ABUTILON INDICUM: ETHNOBOTANY, PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGY-A REVIEW

A perennial, softly tomentose up to 3mm in height. Stem round, frequently tinged with purple. Found in the subhimalayan tract and hills up to 1,200m and hotter parts of India. Traditionally it is used as gonorrhea, leprotic sores, wash for veginal infection, abortifacient, astringent, fever, and as demulcent & laxative. The plant is documented to possess beneficial effects as anti-arthritic, anticonvulsant, antibacterial and antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, hypoglycemic, lipid lowering, treatment of bronchial asthma, & hepatoprotective activity. The present review is an attempt to highlight the various ethnobotanical and traditional uses as well as phytochemical and pharmacological reports on A.indicum