Atibala benefits and side effects

An animal study (with rats in a lab) showed that the aqueous extract of kanghi plant or atibala—as it is also known—improved liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride and paracetamol. The scientists suggested that this hepatoprotective (liver protecting) activity could because kanghi extract interferes with the production of free radicals.

Free radicals are unstable atoms that can damage the cells of the liver and cause some liver diseases and fibrosis (scarring).

The scientists also found that a dose of more than four grams per kilogram of body weight was lethal for half the rats in the experiment.

A study of the phytochemical (plant chemical) composition of Indian mallow root found that a petrol extract contained

• Linoleic acid
• Oleic acid
• Stearic acid
• Palmitic acid
• Lauric acid
• Myristic acid (first isolated from nutmeg in the 1800s) (Read more: Nutmeg benefits)
• Capric acid
• Caprylic acid

These fatty acids are associated with pain relief.

In a lab study with animals, scientists were able to test the effect of eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) extracted from kanghi plant. They found that the pain response of mice exposed to acetic acid reduced by 21.3%, 42.25% and 92.96% at doses of 10 mg per kilo of body weight, 30 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg, respectively.

More research and human trials need to be done to confirm the benefits of kanghi or atibala extracts for pain relief. More research also needs to be done on the quantity and effectiveness of phytochemicals for pain relief in locally sourced extracts of kanghi plants.

Separately, a small study with just 33 patients, conducted over one month, found that 10 grams of atibala root decoction when taken along with another herb, bhumyamalaki (Phyllanthus niruri) helped to ease the pain of diabetic neuropathy and even reverse some of the symptoms.

Research shows that n-hexane and butanol extracts of kanghi plant contain both slow-acting and fast-reacting antioxidants that scavenge (or remove) harmful free radicals like superoxide which are implicated in oxidative damage to tissues and organs.

Additionally, both the aerial portions of the kanghi plant (the part that grows above the ground) and the roots contain flavonoids and phenolic compounds that are responsible for the antioxidant effects.

Further, the researchers found that the free-radical scavenging property of kanghi plants is dose-dependent; that is, the higher the dose, the more effective it is for removing free radicals.

An experiment with normal lab rats (kept fasting for 18 hours prior) showed that alcohol and water extracts of atibala (kanghi) leaves reduced blood sugar by 23.1% and 26.95%, respectively, after 4-8 hours of administering a dose of 400 mg per kilogram of body weight. More research needs to be done on the effects of kanghi on blood sugar levels in humans.

Kanghi leaf extract is known to reduce both acute and chronic inflammation. Researchers found that in samples collected from the Melghat region in Maharashtra, the leaf extracts of atibala could help in human red blood cell stabilization—a standard lab test to check for anti-inflammatory properties. The researchers concluded that the extracts could be helpful to treat some inflammatory diseases like gout.

Further, the researchers said that the leaves contain amino acids, glucose, fructose and galactose; the roots produce a non-drying oil comprising fatty acids like “linoleic, oleic, stearic, palmitic, lauric, myristic, caprylic, capric and unusual fatty acid having C17 carbon skeleton besides sitosterol, and amyrin from unsaponifiable matter”. These plant chemicals could be the reason for the anti-inflammatory properties of kanghi (atibala).

Further, research has shown that the anti-inflammatory properties of atibala may also make it useful in the management of conditions such as arthritis—according to one study, a 100-250mg/mL water extract of atibala reduced protein denaturing and inflammation markers in an in-vitro study.

In a lab study with rats, scientists found that ethanol and water extracts of the leaves of Indian mallow improved specific and non-specific immune response in rats who had been given medicines (100 mg/kg/day of cyclophosphamide and 50 mg/kg/day of levamisole) to suppress immunity.

The scientists dosed the immunosuppressed rats at 200 mg/kg per day and 400 mg/kg per day of Indian mallow leaf extract, before challenging the rats’ immune systems by introducing the red blood cells of sheep. When the researchers used tests like the hemagglutination antibody (HA) titer, delayed-type hypersensitivity, neutrophil adhesion test and carbon clearance test to measure immune response, they found a heightened specific and non-specific immune response in the rats that had been given ethanol or water extracts of kanghi/atibala leaf. 

Obviously, studies and trials in human subjects are essential to determine whether this benefit translates in human beings and to determine the safe yet efficacious dosages for people.

In a small study, researchers gave 24 newborns five drops, twice a day, from the 11th day after birth of an oral medicine containing:

• Atibala (Abutilon indicum Linn)
• Amalaki or amla (Emblica officinalis Linn)
• Vidanga (Embelia ribes burn)
• Giloy or guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia Willd Miers)
• Pippali or long pepper (Piper longum Linn)
• Yashtimadhu (mulethi) or liquorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn)
• Shankhapushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis Chois)
• Vacha (Acorus calamus Linn)
• Musta or nagarmotha (Cyperus rotundus Linn)
• Ativisha (Aconitum heterophyllum wall)

When the researchers checked the newborns’ blood/serum for immunoglobulins IgG, IgM, IgA after three months and then after six months, they observed a “significant increase'' in immunoglobulins (antibodies) after six months of administering this “Bala compound”. The compound is described by the researchers as part of the Kaumarbhritya branch of Asthanga Ayurveda.

More research is needed on the mechanism and safety of this compound for children. Remember, the World Health Organization recommends that children should not be given anything but breastmilk (or where that is not possible, formula milk) up to six months of age. Typically, children also get all the antibodies they need from the mother’s milk.

A lab study using kanghi leaf extract made with carbon tetrachloride “showed statistically significant activity” against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and some fungi. According to the researchers, the extract was moderately “inhibitory” against:

• Bacillus cereus; infection with this bacteria can cause vomiting and diarrhoea
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can cause pneumonia
• Sarcina lutea (M. luteus) which is commonly found in the mouth and upper respiratory tract
• Escherichia coli, which may cause food poisoning in some situations
• Shigella dysenteriae which can cause shigellosis, a type of dysentery
• Aspergillus niger, a fungus also known as black mould
• Candida albicans, a common fungus which can in certain situations cause yeast infections (Candidal infection)
• Trichophyton rubrum, the fungus that is responsible for infections like jock itch, athlete’s foot and nail fungus.

Another lab study of plant samples collected from Sri Lanka found that while kanghi plant extract was somewhat effective against the bacteria the researchers were using for the experiments (including M. phylei, a non-tuberculous mycobacterium), it was definitely not as effective as some other plants like Clerodendrum infortunatum (bhandira) and Syzygium cumini (jamun).

Scientists have been using plants to create metal nanoparticles for a variety of pharmaceutical and other uses. A lab (in-vitro) study on “green synthesized gold nanoparticles”—as the creation of gold nanoparticles using “green chemistry” is known—using atibala, attributed “anticancer activities”, specifically against colon cancer, to these particles.

It is still early days for this therapeutic technique, and this study was conducted purely in a lab environment. Much more research and human trials will have to be done before the therapy can become available to people.