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Indian mallow

Abutilon indicum

Also calledAtibala (Sanskrit)

A hairy, yellow-flowered roadside shrub of hot parts of India, known in Ayurveda as atibala. Its roots, leaves and seeds are used as demulcent, diuretic, laxative and aphrodisiac remedies and for piles, fevers and urinary complaints. No human trials were found; the evidence is animal and laboratory work.

What it is used for

  • Leaves are recommended for inflammation and lumbago, and root and whole-plant extracts had analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in animal studies. No human trials.1,4

  • An extract showed anxiolytic and antidepressant effects in mice. Animal data only.3

  • Haemorrhoids
    Traditional

    Leaves, fruits and seed powder are used for piles in Indian traditional medicine. Not tested clinically.1,2

  • Constipation
    Traditional

    Seed powder taken with water is used as a laxative, and the plant is described as laxative in Ayurveda. Untested.1,2

  • In Unani medicine the bark is prescribed for urinary complaints and strangury, leaf decoction for bladder inflammation, and seed powder for chronic cystitis. A seed extract was diuretic in animals; no human data.1,2

  • Fever
    Traditional

    Bark is recommended as a febrifuge in Ayurveda, and a root infusion is given for fever. Untested.1

  • Toothache
    Traditional

    A leaf decoction is used for toothache and tender gums. Untested.1

How it is prepared

decoction

Leaves boiled in water, used traditionally as a drink or mouth rinse for bronchitis, diarrhoea, bladder inflammation, toothache and tender gums.

Toothache · Urinary tract infections

powder

Seed powder taken with water, used traditionally as a laxative and aphrodisiac.

Constipation

Amounts are as recorded by the named source, not a recommendation.

Safety

Pregnancy
Insufficient data
Breastfeeding
Insufficient data

Side effects

  • No human adverse-effect data were found

Toxicity

In a 2024 rat study, a single 2,000 mg/kg dose of seed extract killed no animals; 28 days at 250 or 500 mg/kg caused no adverse effects, but 1,000 mg/kg produced liver toxicity and slightly more DNA damage. The authors flag doses above 500 mg/kg as a concern.

In the healing traditions

  • Ayurveda

    Atibala

    Described as cooling, laxative, digestive, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac and demulcent; used in diseases of all three doshas, for thirst, vomiting and excess sweating; the bark as a febrifuge, the root for uterine bleeding disorders, and seed powder with water as an aphrodisiac and laxative.

  • Unani

    Abutilon indicum

    Bark prescribed for urinary complaints and strangury.

  • Indian folk medicine

    Indian mallow

    Root infusion for fever, blood in the urine and leprosy; leaf decoction for bronchitis, diarrhoea, gonorrhoea, toothache, tender gums and bladder inflammation; seed powder for piles, constipation, chronic cystitis, gonorrhoea and pregnancy-related problems.

Active compounds

scopoletin, scoparone
coumarins quantified in the plant
phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, steroids
classes detected in fruit and seed extracts

History

Atibala has long been used in Ayurveda and Unani medicine for fevers, urinary complaints and bleeding disorders. Despite this long use, a 2021 study in the journal Ayu noted that little work had been done even to standardise the fruits and seeds used in medicine, and a 2024 study was the first full toxicity profile of the seed.

Sources

  1. 1.Bolleddu R et al. Pharmacognostical and phytochemical studies of Atibala (Abutilon indicum [Linn.] Sweet) fruit. Ayu 2021
  2. 2.Islam R et al. Toxicological profiling of methanolic seed extract of Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet: in-vitro and in-vivo analysis. J Ethnopharmacol 2024 (abstract)
  3. 3.Zhou X et al. Abutilon indicum exhibits anxiolytic and antidepressant effects in mice models. Dokl Biochem Biophys 2021 (title only)
  4. 4.Tripathi P et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of Abutilon indicum extract. Nat Prod Res 2012 (title only)
  5. 5.Rao K et al. Regeneration-based quantification of coumarins (scopoletin and scoparone) in Abutilon indicum in vitro cultures. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2016 (title only)
  6. 6.GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet

Reference, not prescription. Nothing here is medical advice. Herbs can interact with medicines and be dangerous in pregnancy; tell your doctor or pharmacist about anything you take.