{{short description|Species of plant}} {{Speciesbox | image = Bō-á-tún ê hoe.jpg | genus = Abutilon | species = indicum | authority = (L.) Sweet<ref name="PIER">{{cite web| title=''Abutilon indicum'' | publisher=Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk | url=http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/abutilon_indicum.htm | accessdate=2008-06-18}}</ref> | synonyms = ''Sida indica'' L. }} thumb|Indian abutilon thumb|Pollen grains of Abutilon indicum
'''''Abutilon indicum''''' ('''Indian abutilon''', '''Indian mallow''') is a small shrub in the family Malvaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions. This plant is a valuable medicinal and ornamental plant, its roots and leaves being used for curing fevers. It has been widely introduced outside of its native range, and is considered invasive on certain tropical islands.<ref name="PIER"/>
==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.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia | author = C.Michael Hogan | year = 2011 | url = http://www.eoearth.org/article/Coral_Sea?topic=49523 | title = Coral Sea | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Earth |editor1=P. Saundry |editor2=C.J. Cleveland | publisher = National Council for Science and the Environment | location = Washington DC}}</ref> It's also found in tropical zones in the Indian subcontinent, such as parts of Tamil Nadu.
==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-convulsant,<ref>Anticonvulsant activity of ''Abutilon indicum'' Leaf. Dharmesh K Golwala, Laxman D Patel, Santosh K Vaidya, Sunil B Bothara, Munesh Mani, Piyush Patel. International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (IJPPS) (ISSN 0975-1491), Sagar, India. 2010: Volume 2, Issue 1, page: 66-72.[https://innovareacademics.in/journal/ijpps/Vol2Issue1/256.pdf]</ref> anti-inflammatory,<ref>Anti-inflammatory activity of ''Abutilon indicum'' Linn. Leaf. DK Golwala, LD Patel, SB Bothara, SK Vaidya, AR Sahu, S Kumar. Research Journal of Pharmaceutical & Technology (ISSN Online: 0974-360X; Print: 0974-3618), Raipur, India. 2010: Volume 3, Issue 1, page: 433-439.[https://rjptonline.org/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2010-3-1-32]</ref> anthelmintic, and analgesic and to treat leprosy, ulcers, headaches, gonorrhea, and bladder infection.<ref name="Rajakaruna">{{cite journal | url = http://www.biology.sjsu.edu/facultystaff/nrajakaruna/18Rajakaruna%20et%20al2002.pdf |author1=Nishanta Rajakaruna |author2=Cory S. Harris |author3=G.H.N. Towers | title = Antimicrobial Activity of Plants Collected from Serpentine Outcrops in Sri Lanka | journal = Pharmaceutical Biology | year = 2002 | volume = 40 | issue = 3 | pages = 235–244 | doi = 10.1076/phbi.40.3.235.5825|s2cid=53004266 }}</ref> 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 a safe and quick pregnancy.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Pandikumar|first1=P.|last2=Chellappandian|first2=M.|last3=Mutheeswaran|first3=S.|last4=Ignacimuthu|first4=S.|date=2011|title=Consensus of local knowledge on medicinal plants among traditional healers in Mayiladumparai block of Theni District, Tamil Nadu, India|journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology|volume=134|issue=2|pages=354–362|doi=10.1016/j.jep.2010.12.027|pmid=21193023}}</ref>
The plant is commonly used in Siddha medicines. The root, bark, flowers, leaves and seeds are all used for medicinal purposes by Tamils.{{Citation needed|date=September 2012}} The leaves are used as adjunct to medicines used for pile complaints. The flowers are used to increase semen in men.<ref>J.Raamachandran, "Herbs of Siddha Medicines – The First 3D Book on Herbs, p. 4{{full citation needed|date=November 2012}}</ref>{{medrs|date=September 2012}}
thumb|right|200px|''Abutilon indicum''.
==Chemistry== β-Sitosterol is present in ''A. indicum'' and a petroleum ether extract has larvicidal properties against the mosquito larvae ''Culex quinquefasciatus''.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=A. Abdul Rahuman |author2=Geetha Gopalakrishnan |author3=P. Venkatesan |author4=Kannappan Geetha | title = Isolation and identification of mosquito larvicidal compound from ''Abutilon indicum'' (Linn.) Sweet | journal = Parasitology Research | volume = 102 | issue = 5 | year = 2008 | doi = 10.1007/s00436-007-0864-5 | pages=981–988|pmid=18176816 |s2cid=845151 }}</ref> A methanol extract of ''A. indicum'' has some antimicrobial properties.<ref>{{cite journal | doi = 10.4103/0250-474X.31031 | url = http://www.ijpsonline.com/article.asp?issn=0250-474X;year=2006;volume=68;issue=6;spage=832;epage=834;aulast=Parekh |author1=Jigna Parekh |author2=Nehal Karathia |author3=Sumitra Chanda | title = Screening of some traditionally used medicinal plants for potential antibacterial activity | journal = Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences |year= 2006 | pages = 832 |volume=68 | issue=6 | doi-access=free | url-access=subscription }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Commons}} *[https://slflora.blogspot.com/2014/09/indian-mallow-beheth-anoda.html ''Abutilon indicum, Indian Mallow Sinhalese Name:Beheth Anoda''] Indian Mallow, Abutilon *[http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/abutilon_indicum.htm ''Abutilon indicum''] photo *[https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234654/http://libproject.hkbu.edu.hk/was40/detail?lang=en&channelid=1288&searchword=herb_id%3DD01347 Abutilon indicum (Linn.) Sweet] Medicinal Plant Images Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University) {{in lang|zh-hant}} {{in lang|en}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2901598}}
indicum Category:Flora of Palestine (region) Category:Flora of Pakistan Category:Flora of Syria Category:Flora of Maharashtra Category:Plants described in 1756