Ethnomedicinal and pharmacological properties of Hibiscus Sabdariffa

Abstract

Nowadays beverages are consumed which has high bioactive compound. Both cocoa and Hibiscus-flower extract have high antioxidant effect and their combined effect increases the free radical scavenging potentials of the beverages. Hibiscus Sabdariffa has various effect such as Anti-hypertensive effect, Anti-oxidant effect, Diuretic effect, Anti-spasmodic effect etc. The dried flower extract is used to prepare various Tea, Syrup, Jams-jellies and beverages. The phytochemicals studies have found that it contains alkaloids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, phenols and flavonoids. Daily intake of Hibiscus tea, an amount readily incorporated into diet, effectively lowered BP in mild hypertensive adults and has anti-oxidative properties. Nutritionally, Hibiscus Sabdariffa contain vitamin c (ascorbic acid). The extracts of Hibiscus Sabdariffa are used for the treatment of various ailments such as high blood pressure, liver disease and fever. It shows antihypercholesterolaemic, antinociceptive and antipyretic in rats and rabbits but not anti-inflammatory activities. On smooth muscles (in vitro) the effect of calyx extract is variable, it mainly obstructs the tone of isolated muscles. In healthy person, the intake of Hibiscus Sabdariffa has led to remarkable drop of uric acid, citrate, tartrate, calcium, sodium, potassium, phosphate, and urinary concentration of creatinine but not oxalate.