and 12 fungi. The acetone and ethanol extracts showed significant activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella aeruginosa, Proteus sp. and Staphylococcus sp. The hexane extract showed good activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the benzene extract against Escherichia coli and Proteus sp. The ethanol extract also was active against Aspergillus ochraceus, and the hexane extract against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus terreus.
The methanol extract of Abutilon indicum was found to be active as an antifertility agent in a study on uterotropic and uterine peroxidase activities in ovary-ectomized rats. In Pakistan, Abutilon indicum is mentioned as a potential male contraceptive. There are also some reports on the analgesic activity of Abutilon indicum.

A decoction of the roots and leaves of Abutilon is used as an emollient in the same way as Sida, Triumfetta and Urena.

Annual or perennial herbs or undershrubs, stems and branches pubescent. Leaves alternate, simple, entire or divided, base mostly cordate, palminerved; petiole present; stipules present. Flowers axillary, solitary, or rarely in terminal cylindric panicles, bisexual, 5-merous; pedicels jointed; epicalyx absent; bracts absent; calyx usually campanulate; corolla adnate at base to staminal column and dehiscent, orange to yellow; staminal column usually shorter than the petals, anthers monothecal; styles equalling or twice as many as carpels (mericarps); carpels and style branches 5—40, cells of the ovary with 2—9 ovules. Fruit globular or cylindrical, lobed schizocarp, splitting into 5—40 carpels. Seeds 2—9 per cell, reniform, lying fairly loosely within the carpel, finally falling out. Seedling with epigeal germination.

Abutilon belongs to the tribe Malveae and is closely related to Wissadula, which has a different habit and inflorescence, and a constriction in the mericarp, so that 2 seeds are present in the upper part, and 1 in the lower part of the mericarp. Some authors recognize a number of subspecies or varieties within Abutilon indicum.

The Malesian species of Abutilon are sun-loving, always occurring in open locations in lowland areas. All appear to prefer drier habitats. The flowers usually open in the afternoon or evening. Abutilon species are feed plants for humming-birds.

Abutilon is propagated by seed. In a preliminary study on in vitro propagation of the floral buds and anthers of Abutilon indicum, some callus formation of the explants occurred. Flower buds showed callusing in 25% of the cases in two weeks, when cultured on Bourgin and Nitsch medium with growth adjuvants + 2% sucrose + 1 ppm indole acetic acid, and some further rooting occurred later.

Abutilon species are often effective hosts for diseases and pests that attack malvaceous crops. Abutilon indicum is attacked by several powdery mildew fungi. Abutilon is a serious host for several insect pests of cotton, e.g. red cotton bug (Dysdercus koeningii), cotton bollworm (Heliothis armigera) and spotted cotton bollworm (Earias vittella). Root-knot nematodes such as Meloidogyne javanica and Meloidogyne incognita also frequently attack Abutilon. In Nigeria, Abutilon hirtum is a host for okra mosaic virus. Abutilon indicum can be successfully controlled using phenoxy herbicides.

Abutilon leaves are harvested throughout the year, whole plants are harvested after flowering or fruiting.

Whole plants of Abutilon are used fresh or dried.

The Abutilon species described here have a wide distribution, and occur also as weeds in disturbed places; therefore they are not likely to be threatened by genetic erosion. Small germplasm collections of Abutilon indicum are kept in the United Kingdom and the United States.

No changes in the current uses of Abutilon species are yet foreseen. Since little information on phytochemistry and pharmacology is available, they will likely remain of local importance.

Geda, A. & Gupta, A.K., 1983. Chemical investigation of essential oil of Abutilon indicum. Perfumer and Flavorist 8(3): 39.
Johri, R.K., Pahwa, G.S., Sharma, S.C. & Zutshi, U., 1991. Determination of estrogenic-antiestrogenic potential of antifertility substances using rat uterine peroxidase assay. Contraception 44(5): 549—558.
Mehta, B.K., Neogi, R., Kotra, S. & Mall, O.P., 1997. Antimicrobial activity of Abutilon indicum. Fitoterapia 68 (3): 273—274. ; Nataraja, K. & Patil, J.S., 1984. Responses of isolated floral buds and anthers of Abutilon indicum in vitro. Current Science 53(14): 757—759.
Quisumbing, E., 1978. Medicinal plants of the Philippines. Katha Publishing Co., Quezon City, the Philippines. pp. 574—575.
Van Borssum Waalkes, J., 1966. Malesian Malvaceae revised. Abutilon. Blumea 14(1): 159—177.

Balu Perumal

Abutilon hirtum
Abutilon indicum

Perumal, B., 2001. Abutilon Miller. In: van Valkenburg, J.L.C.H. and Bunyapraphatsara, N. (Editors): Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 12(2): Medicinal and poisonous plants 2. PROSEA Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia. Database record: prota4u.org/prosea

The following species in this genus are important in this commodity group and are treated separatedly in this database:
Abutilon hirtum
Abutilon indicum