Talk:Atibala

Atibala

Section/Chapter	Herb database/Atibala
Botanical name(s)	Abutilon indicum L.
Family	Malvaceae
Availability	Available
Contributors	Team Dravyaguna
Year of publication	2026
Publisher	Charak Samhita Research, Training and Skill Development Centre
DOI	Awaited

Abutilon indicum L., popularly known as Atibala, is an annual or perennial shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions, widely distributed throughout India. In Ayurveda, it is highly revered as a potent tonic (*Balya*), rejuvenative (*Rasayana*), and Vata-Pitta pacifying medicine.

English Name

Indian mallow

Therapeutic Use

Raktapitta (bleeding disorder), Vatarakta (gout), Meha (obstinate urinary disorders)

Synonyms in Charak Samhita

• Atibala
• Rishyaprokta – Grows wild, so liked by sages and animals.
• Kankatika – Fruits resemble a comb.
• Balika
• Vatyapushpa – Flowers of atibala resemble flowers of bala.
• Bhuribala

Ayurvedic Pharmacological Properties

According to classical Ayurvedic pharmacodynamics (Rasa Panchaka), Atibala has the following properties:

Sr. No.	Pharmacological Criteria	Properties (Ayurvedic Attributes)
1	Taste (Rasa)	Sweet (Madhura)
2	Potency (Veerya)	Cold (Sheeta)
3	Post-digestion Effect (Vipaka)	Sweet (Madhura)
4	Qualities (Guna)	Light (Laghu), Unctuous (Snigdha), Slimy (Pichhila)
5	Dosha Action (Karma)	Pacifies Vata and Pitta

Reference in Charak Samhita and its Actions

Atibala is prominently documented across multiple therapeutic chapters of the Charaka Samhita:

Sr. No.	Reference in Charak Samhita	Activity / Formulation / Therapeutic Use
1	Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 4/9(7)	Balya mahakashaya (group of tonics)
2	Cha.Sa.Vimana Sthana 8/139	Madhur skanda (group of sweet drugs)
3	Cha.Sa.Sharira Sthana 8/24	Garbhini paricharya (antenatal care)
4	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 1/2/4	In formulation of Amalaka ghrita
5	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 3/267	As an ingredient of Agurvadi taila
6	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 19/50	As a yavagu (gruel) dravya
7	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 26/87	As an ingredient of Trushanadi Ghrita
8	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 28/159	As an ingredient of Amrutadi taila
9	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 29/56	As an ingredient of Baladi Ghrita
10	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 29/62	As an ingredient of Jeevaniya Ghrita
11	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 29/72	As an ingredient of Jeevakadi mahasneha
12	Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 29/76	As an ingredient of Sthiradi Ghrita/Taila

Dose

• Powder (Churna): 3 – 6 g daily.

Important Formulations

As per A.P.I.

• Bala taila
• Narayana taila
• Mahanarayana taila

Current Availability

Available

• In India: Found all over India, particularly in waste places, roadsides, and tropical regions.

Major Phytoconstituents

The pharmacological efficacy of *Abutilon indicum* is attributed to its diverse secondary metabolites distributed across roots, leaves, and seeds:

• Flavonoids & Alkaloids: Contains active flavonoids, glycosides, and various alkaloidal constituents.
• Mucilage & Carbohydrates: High concentrations of mucilage present in leaves and roots contributing to demulcent properties.
• Sterols & Fatty Acids: Beta-sitosterol, gallic acid, and essential oils.

Therapeutic Efficacy & Modern Scientific Research

Modern pharmacological evaluations and experimental studies validate several traditional therapeutic uses of *Abutilon indicum*:

1. Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Activity

• Traditional Use: Indicated in *Vatarakta* (gout) and inflammatory joint discomforts.
• Mechanism & Scientific Evidence: Experimental studies show that root and leaf extracts significantly reduce acute and chronic inflammation by inhibiting inflammatory mediators and prostaglandin synthesis. The anti-nociceptive profile helps mitigate pain responses in animal models.

2. Hepatoprotective and Antioxidant Properties

• Traditional Use: Used in tissue rejuvenation and general debility.
• Mechanism & Scientific Evidence: Plant extracts demonstrate substantial free-radical scavenging capacity and restoration of hepatic enzymes. In vivo studies confirm protection against toxin-induced liver damage by enhancing endogenous antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase.

3. Antimicrobial and Wound Healing Efficacy

• Traditional Use: Applied locally for skin ulcers, boils, and infections.
• Mechanism & Scientific Evidence: Extracts exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against common pathogens like *Staphylococcus aureus* and *Escherichia coli*. Furthermore, topical applications accelerate wound contraction and collagen deposition in dermal models.

4. Hypoglycemic and Antidiabetic Effects

• Traditional Use: Traditionally managed under *Meha* conditions.
• Mechanism & Scientific Evidence: Oral administration of aqueous extracts results in significant blood glucose reduction in diabetic experimental models, acting partly by improving insulin sensitivity and inhibiting carbohydrate digestive enzymes.

Summary of Therapeutic Profile

Therapeutic Applications of *Abutilon indicum*

Indication	Active Biomolecules	Primary Pharmacological Action
Inflammation & Gout (*Vatarakta*)	Flavonoids, Sterols	Anti-inflammatory, Prostaglandin inhibition
Liver Health & Oxidative Stress	Phenolic compounds, Antioxidants	Free-radical scavenging, Hepatoprotection
Wound Healing & Infections	Mucilage, Tannins, Alkaloids	Antimicrobial, Dermal collagen deposition
Metabolic Support (*Meha*)	Glycosides, Active principles	Hypoglycemic, Enzyme modulation

Safety, Toxicity, and Dosage

• Precautions: Generally safe at standard therapeutic doses; high doses should be avoided during early pregnancy unless guided by an Ayurvedic physician.
• Standard Therapeutic Dosage:
  • Root/Plant Powder (Churna): 3–6 g daily.

References

Herbs

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