Hibiscus syriacus and its applications.
Article Content:
- .Basic Botanical Info of Hibiscus syriacus.
- .Physical Characteristics and Plantation of Hibiscus syriacus.
- .Hibiscus Habitats and Propagation.
- .Uses of Hibiscus syriacus.
- .Phytochemicals of Hibiscus syriacus.
- .Functions and Characters of Hibiscus syriacus.
- .Research Update:Hibiscus syriacus.
Functions and Characters of Hibiscus syriacus.
Functions and Characters:
1.Flowers: sweet and calm,antidotes and detumescence;cure for diarrhea,naevus and bleeding,leucorrhea; also used for scald and abscess
2.Bark: sweet and kill worms;cure for diarrhea,leucorrhea; also used to treat dermatophytosis,scrotal eczema.
3.Seeds: sweet and calm,antidotes and detumescence; cure for cough,phlegm,asthma,headache;
Dosage and Method of Hibiscus syriacus in TCM:
1. Flowers: 6~12g.
2. Bark: 3~9g.
3. Seeds: 9~15.
Suggested Amount: Unless otherwise prescribed, 1.5-2 grams of the finely chopped Hibiscus flower is placed in cold water and boiled for a short time, or boiling water is poured over it, and after ten minutes strained. One Teaspoon = ca. 2.5 grams. Hibiscus flower tea is taken 3-5 times per day, or as required.
Pharmacological Properties:
Anti- Inflammatory Activity of Effective Fractions of Hibiscus Mutabilis L.: Objective To assess the anti- inflammatory activity of the effective fractions of Hibiscus mutabilis L. (MFR). Methods Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups with 10 in each: MFR- A, -B, and-C groups, sinomonine positive control group, Voltaren positive control group, and blank control group. In carrigeenin inducing inflammation test, the medications were administrated 1h before inflammation occurred, and the claws of rats were measured after inflammation occurred 1, 3, 5 and 7h to direct the best MFR. Then, the best MFR were divided into high, middle, and low dose groups. In ovi-albumen inducing inflammation test, comparison with sinomonine positive control group and solvent (Tween-80) group, the claws of rats were measured after inflammation oc- curred 1, 3, 5, and 7h. Results Three MFR groups had marked effects of anti- inflammation, es- pecially in the MFR-C which had significant difference compared with blank control group and had same effects to sinomonine group. Conclusion The results indicate that the active fractions of Hibiscus mutabilis L. could suppress the non-specific inflammation.
Fresh leaf Total Flavones.: Fresh leaves of hibiscus extraction got the highest amount of flavones from experiment study of Chinese herbalist.Reference:Northwest Pharmaceutical Journal.2006.03.by Fu Junxia,Wu Jianke,Wang Guoli
Hibiscus Tea May Have Cholesterol-lowering Effects.:Lin T, Lin H, Chen C, Lin M, Chou M, Wang C. Hibiscus sabdariffa extract reduces serum cholesterol in men and women. Nutr Res. 2007;27:140-145.
Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) tea and soft drinks are popular in Taiwan, where hibiscus is also a valued medicinal herb. The popular Mexican soda Jamaica is flavored with hibiscus. Hibiscus flowers contain constituents known to have cardioprotective effects, including anthocyanins, flavonoids, and polyphenols. Previous in vivo studies by this group have shown that hibiscus extract lowers cholesterol levels in rats and rabbits.1,2 In addition, a previous in vitro study by this group has shown that hibiscus extract inhibits low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation.1 The purpose of this clinical trial was to assess the effect of hibiscus extract capsules on serum cholesterol levels in subjects with high cholesterol levels (less than 175 mg/dL).
The hibiscus extract capsules contained 500 mg of a hot aqueous extract prepared by macerating 150 g of hibiscus flowers in 6 L of hot water for 2 hours and then drying and filtering the resulting extract. The hibiscus extract contained 2.5% anthocyanins, 1.7% polyphenols, and 1.43% flavonoids. Therefore, each 500 mg capsule contained 20.1 plus/minus 3.0 mg anthocyanins, 10.0 +- 2.5 mg flavonoids, and 14.0 plus/minus 2.8 mg polyphenols. A total of 42 subjects were randomized to 3 groups for the study, conducted at Chung Shan Medical University Hospital in Taichung, Taiwan. The randomization method used was not described in the paper. The study was divided into 2 study periods lasting 2 weeks for a total duration of 4 weeks. The study was designed as a randomized crossover , with each subject acting as his or her own control. This was done by comparing cholesterol levels at week 2 and week 4 with each subject's baseline levels. Group 1 received 1 capsule of extract 3 times daily (1,500 mg/day), group 2 received 2 capsules 3 times daily (3,000 mg/day), and group 3 received 3 capsules 3 times daily (4,500 mg/day). All subjects took the capsules at mealtimes to mimic usage of cholesterol medications. The subjects maintained food diaries to track their use of the capsules.
Overall, subjects in group 2 (2 capsules 3 times daily) responded best to the hibiscus extract treatment. Groups 1 and 2, but not group 3, experienced a significant reduction in serum cholesterol levels at week 4, compared with baseline levels (P less than 0.05 for groups 1 and 2). In addition, group 2 experienced a significant reduction in serum cholesterol levels at week 2, compared with baseline levels (P less than 0.05). At week 2, 6 out of the 14 subjects (42.9%) responded to the hibiscus extract in groups 1 and 3; and 9 out of the 14 subjects (64.3%) responded to the treatment in group 2. By week 4, group 2 had the most responders with 10 out of the 14 subjects (71.4%) experiencing reductions in serum cholesterol levels. In group 1, 7 out of 14 subjects (50.0%) were responders, and 6 out of the 14 (42.9%) subjects in group 3 were responders at week 4. Despite receiving a higher dosage, the responders in group 3 had the smallest response to the hibiscus extract with an average 8.3% reduction in serum cholesterol levels at week 4 (-17.7 plus/minus 8.1 mg/dL, P less than 0.05). Group 1 responders experienced an average 14.4% reduction in serum cholesterol levels at week 4, compared with baseline levels (-29.3 plus/minus serum cholesterol level reduction of 12.0% at week 4 (-26.7 plus/minus 36.6 mg/dL, P less than 0.01).
The results indicate that hibiscus flower extracts can reduce serum cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic adults. The authors conclude that 1,000 mg of hibiscus extract taken 3 times daily may be the optimal dose. A month of continuous treatment may be required before a significant reduction in serum cholesterol levels occurs. Future studies using a randomized placebo control design will be useful in confirming the results of this study. In addition, although the anti-hyperlipidemic effects are presumed to be due to the anti-oxidant effects the exact mechanism for the observed effects needs further investigation. .
Clinical Trials.:
11.2% decrease in systolic blood pressure and 10.7% decrease of diastolic pressure after 12 days in 31 patients with moderate essential hypertension taking Hibiscus vs. control group Haji Faraji 1999
Urine excretion of creatinine, uric acid, citrate, tartrate, calcium, sodium, potassium and phosphate decreased in 36 men consuming roselle juice (Hibiscus sabdariffa) 16-24 g/d Kirdpon 1994
Hibiscus Flowers to Prevent Heart Attacks.:Chang-Che Chen, Fen-Pi Chou, Yung-Chyan Ho, Wea-Lung Lin, Chin-Pin Wang, Erl-Shyh Kao, An-Chung Huang and Chau-Jong Wang.Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture: Volume 84
Hibiscus flower extract may have the same health benefits as red wine and tea according to new research by scientists in Taiwan. Hibiscus contains antioxidants that help control cholesterol levels and reduce heart disease, says the research in Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.
Chau-Jong Wang and his team at Chung Shan Medical University in the Republic of China found that the antioxidant properties of flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds and anthocyanins contained in the flower can prevent the oxidation of Low-Density Lipoproteins (LDL), which is associated with the disease.
Healthy properties:Hibiscus sabdariffa is used in folk medicine to treat hypertension and liver disorder, and is used to make popular soft drinks in various countries across the world. Some health benefits of taking Hibiscus have now been verified: ''Experiments have shown that compounds extracted from red wine and tea reduces cholesterol and lipid build-up in the arteries of rats. This is the first study to show that Hibiscus extract has the same effect'', says Wang.
Diet testing:In the study, rats were divided in to four groups and given different diets; one control, one high cholesterol control, and two high cholesterol diets supplemented with different amounts of Hibiscus extract. After 12 weeks, the rats were given blood tests to assess their health. Results showed that the extract significantly reduced cholesterol content in blood serum and successfully prevented oxidation of Low-density Lipoproteins.
These data strongly suggest that the extract has potential to prevent cholesterol deposition and may therefore be useful in the prevention and even treatment of a number of cardiovascular diseases in which cholesterol plays a major role.
Hibiscus flower extract may have the same health benefits as red wine and tea according to new research by scientists in Taiwan. Hibiscus contains antioxidants that help control cholesterol levels and reduce heart disease, says the research in Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. Chau-Jong Wang and his team at Chung Shan Medical University in the Republic of China found that the antioxidant properties of flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds and anthocyanins contained in the flower can prevent the oxidation of Low-Density Lipoproteins (LDL), which is associated with the disease.
Toxicity.: Hibiscus mutabilisL. extract toxicity evaluation studies in China proved:Mutagenic ames test and acute toxicity test,Ames experiment process under conditions of metabolism activity system and without conditions,20 mice oral dose raw hibiscus extract at 0.5 g/ml concentration,taken 0.8 ml/20 g,after taken,measure LD50 to determine acute toxicity.Ames test highest dose 5000 microgram,lowest dose 0.5 microgram;what ever S9 exist or not,no mutagenic effects observed,extracts for oral taken equal to raw herb dosage about 312.4 g/kg,as high as 150 times of effective dose for animals,no any toxic effects observed,experiment proved that hibiscus leaf extracts and flavones low toxic,safe enough herbs for clinical applications.Reference:Guangxi Sciences.2002.01.Experimental Assessment on Mutagenicity and Acute Toxicity of the Effective Fraction of Leaves of Hibiscus mutabilis L.by Fu Shicong,Zhang Huijuan,Ma Jing,Yao Liyun,Du Ning,Zhang Fenghua,etc.
Reference:
1.Hibiscus syriacus and its applications.
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