Nutritional Supplement

Hibiscus

Also indexed as: Hibiscus rosa, Hibiscus sabdariffa

Parts Used & Where Grown

Members of the Malvaceae family, various species of hibiscus are shrubs found practically around the globe. The flower of hibiscus is the part used as medicine. The most widely known and best-studied species tend to be annuals from the tropics, such as the two that are focused on here. There are, however, hardy perennial species that survive in colder climates. Another hibiscus not discussed here is Hibiscus esculenta, or okra.

How It Works

The flowers contain substantial quantities of flavonoids and proanthocyanidins,1 which are associated with antioxidant, fever-reducing (antipyretic), pain-relieving (analgesic), and spasm-inhibiting (spasmolytic) activities.2,3 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.4,5 There is also a high concentration (15 to 30%) of simple organic acids such as citric and malic acids.6

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.7,8,9 A variety of studies have looked at the potential use of hibiscus for male and female fertility regulation with mixed results.10,11,12

References

1. Bruneton J. Pharmacognosy Phytochemistry Medicinal Plants,2nd ed. London: Intercept, 1999:24.

2. Dafallah AA, al-Mustafa Z. Investigation of the anti-inflammatory activity of Acacia nilotica and Hibiscus sabdariffa. Am J Chin Med 1996;24:263-9.

3. Salah AM, Gathumbi J, Vierling W. Inhibition of intestinal motility by methanol extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae) in rats. Phytother Res 2002;16:283-5.

4. Brunold C, Deters A, Knoepfel-Sidler F, et al. Polysaccharides from Hibiscus sabdariffa flowers stimulate proliferation and differentiation of human keratinocytes. Planta Med 2004;70:370-3.

5. Muller BM, Franz G. Chemical structure and biological activity of polysaccharides from Hibiscus sabdariffa. Planta Med 1992;58:60-7.

6. Bruneton J. Pharmacognosy Phytochemistry Medicinal Plants,2nd ed. London: Lavoisier, 1999:24.

7. Sharma S, Sultana S. Effect of Hibiscus rosa sinensis extract on hyperproliferation and oxidative damage caused by benzoyl peroxide and ultraviolet radiations in mouse skin. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2004;95:220-5.

8. Zheng MS. An experimental study of the anti-HSV-II action of 500 herbal drugs. J Tradit Chin Med 1989;9:113-6.

9. El-Saadany SS, Sitohy MZ, Labib SM, el-Massry RA. Biochemical dynamics and hypocholesterolemic action of Hibiscus sabdariffa (Karkade). Nahrung1991;35:567-76.

10. Pal AK, Bhattacharya K, Kabir SN, Pakrashi A. Flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, a potential source of contragestative agent: II. Possible mode of action with reference to anti-implantation effect of the benzene extract. Contraception1985;32:517-29.

11. Tan CH. Is Hibiscus rosa sinensis Linn. a potential source of antifertility agents for males? Int J Fertil1983;28:247-8.

12. Kholkute SD, Mudgal V, Udupa KN. Studies on the antifertility potentiality of Hibiscus rosa sinensis. Parts of medicinal value; selection of species and seasonal variations. Planta Med 1977;31:35-9.

13. Jeffery TD, Richardson ML. A review of the effectiveness of hibiscus for treatment of metabolic syndrome. J Ethnopharmacol 2021;270:113762.

14. Amos A, Khiatah B. Mechanisms of Action of Nutritionally Rich Hibiscus sabdariffa's Therapeutic Uses in Major Common Chronic Diseases: A Literature Review. Journal of the J Am Coll Nutr 2021:1–8.

15. Jalalyazdi M, Ramezani J, Izadi-Moud A, et al. Effect of hibiscus sabdariffa on blood pressure in patients with stage 1 hypertension. J Adv Pharm Technol Res 2019;10:107–11.

16. Al-Anbaki M, Nogueira RC, Cavin AL, et al. Treating Uncontrolled Hypertension with Hibiscus sabdariffa When Standard Treatment Is Insufficient: Pilot Intervention. J Altern Complement Med 2019;25:1200–05.

17. Serban C, Sahebkar A, Ursoniu S, et al. Effect of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) on arterial hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Hypertens 2015;33:1119–27.

18. Seck SM, Doupa D, Dia DG, et al. Clinical efficacy of African traditional medicines in hypertension: A randomized controlled trial with Combretum micranthum and Hibiscus sabdariffa. J Hum Hypertens 2017;12;32:75–81.

19. Elkafrawy N, Younes K, Naguib A, et al. Antihypertensive efficacy and safety of a standardized herbal medicinal product of Hibiscus sabdariffa and Olea europaea extracts (NW Roselle): A phase-II, randomized, double-blind, captopril-controlled clinical trial. Phytother Res 2020;34:3379–87.

20. Bourqui A, Niang EAB, Graz B, et al. Hypertension treatment with Combretum micranthum or Hibiscus sabdariffa, as decoction or tablet: a randomized clinical trial. J Hum Hypertens 2020 Sep.

21. Nwachukwu DC, Aneke EI, Obika LF, et al. Effects of aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system of Nigerians with mild to moderate essential hypertension: A comparative study with lisinopril. Indian J Pharmacol 2015;47:540–5.

22. Nwachukwu DC, Aneke E, Nwachukwu NZ, et al. Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffaon blood pressure and electrolyte profile of mild to moderate hypertensive Nigerians: A comparative study with hydrochlorothiazide. Niger J Clin Pract 2015;18:762–70.

23. Giacoman-Martinez A, Alarcon-Aguilar FJ Zamilpa A, et al. Triterpenoids from Hibiscus sabdariffa L. with PPARdelta/gamma Dual Agonist Action: In Vivo, In Vitro and In Silico Studies. Planta Med 2019;85:412–23.

24. Huang C, Wang C, Yang Y, et al. Hibiscus sabdariffa polyphenols prevent palmitate-induced renal epithelial mesenchymal transition by alleviating dipeptidyl peptidase-4-mediated insulin resistance. Food Funct 2016;7:475–82.

25. Peng C, Yang Y, Chan K, et al. Hibiscus sabdariffa polyphenols alleviate insulin resistance and renal epithelial to mesenchymal transition: a novel action mechanism mediated by type 4 dipeptidyl peptidase. J Agric Food Chem 2014;62:9736–43.

26. Ademiluyi A, Oboh G. Aqueous extracts of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn.) varieties inhibit alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase activities in vitro. J Med Food 2013;16:88–93.

27. Peng C, Chyau C, Chan K, et al. Hibiscus sabdariffa polyphenolic extract inhibits hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and glycation-oxidative stress while improving insulin resistance. J Agric Food Chem 2011;59:9901–9.

28. Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Jalali-Khanabadi B, Afkhami-Ardekani M, Fatehi F. Effects of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on lipid profile and lipoproteins in patients with type II diabetes. J Altern Complement Med 2009;15:899–903.

29. Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Ahadi Z, Barzegar K. The effect of green tea and sour tea on blood pressure of patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized clinical trial. J Diet Suppl 2013;10:105–15.

30. Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Jalali-Khanabadi B, Afkhami-Ardekani M, et al. The effects of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on hypertension in patients with type II diabetes. J Hum Hypertens 2009;23:48–54.

31. Adeyemi D, Adewole O. Hibiscus sabdariffa renews pancreatic beta-cells in experimental type 1 diabetic model rats. Morphologie 2019;103:80–93.

32. Mohammed Yusof N, Zainalabidin S, Mohd Fauzi N, Budin S. Hibiscus sabdariffa (roselle) polyphenol-rich extract averts cardiac functional and structural abnormalities in type 1 diabetic rats. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2018;43:1224–32.

33. Lee W, Wang C, Chen Y, et al. Polyphenol extracts from Hibiscus sabdariffa Linnaeus attenuate nephropathy in experimental type 1 diabetes. J Agric Food Chem 2009;57:2206–10.

34. Bruneton J. Pharmacognosy Phytochemistry Medicinal Plants,2nd ed. London: Intercept, 1999:24.

35. Dafallah AA, al-Mustafa Z. Investigation of the anti-inflammatory activity of Acacia nilotica and Hibiscus sabdariffa. Am J Chin Med 1996;24:263-9.

36. Salah AM, Gathumbi J, Vierling W. Inhibition of intestinal motility by methanol extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae) in rats. Phytother Res 2002;16:283-5.

37. Duke JA. CRCHandbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1985:228-9.

38. Herrera-Arellano A, Flores-Romero S, Chavez-Soto MA, Tortoriello J. Effectiveness and tolerability of a standardized extract from Hibiscus sabdariffa in patients with mild to moderate hypertension: a controlled and randomized clinical trial. Phytomedicine 2004;11(5):375-82.

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The information presented by TraceGains is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2024.