Phytochemical
Profiling and Evaluation of Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities
of Abutilon indicum L. Ethanolic Leaf Extracts
Tummalagunta Ranganath, Khan Rahamat, Sorimuthu Anbalagan and Muruganantham Sankareswaran
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 21(1); 190-201;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/211rjbt1900201; (2026)
Abstract
Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet, a traditional medicinal plant of the Malvaceae family,
is renowned for its therapeutic potential. This study investigates the phytochemical
composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer properties of its ethanolic
leaf extracts. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified 43 bioactive
compounds, with benzoic acid, 4-ethoxy-, ethyl ester (26.98%) and n-hexadecanoic
acid (8.16%) as major constituents. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses
revealed ethanol’s efficacy in extracting alkaloids (15.28 ± 0.25 mg/g), flavonoids
(8.76 ± 0.05 mg/g) and phenols (9.87 ± 1.15 mg/g). The ethanolic extract exhibited
significant antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay (91.02% inhibition at 1000 mg/L),
though less potent than butylated hydroxytoluene (94.95%).
Antimicrobial assays demonstrated broad-spectrum activity, exhibiting zones of inhibition
of 23 mm against Streptococcus pyogenes and 22 mm against Escherichia coli featuring
consistent MIC (250 μg/mL) and MBC/MFC (500 μg/mL) values. The extract showed potent
anticancer activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, with an IC₅₀ of 2.134 μg/mL
and 99.52% inhibition at 10 μg/mL. These findings validate the ethnomedicinal uses
of Abutilon indicum and highlight its potential as a source of natural antioxidants,
antimicrobials and anticancer agents, warranting further exploration for pharmaceutical
applications.
