Chapter 1 - Roselle: Production, Product Development, and Composites

Abstract

Roselle has attained huge attention as a jute substitute, and attempts are being made to extend its cultivation in areas that are not favorable for the cultivation of jute. The roselle plant is classified as a rapid-growing plant and renewable natural bioresource that can be found growing in Malaysia, India, Panama, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico, Guatemala, Australia, Philippines, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi, Uganda, Somalia, Tanzania, Djibouti, Cambodia, Vietnam, Namibia, Gabon, Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, DR Congo, Myanmar, Thailand, Belize, China, Sudan, South Sudan, Egypt, Gambia, Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Laos, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Nigeria, Brazil, and Cuba. This chapter discusses the origin, distribution, taxonomy, benefits, production, product development, and composites of the roselle plant. Roselle is an astringent, aromatic, and refreshing herb that is commonly used in the tropics. The roselle plant has been utilized in folk medicine as a mild laxative and diuretic and in the treatment of nerve and cardiac diseases. The leaves taste strongly mucilaginous and are used as a moisturizer and for cough relief. Similar to the leaves, the fruits also have antiscorbutic property. The flowers contain anthocyanin, the glycoside hibiscin, and gossypetin. The findings of this chapter showed that the incorporation and hybridization of roselle hybrid composites had improved the mechanical properties of polymer composites. Roselle can be utilized in either medical products or massive-scale industrial applications as a result of its excellent mechanical properties when reinforced with polymer composites.