Hibiscus rosa-sinensis: A queen of flowers and their herbal cure
Hibiscus (Malvaceae) is a genus of herbs, shrubs and trees. Its 250 species are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world and are reported to poses various medicinal properties. Studies have shown that the plants of the Hibiscus genus have the potential to provide biologically active compounds that act as antioxidants and cardio protective agents. Hence, Hibiscus genus may be a great natural source for the development of new drugs and may provide a cost effective mean of treatment for cancer and other diseases in the developing world . Hibiscus rosa sinensis (Malvaceae) is widely cultivated in the tropics as an ornamental plant. Chinese hibiscus is the English name of Hibiscus rosa sinensis. It is an evergreen woody glabrous showy shrub of 1.5–2.4m in height. Flowers are axillary, solitary, campanulate, red, blue, yellow or white, 10.2–15.2 cm diameter. Capsules are round; many seeded . The previous studies showed that its extract affects the male fertility , the treatment of inflammatory disease and spermatogenesis .
Taxonomical Classification
Common names
China rose, China rose plant, Dasani, Gudhal, Gurhal, Jaba, Joba, Mandaar, Sadaphool, Senicikobia, Japaphool, Japa, Japakusam, Jasum, Jasunt, Jaswand, Jia pushpa, Kante, Mandasa, Sambathoo Chedi, Senitoa Yaloyalo.
Vernacular names
Tribal name
HinduMa-pangi (Marma), Raktajaba (Chakma)
The Antidiabetic activity of H. rosa sinensis in rural populations and in hyperglycaemic rats were reported.
The authors reported that the hypoglycaemic activity of this extract is not mediated through insulin release and this increase the potential use of this species for human health purposes. Moreover, there is very important evidence of the anticancer action of H.rosa sinensis extract against the tumor promotion stage or cancer development, in mouse skin with ultraviolet radiation.
The crude extract of aerial parts of H. Rosa sinensis, and its subsequent fractions, clearly showed the presence of two components that have cholinomimetic and calcium antagonist activities. So, the possible pharmacological rationale use of the plant for constipation and diarrhoea was suggested.
On the other hand, the ancient Indian medicinal literature reported that the flower of H. rosa sinensis have beneficial effects in heart diseases, mainly in myocardial ischemic disease, due to its enhancement of the myocardinal endogenous antioxidants by an adaptative response and without producing any cytotoxic effects.
Recently, Nade et al. suggested that Hibiscus rosa had a protective role against age and scopolamine induced amnesia, indicating its utility in management of cognitive disorders.
Phytochemicals of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Different extract of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis plant revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, fatty materials, reducing sugars, resin, sterols and the lack of tannins and Saponins. Isolation of β-sitosterol, taraxeryl acetate and four uncharacterized compounds which included an alkaloid and three sterols has been reported in the leaves. The leaves of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis were also investigated for their fatty acids and hydrocarbon content. Two cyclic acids viz., malvalic and sterculic are also identified . Flowers contain vitamins, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine and cyaniding diglucoside. Quercetin-3-diglucoside, cyaniding-3-sophoroside-5-glycosides, 3, 7-diglucoside, cyaniding-3, 5-diglucoside have been isolated from deep yellow flowers.
Uses of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Hibiscus flowers are adiable and used as salad in Pacific ocean.
Used hair care as a preparation.
As shine shoes in certain part of India.
Used as pH indicator.
In most of the countries dried flowers are used as a bevarages, e.g Tea
Pharmacological activity of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Several articles and ancient literature have shown that the flowers of this plant possess anti-fertility activity .
The aqueous ethanolic extract of aerial parts of this plant was reported for its use in constipation and diarrhea .
In traditional medicine, the leaves of the plant are used in fatigue and skin disease.
Powdered root of the plant is given for menorrhagia and the fresh root juice for gonorrhoea .
Flowers of the plant are used in diabetes, epilepsy, bronchial catarrh and leprosy.
Plant possess anti-phologistic, anti-diarrhetic and anticomplementary activity .
In another study, in vitro antibacterial activity as the same as the wound-healing activity of the ethanol extracts of H. rosa-sinensis flowers in vivo.
Flowers and leaves are found to possess antioxidant, antifungal, anti-infectious, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrheic and antipyretic activity.
Phytochemicals like tannin, phlobatannins, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins and others are present in leaves, stem and root of the plant.
Flowers contain anthocyanins, which may be responsible for its antioxidant effects.
A number of previous studies reported that H.rosa-sinensis contain flavonoids, cyaniding, querecetin, hentriacontane, calcium oxalate, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, ascorbic, citric, tartaric and oxalic acid.
Recently, four new phytoconstituents (n-hexacosa-3-one-20,21-diol, n-triacontane n-triacontane-15-one and n-hentriacontane) have been isolated from the alcoholic extracts of leaf and flower.
The leaf extract exhibited significant antioxidant and anticancer activities due to the increased flavonoids and terpenoids level and the phytochemical analyses indicated the constituents presented (flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins and glycosides) are responsible for pharmacological effects.
The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of hibiscus flowers at the concentration of 100 and 50 mg/mL were shown good inhibition zones (IZs) against the growth of Salmonella typhimurium and S.aureus, respectively, and the IZs ranged from 9–14 mm.
Chemically, flowers have been reported to contain cyaniding diglucoside, flavonoids and vitamins- thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and ascorbic acid; leaves contained beta sitosterol, sigma sterol, taxaerol, acetate and three cyclopropane compounds and their derivatives.
Pharmacological leaves stem and root of H. rosa sinensis contain a remarkable quantities of flavonoids which are associated with antioxidant, fever-reducing, pain-relieving and spasm-inhibiting activities and the flower has soothing properties which are used to relieve menstrual cramps and relax spasms and general cramping and treating inflammations.
Saponins in H. rosa-sinensis bind to cholesterol to form insoluble complexes and excreted via the bile and reduces blood pressure and have been found to be potentially useful for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
This plant is used to soothe irritated tissues and the mucous membranes that line the respiratory tract, which eases hacking coughs and other respiratory ailments due to the presence of terpenoids.
National symbol
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is the national flower of Malaysia, called Bunga Raya in Malay.The word bunga in Malay means “flower”, while raya in Malay means “celebratory” or “grand”. The Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is literally known as the “celebratory flower” in Malay. The red of the petals symbolizes the courage, life, and rapid growth of the Malaysian, and the five petals represent the five Rukun Negara of Malaysia. The flower can be found imprinted on the notes and coins of the Malaysian Ringgits.
Also the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is the flower of the coast colombian city Barranquilla calling by the name ‘cayena.
