International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences

ISSN: 2229-3701

____________________________________________Review Article

Review on Hibiscus rosa sinensis

Anil Kumar and Ashatha Singh Pharmacy College, Itaura, Chandeshwar, Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. _____________________________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT Nature has been a source of medicinal agents for thousands of years and an impressive number of modern drugs have been isolated from natural sources, many based on their use in traditional medicine. Higher plants, as sources of medicinal compounds, have continued to play a dominant role in the maintenance of human health since ancient times. Over 50% of all modern clinical drugs are of natural product origin and play an important role in drug development programs in the pharmaceutical industry. Ethno medicinal value of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis have been evaluated which include the followings. H. rosa sinensis has been used for the treatment of a variety of diseases. It is an easily available plant for natural remedies here in this article some pharmacological activities of this plant is focused. Key Words: Hibiscus rosa sinensis, therapeutic use, pharmacology. INTRODUCTION Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis a well known member of the family Malvaceae, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis grows as an evergreen herbaceous plant. A native to tropical and sub-tropical regions, this plant is extensively cultivated as an ornamental plant. It bears large flowers on the bushy hedges. These enormous flowers are usually dark red in color and are not usually fragrant. Grown in different regions of Asian continent, these beautiful flowers are denoted by several other names such as China rose. The huge size and the reddish color and hues attract humming birds and the gardens growing these flowers are regularly visited by the humming birds. Vigour, attractive foliage, strong root system, longevity, easy to maintain, good flowering characteristics, etc. are some of the characteristics which are needed to be kept in mind while cross breeding the hibiscus plant. Today, various new varieties have been cultivated and developed through cross breeding. These new varieties bear all the blended characteristics and are increasing in popularity as well. Different cultivars and hybrids have been produced and developed with flowers ranging in colors and other features. Prominent colors that have been promoted in the recent past are white, yellow, orange, scarlet and different shades of pink. ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION Hibiscus rosa-sinensis are native to Tropical Asia. A native of Southeastern Asia (China), the plant is commonly found throughout the tropics and as a house plant throughout the world. Most ornamental varieties are hybrids. The present wide range of cultivars is considered to be a complex of inter specific hybrids, between 8 or more different species originating from the African East Coast and islands in the Indian and Pacific Ocean. COMMON NAMES China rose, China rose plant, Dasani, Gudhal, Gurhal, Jaba, Joba, Mandaar, Sadaphool, Senicikobia, Japaphool, Japa, Japakusam, Jasum, Jasunt, Jaswand, Jia pushpa, Kante, Mandasa, Sambathoo Chedi, Senitoa Yaloyalo. VERNACULAR NAMES Sanskrit- japa, Hindi- jasum, Gulhar, Bengali- jaba, English- Chinese hibiscus, Shoe flower, China rose, Malayalam- Bunga Raya, Tamil- Sembaruthi, Telugu- Dasananu. Tribal name: HinduMa-pangi (Marma), Raktajaba(Chakma). PLANT PROFILE Botanical Name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. Kingdom; Plantae Subkingdom: Tracheobionta (Vascular plants) Super division: Spermatophyta (Seed plants) Division: Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants) Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons) Subclass: Dilleniidae Order: Malvales Family: Malvaceae Genus: Hibiscus Species: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

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International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences

ISSN: 2229-3701

PLANT TYPE: Shrub or Small tree PARTS USED: Flowers, leaves and root DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT Roots: Cylindrical of 5-15 cm length and 2 cm in diameter, off white in colour light brown transverse lenticies. Its fracture is fibrous. Roots taste sweet and mucilaginous. Leaves: Leaves are simple ovate or ovate- lanceolate. Leaves are entire at the base and coarsely toothed at the apex. Taste is mucilaginous. Flowers: Flowers are pedicillate, actinomorphic, pentamerous and complete. Corolla consists of 5 petals, red in colour and about 3 inches in diameter. Fruit: The fruit (very rarely formed) is a capsule about 3 cm long. Varieties: Many varieties exist differing in size and colour, in single (or) double forms. The important colours include Red, White, Yellow, and Light Red. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS Leaves and stems contain -sitosterol, stigmasterol, taraxeryl acetate and three cyclopropane compounds and their derivatives. Flowers contain cyanidin diglucoside, flavonoids and vitamins, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and ascorbic acid (Ghani, 2003). Quercetin-3-diglucoside, 3,7-diglucoside, cyanidin3,5-diglucoside and cyanidin-3-sophoroside-5glucoside have been isolated from deep yellow flowers; all above compounds and kaempferol-3xylosylglucoside have been isolated from ovary white flowers (Rastogi & Mehrotra, 1993). THERAPEUTIC USES Flowers : refrigerant" emollient and emmenagogue, aphrodisiac; decoction given in bronchial catarrh; infusion of petals is a refrigerant drink in fever, demulcent in cough and useful in strangury, cystitis and other genito-urinary troubles Oil from the fresh petals and olive oil in equal proprotion find application in alopecia; Leaves : anodyne, emollient and aperient; juice beneficial in gonorrhoea, alopecia and also used for blackening hair; The buds have a sweet odour and bitter taste; cooling, astringent; remove burning of the body, urinary discharges, seminal weakness, piles, uterine and vaginal discharges; promote the growth of the foetus; cause vomiting and intestinal worms. The flowers fried in ghee check excessive menstruation, the fresh root-juice of the wild flower variety is given for gonorrhea, and the powdered root

for menorrhagia. The root is valuable in coughs. The flowers are considered emollient, and an infusion of the petals is given as a demulcent and refrigerant drink in fevers. Externally they are used in all kinds of inflammation. PHARMACOLOGY It is well accepted that the leaves and flowers of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis have various pharmacological properties. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Fam. Malvaceae) is a perennial ornamental shrub available throughout India. Various parts of this plant, like leaves, flowers and roots, have been known to possess medicinal properties like aphrodisiac, menorrhagia, oral contraceptive, laxative, etc. Several articles and ancient literature have shown that the flowers of this plant possess antifertility activity, like antimplantation, abortifacient, in rodents. Implantation is a very crucial event in reproductive physiology. Several biochemicals, biophysical and hormonal changes take place prior to this event. Several studies have shown that endometrial membrane conditions are important for blastocyst implantation progesterone, estrogen, oxyradical and antioxidant systems regulate implantation. The aqueous-ethanolic extract of aerial parts of H. rosa sinensis was reported for its use in constipation and diarrhea. In traditional medicine, the leaves of the plant are used in fatigue and skin disease. Fresh root juice of the plant is given for gonorrhea and powder root for menorrhagia. Flowers of the plant are used in epilepsy, leprosy, bronchial catarrh and diabetes. An infusion of the petal is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine in India as a demulcent, refrigerant, drink in fever and decoction is given in bronchial catarrh. Previous studies showed that the plant possesses anticomplementary, anti-diarrhetic, anti-phologistic activity. It has been reported that the plant flower possesses anti-spermatogenic and androgenic, antitumour and anticonvulsant activities. Infusion of the petals is given as refrigerant and demulcent. Leaves are used as laxative while root is used in cough. Hibiscus extracts or related products have protective effects in rat stomach. Turkish researchers found fresh fruits of Hibiscus esculentus L. (Malvaceae) had protective effects on ethanol-induced ulcerogenesis in a study of rats. Hibiscus extracts showed benefits on diabetic rats. Indian researchers noticed the blood glucose and insulin lowering effects of ethanol extracts of Hibiscus rosa sinensis (flower) in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. They observed the maximum hypoglycemic effect after 21 days of use. In other studies, repeated administration of the extract (once a

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International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences

ISSN: 2229-3701

day for seven consecutive days), at an oral dose equivalent to 250 mg kg (-1), also significantly improved glucose tolerance in rats. They believed that the leaf extract acts like tolbutamide and the mechanism of action may be a stimulation of pancreatic beta cells to produce more insulin or an increase of the glycogen deposition in liver. Thus, mechanism of action could be speculated partly to increased utilization of glucose, either by direct stimulation of glucose uptake or via the mediation of enhanced insulin secretion. Hibiscus extracts showed effects on glycogen content. Ethanolic extracts (50%), as well the benzene extracts, of H. rosa-sinensis Linn. have reduced significantly the glycogen contents in the uterus of adult rat in a dose proportional fashion. Hibiscus flower extracts may have anti-fertility properties. Kholkute SD and co-workers prepared extracts from Hibiscus rosa sinensis flowers, leaves, and stem barks and they found only extracts from the flowers of the plant were 100% effective in preventing pregnancy. Those flowers collected during the winter showed the greatest potency, followed by those collected in the spring, rainy season, and summer, in decreasing order. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (Malvaceae) has been reported to have their fertility inhibiting effects in the male. In another study, intake of alcoholic extracts of H. rosa sinensis flowers led to decreased spermatogenic elements of testis and epididymal sperm count. While, researchers found Hibiscus rosa sinensis Linn. Extracts had no effects on weights of the male reproductive organ in a study of rats. Hibiscus extracts may have benefits of anti-cancer activities. Indian researchers showed a protective effect of Hibiscus rosa sinensis extract against the tumor promotion stage of cancer development in mice skin. They first induced hyper proliferation and oxidative stress using benzoyl peroxide and then UV radiation. The benzoyl peroxide application caused significant depletion in the detoxification and antioxidant enzymes, while malondialdehyde formation, hydrogen peroxide content, ornithine

decarboxylase activity and DNA synthesis were raised significantly. They found pretreatment of Hibiscus rosa sinensis extracts partly restored the levels of cellular protective enzymes. Researchers also noticed its anti-cancer activities in other animal studies. Hibiscus extracts may have benefits of hair growth. Indian researchers claimed Hibiscus rosa-sinensis might help hair growth, based on their animal and test-tube studies. In the animal study, they applied 1% extract of leaves and flowers in liquid paraffin topically over the shaved skin of rats for 30 days. In the vitro study, they culted the hair follicles isolated from rat neonates extracts of leaves or flowers. They found extracts from leaves offered better benefits for hair growth in rats. Hibiscus extracts may benefit in convulsion. Indian researchers also claim that the ethanolic extracts of flowers of Hibiscus rosa sinesis exhibited anticonvulsant activity in a mice study. The extracts protected animals from maximum electro shock, electrical kindling and pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsions. They reported, the extracts raised brain contents of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) and serotonin. Hibiscus may cause dermatitis and skin irritation. Studies have shown that Hibiscus rosa sinensis interfered the estrous cycle and reproductive organs in female albino rats. Application of Hibiscus extracts for 30 days resulted in a significant reduction in the weight of the ovaries, uterus, and pituitary gland. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis flowers are contragestative agent in animal studies. In mouse, oral administration of the benzene extract of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis flowers at a dose level of 1 gm/kg body weight/day from day 5-8 of gestation led to termination of pregnancy in about 92% of the animals. The effect was associated with a significant fall in peripheral level of progesterone and increase in uterine acid phosphatase activity, as measured on 10 day.

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REFERENCES 1. Kholkute SD, et al, Effect of Hibiscus rosa sinensis Linn. on oestrous cycle & reproductive organs in rats. Indian J Exp Biol. 1976 Nov; 14(6):703-4. 2. Kholkute SD, et al, Studies on the antifertility potentiality of Hibiscus rosa sinensis. Parts of medicinal value; selection of species and seasonal variations. Planta Med. 1977 Feb; 31(1):35-9. 3. Prakash AO. Glycogen contents in the rat uterus: response to Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn. extracts. Experientia. 1979 Aug 15; 35(8):11223. 4. Paulsen E, et al, Immediate skin and mucosal symptoms from pot plants and vegetables in gardeners and greenhouse workers. Contact Dermatitis. 1998 Oct; 39(4):166-70. 5. Sachdewa A, Khemani LD. Effect of Hibiscus rosa sinensis Linn. ethanol flower extract on blood glucose and lipid profile in streptozotocin induced diabetes in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Nov; 89(1):61-6. 6. Sharma S, et al, Effect of Hibiscus rosa sinensis extract on hyper proliferation and oxidative damage caused by benzoyl peroxide and ultraviolet radiations in mouse skin. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2004 Nov; 95(5):220-5. 7. Sharma S, et al, Study on prevention of twostage skin carcinogenesis by Hibiscus rosa sinensis extract and the role of its chemical constituent, gentisic acid, in the inhibition of tumour promotion response and oxidative stress in mice. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2004 Feb; 13(1):53-63. 8. Adhirajan N, et al, In vivo and in vitro evaluation of hair growth potential of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn. J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Oct; 88(2-3):235-9. 9. Gurbuz I, et al, Anti-ulcerogenic activity of some plants used as folk remedy in Turkey. J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Sep; 88(1):93-7. 10. Sachdewa A, et al, A preliminary investigation of the possible hypoglycemic activity of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Biomed Environ Sci. 1999 Sep; 12(3):222-6. 11. Sachdewa A, Effect of Aegle marmelos and Hibiscus rosa sinensis leaf extract on glucose tolerance in glucose induced hyperglycemic rats (Charles foster). J Environ Biol. 2001 Jan; 22(1):53-7. 12. Sachdewa A, et al, Hypoglycemic effect of Hibiscus rosa sinensis L. leaf extract in glucose and streptozotocin induced hyperglycemic rats. Indian J Exp Biol. 2001 Mar; 39(3):284-6.

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27. The Wealth of India. Raw materials, vol. 5. New Delhi, CSIR 1959; p. 91. 28. Chopra, R.N., Chopra, I.C., Varma, B.S., .Supplement to Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants, New Delhi, India 1969 ;p.39. 29. Shimizu, N., Tomoda, M., Suzuki, T., Takada, K., Plant mucilages. XLIII. A representative mucilage with biological activity from the leaves of Hibiscus rosa sinensis. Biological and Pharmceutical Bulletin. 1993; 16: 735739. 30. Reddy, C.M., Murthy, D.R.K., Patil, S.B., Antispermatogenic and androgenic activities of various extracts of Hibiscus rosa sinensis in albino mice. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 1997; 35:1170 1174. 31. Serrame, E., Lim Sylianco, C.Y., Anti-tumour promoting activity of decoctions and expressed juices from Philippine medicinal plants. Philippine Journal of Science 1995; 124: 275 281. 32. Kasture, V.S., Chopde, C.T., Deshmukh, V.K., Anticonvulsive activity of Albizzia lebbeck, Hibiscus rosa sinensis and Butea monosperma in experimental animals. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2000; 71: 6575. 33. Alam, M.M., Siddiqui, M.B., Hussain, W., Treatment of diabetes through herbal drugs in rural India. Fitoterapia 1990; 61: 240242. 34. Ragunathan, V., Sulochana, N., A new flavonol bioside from the flowers of Hibiscus vitifolius Linn. and its hypoglycemic activity. Journal of Indian Chemical Society 1994; 71: 705706.

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