Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Medical Value
 Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
 Scientific Classification
 Kingdom:Plantae
(unranked):Angiosperms
(unranked):Eudicots
(unranked):Rosids
Order:Malvales
Family:Malvaceae
Genus:Hibiscus
Species:rosa-sinensis

 Binomial Name

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L
 History
 Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn (family Malvaceae), known colloquially as the
Chinese hibiscus, is an evergreen flowering shrub native to East Asia.
 It is also known as China rose and shoe flower. It is widely grown as an
ornamental plant throughout the tropics and subtropics.
 The flowers are large, (generally red in the original varieties), firm, but
generally lack any scent. Numerous varieties, cultivars and hybrids are
available, with flower colors ranging from white through yellow and orange
to scarlet and shades of pink, with both single and double sets of petals.
Despite their size and red hues attractive to nectar-feeding birds, they are not
visited regularly by hummingbirds when grown in the Neotropics.
 Generalists, (like the Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Amazilia lactea) or long-
billed species (like the Stripe-breasted Starthroat, Heliomaster squamosus)
may occasionally be seen to visit it, however. In the subtropical and temperate
Americas, hummingbirds are attracted to them on a regular basis.
 The Hibisucus rosa-sinensis was discovered and named by Carolus Linnaeus.
 Uses
 Hibiscus flower preparations are also used
for hair care.
 The flowers themselves are edible and used
in salads in the Pacific Islands.
 The flowers are used to shine shoes in parts
of India, as well as for the worship of Devi.
 In Indonesia, these flowers are called
"Kembang Sepatu", which literally means
"Flower of Shoes".
 Composition
 Flowers (Fresh weight)
 0 Calories per 100g
 Water: 89.8%
 Protein: 0.06g; Fat: 0.4g; Carbohydrate: 0g; Fibre: 1.56g;
Ash: 0g;
 Minerals - Calcium: 4mg; Phosphorus: 27mg; Iron: 1.7mg;
Magnesium: 0mg; Sodium: 0mg; Potassium: 0mg;
Zinc: 0mg;
 Vitamins - A: 0mg; Thiamine (B1): 0.03mg; Riboflavin
(B2): 0.05mg; Niacin: 0.6mg; B6: 0mg; C: 4.2mg
 Fruit (Dry weight)
 353 Calories per 100g
 Water: 0%
 Protein: 3.9g; Fat: 3.9g; Carbohydrate: 86.3g;
Fibre: 15.7g; Ash: 5.9g;
 Minerals - Calcium: 39mg; Phosphorus: 265mg;
Iron: 17mg; Magnesium: 0mg; Sodium: 0mg;
Potassium: 0mg; Zinc: 0mg;
 Vitamins - A: 0mg; Thiamine (B1): 0.29mg; Riboflavin
(B2): 0.49mg; Niacin: 5.9mg; B6: 0mg; C: 39mg
 Leaves (Dry weight)
 0 Calories per 100g
 Water: 0%
 Protein: 15.4g; Fat: 3.5g; Carbohydrate: 69.7g;
Fibre: 15.5g; Ash: 11.4g;
 Minerals - Calcium: 1670mg; Phosphorus: 520mg;
Iron: 0mg; Magnesium: 0mg; Sodium: 0mg;
Potassium: 0mg; Zinc: 0mg;
 Vitamins - A: 0mg; Thiamine (B1): 0mg; Riboflavin
(B2): 0mg; Niacin: 0mg; B6: 0mg; C: 0mg;
 Medicinal Uses
 Chinese hibiscus is a sweet, astringent, cooling
herb that checks bleeding, soothes irritated
tissues and relaxes spasms
 Astringent: Produces contraction in living
tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and
discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
 The flowers are aphrodisiac, demulcent,
emmenagogue, emollient and refrigerant.
 They are used internally in the treatment of
excessive and painful menstruation, cystitis,
venereal diseases, feverish illnesses, bronchial
catarrh, coughs and to promote hair growth
 An infusion of the flowers is given as a cooling
drink to ill people
 The leaves are anodyne, aperient, emollient and
laxative. A decoction is used as a lotion in the treatment
of fevers[240]. The leaves and flowers are beaten into a
paste and poulticed onto cancerous swellings and
mumps.
 The flowers are used in the treatment of carbuncles,
mumps, fever and sores.
 The root is a good source of mucilage and is used as a
substitute for marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis) in the
treatment of coughs and colds.
 A paste made from the root is used in the treatment of
venereal diseases.
 Other Uses
 The juice from the petals is used in China as shoe-
blacking and mascara.
 A dye is made from the petals.
 A good quality fibre is obtained from the stems. In
warm sub-tropical areas the fibres can be up to 3 metres
long, but in Britain they are likely to be much shorter.
The fibre is used for coarse fabrics, nets and paper.
Plants are often used for hedges and screens, though
since they are not very cold hardy they are not suitable
for this use in Britain
 The Hibiscus genus contains several species, many of which
have been used medicinally. For instance, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
has been documented in the ancient Indian scriptures.
 Hibiscus sabdariffa has been used as a folk medicine in Canada,
and appears promising in treatment of hypertension (high blood
pressure).
 Hibiscus cannabinus has been studied to treat head lice, although
there is currently insufficient available evidence in this area.
 Hibiscus sabdariffa and compounds isolated from it (for
example, anthocyanins and hibiscus protocatechuic acid) are
likely candidates for future studies. There is limited reported
safety data about hibiscus, although it is popularly used as a tea.
Based on ethnobotanical study, Hibiscus tiliaceus has been used
throughout the Vanuatu archipelago to speed childbirth.
 Hibiscus sabdariffa L., has been used as a folk medicine in
Canada. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis has been documented to have
been used for several ailments in the ancient Indian scriptures.
 Anti-oxidants and Free Radicals
 Free radicals are highly reactive compounds that are
created in the body during normal metabolic functions
or introduced from the environment.
 Free Radicals are inherently unstable, since they
contain “extra” energy. To reduce their energy load,
free radicals react with certain chemicals in the body,
and in the process, interfere with the cells’ ability to
function normally.
 Antioxidants work in several ways:
1. They may reduce the energy of the free radicals
2. Stop the free radicals from forming in the first place
or interrupt an oxidizing chain reaction to minimize
the damage caused by free radicals.
 Free Radicals are believed to play a role in
more than sixty different health conditions,
including the aging process, cancer, and
atherosclerosis.
 Reducing exposure to free radicals and
increasing intake of antioxidant nutrients
has the potential to reduce the risk of free
radical-related health problems.
 The body produces several antioxidant enzymes,
including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase,
and glutathione peroxidase, that neutralize many
types of free radicals.
 Supplements of these enzymes are available for
oral administration. However, their absorption is
probably minimal at best. Supplementing with the
“building blocks” the body requires to make
SOD, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase may be
more effective.
 These building block nutrients include the
minerals manganese, zinc, and copper for SOD
and selenium for glutathione peroxidase.
 In addition to enzymes, many vitamins and
minerals act as antioxidants in their own
right, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-
carotene, lutein, lycopene, vitamin B2,
coenzyme Q10, and cysteine (an amino
acid).
 Herbs, such as bilberry, turmeric
(curcumin), grape seed or pine bark
extracts, and ginkgo can also provide
powerful antioxidant protection for the
body.
 Consuming a wide variety of
antioxidant enzymes, vitamins,
minerals, and herbs may be the best
way to provide the body with the
most complete protection against
free radical damage.
 Active Constituents of H.rosasinensis
 The flower contain substantial quantities of
flavonoids and proanthocyanidins, which are
associated with antioxidant, fever-reducing
(antipyretic), pain-relieving (analgesic), and spasm-
inhibiting (spasmolytic) activities. Of the many
polysaccharides, the acidic polysaccharides show
the most interesting properties. For example, they
stimulate specialized skin cells which would
presumably promote wound healing and these
polysaccharides are also immune-modulating.5 6
There is also a high concentration (15 to 30%) of
simple organic acids such as citric and malic acids.
 Complex extracts of hibiscus have shown
other properties in the test tube and in
animal studies, such as reducing skin
cancer promoted by ultraviolet light,
inhibiting herpes simplex virus, and
lowering cholesterol levels. A variety of
studies have looked at the potential use of
hibiscus for male and female fertility
regulation with mixed results
 Anti Cancer Effects of H.rosa-
sinensis
 Hibiscus polyphenol-rich extract induces
apoptosis in human gastric carcinoma
cells via p53 phosphorylation and p38
MAPK/FasL cascade pathway.

By Lin HH, Huang HP, Huang CC, Chen JH,

Wang CJ.

Content on the next slide……

 In view of the continuing need for effective anticancer agents, and the
association of diet with reduced cancer risk, edible plants are
increasingly being considered as sources of anticancer drugs. Hibiscus
sabdariffa Linne (Malvaceae), an attractive plant believed to be native
to Africa, is cultivated in the Sudan and Eastern Taiwan. Polyphenols
had been demonstrated previously to possess antioxidative and
antitumor promoting effects. In this study, investigations were
conducted to examine the mechanism of the anticancer activity of H.
sabdariffa L., Hibiscus polyphenol-rich extracts (HPE). Using HPLC
assay, HPE was demonstrated to contain various polyphenols. HPE
induced cell death of eight kinds of cell lines in a concentration-
dependent manner. Among them human gastric carcinoma (AGS) cells
were the most susceptible to HPE (0.95 mg/mL HPE inhibited its
growth by 50%). Our results revealed that AGS cells underwent DNA
fragmentation, and had an increase in the distribution of hypodiploid
phase (apoptotic peak, 52.36%) after a 24-h treatment with HPE (2.0
mg/mL). This effect of HPE in AGS cells might be mediated via p53
signaling and p38 MAPK/FasL cascade pathway, as demonstrated by
an increase in the phosphorylation of p53 and the usage of a specific
p38 inhibitor, SB203580. Thus, our data present the first evidence of
HPE as an apoptosis inducer in AGS cells and these findings may open
interesting perspectives to the strategy in human gastric cancer
treatment.
 ROSEHIP & HIBISICUS
 Usually consists of 70% Hibiscus and 30 %
Rosehip. Hibiscus  (Hibisci flos) originated in
Angola but is now cultivated throughout the 
tropics. It is an annual herbaceous plant with lobed
leaves that grows  to a height of 5 m. Flowers with a
5-lobed calyx and divided epicalyx.  Hibiscus for
infusions is manufactured form the dried calyxes
harvested  from the fruit of the species.
 It is principally taken as a caffeine-free refreshing
drink taken in  large amounts because of the plant
acids. The plant acids which are  difficult to absorb
act as a mild laxative.
 Hibiscus has been extensively used in the
African Folk medicine. The  drug is
ascribed, among other things, spasmolytic,
antibacterial,  cholagogic, diuretic and
anthelmintic properties. Studies have
shown  aqueous extracts of hibiscus
flowers relaxes the muscles of the uterus 
and to lower the blood pressure. 
 Rosehip is derived from the plant Rosae
pseudofructus. It is a shrub  that grows up to a
height of 5 m with thorn branches with flowers
close  to 5 cm in diameter with five petals.  The
drug consists of the  dried hypanthia from various
species of the genus Rosa with the fruit  enclosed
in them. Rosehip is native to Europe, Western and
Central Asia,  and North Africa but now it is
cultivated in Chile, Bulgaria, Romania,  China and
Hungary. It was used in folk medicine as a result
of its  diuretic and laxative action due to the pectin
and the plant acid  content. Due to its high content
of vitamin C Rosehip are used as  breakfast teas.
 Leaves and Flower of H.rosa-sinensis
 Further Research
 This study would focus on antioxidant effects of
H.rosasinensis. The medicinal values of H.rosasinensis have
been discussed in ancient scriptures. A research group of
healthy individuals and people who are at high risk of cancer
may be included in this study to evaluate the anti-oxidant
effects.
 Since, the research wants to focus on obesity, prediabetes and
cancer risk, one of the research groups would fall under the
following categories
1. Age group 30 -50
2. Positive family history of diabetes and hypertension
3. Prediabetic (IGT – Impaired Glucose Tolerance)

continued…..
 Whereas the other two groups would be
1. Normal or healthy individuals who would
serve as control group
2. The third group contains people who
would be either diabetic or people who
are screened positive for cancer or both.
 Extracts from leaves, flowers, root and
stem would be tried individually in the
clinical trial supported by animal model.
 The main objective of this research
would be
1. to separate the active component
2. to know the dose
3. the synergic effects with Amla.
 The effects of different doses of
H.rosasinensis extracts have studies on the
different study groups.
 The LD50 of Hibiscus sabdariffa l. extract
was found to be above 5000mgkg-1. So, a
daily uptake of up to 1 gm may be allowed in
the study group in varying concentrations.
 Hibiscus grows in tropical areas throughout the world, and has
been used not just as an ornament, but also medicinally for
centuries. The part of this plant used medicinally is the flower.
The Hibiscus flower is made into a tea in numerous cultures
throughout the world. Hibiscus has a mild flavor and has many
culinary uses.
 Action:
1.Hibiscus was used by the Chinese to treat dandruff and
stimulate hair growth.
2.Hibiscus has also been used to treat hemorrhoids and wounds.
3.Recent research has shown that Hibiscus may have
antibacterial properties.
4.It is a mild laxative and it contains Vitamin C and malic acid.
5.Hibiscus has also been shown to relax the uterus and reduce
blood pressure.
6.Hibiscus has also been used for indigestion and loss of
appetite, as well as for colds, respiratory problems, and
circulation disorders.