The Journal of Phytopharmacology 2026; 15(3):219-227 DOI:10.31254/phyto.2026.15303

Research Article

In vitro screening of bioactive extracts from Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet leaves for anti-inflammatory and antitubercular activities

Dhanesh Paruthi Valappil¹

Dhanesh Paruthi Valappil

1. Department of Pharmacy, Sunrise University, Alwar- 301028, Rajasthan, India

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 1st March, 2026 / Revised: 1st January, 1970 / Accepted: 17th June, 2026 / Published : 24th June, 2026

Abstract

Background: Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet is an important medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammation, respiratory disorders, wounds, ulcers, and various infectious diseases. Despite its extensive ethnomedicinal use, comparative studies evaluating the anti-inflammatory and antitubercular potential of different solvent extracts of its leaves remain limited. Objective: To evaluate the phytochemical composition, in vitro anti-inflammatory activity, and antitubercular potential of various solvent extracts of A. indicum. Materials and Methods: Dried leaves of A. indicum were successively extracted using petroleum ether, benzene, chloroform, acetone, methanol, ethanol, and water in a Soxhlet apparatus. Extractive values and preliminary phytochemical profiles were determined using standard procedures. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization and protein denaturation assays at concentrations ranging from 10-100 µg/mL. Antitubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (ATCC 27294) was evaluated using the Microplate Alamar Blue Assay (MABA). All experiments were performed in triplicate and results were expressed as mean ± SD. Results: The aqueous extract showed the highest extractive yield (27.5%), followed by methanol (7.835%). Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, and saponins in various solvent fractions. In the HRBC membrane stabilization assay, methanol, ethanol, and aqueous extracts exhibited the highest membrane protection, recording 68.69%, 65.47%, and 64.99%, respectively, at 100 µg/mL. Similar trends were observed in the protein denaturation assay, where methanol (77.6%), aqueous (75.91%), and ethanol (72.5%) extracts demonstrated the strongest inhibitory activity. Antitubercular screening revealed significant activity among the extracts, with benzene and acetone fractions exhibiting the lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 1.6 and 3.12 µg/mL, respectively, followed by the aqueous extract (6.25 µg/mL). Conclusion: The results demonstrate that A. indicum possess significant anti-inflammatory and antitubercular activities, with biological activity varying according to the extraction solvent. Polar extracts exhibited superior anti-inflammatory effects, whereas benzene and acetone extracts showed the strongest antimycobacterial activity. These findings support the traditional medicinal use of A. indicum and warrant further phytochemical characterization, bioassay-guided isolation, and in vivo investigations to identify the active constituents responsible for the observed activities.