Herbal Tea Treats Constipation • Herbs for Menstrual Pain • Clove for Oral Pain The Journal of the American Botanical Council Number 74 | USA $6.95 | CAN $7.95 Protecting Slippery Elm Trees Iranian Herbal Medicine Jamaica’s Display until Aug. 1, 2007 Cinchona Gardens www.herbalgram.org www.herbalgram.org 2007 HerbalGram 74 | 1 2 | HerbalGram 74 2007 www.herbalgram.org Herb Profile Hibiscus Hibiscus sabdariffa Family: Malvaceae INTRODUCTION ative to parts of North Africa and Southeast Asia, placebo in hypertensive patients.9 A recent double-blind, refer- Hibiscus sabdariffa is a shrubby tropical plant that ence-controlled trial demonstrated a significant reduction in BP produces light yellow flowers with reddish-purple in the hibiscus group when compared directly with the antihyper- N1 tensive drug lisinopril.8 Animal research suggests potential antiox- centers. After the petals drop from the flower, its remaining 10 deep red calyces (the cup-like structures formed by the sepals) idant and cholesterol-lowering effects of hibiscus teas. A recent 11 grow into seed-containing pods that look like flower buds. clinical trial supports this activity. Most of the hibiscus plant’s economic value, particularly as an Animal research has tested the potential use of topical hibis- cus extract from a different species, H. rosa-sinensis, as a cancer ingredient in herbal teas, comes from the red calyx, although chemopreventive agent,12,13 but there are no human clinical studies the leaves, seeds, and flowers are also used in local forms of 1 supporting this activity. traditional medicine. In commerce the calyces are known by An official quality control standards monograph for the whole or the names hibiscus and roselle. cut calyces and epicalyces collected during fruiting is published in the 5th edition of the European Pharmacopoeia under the European 14 HISTORY AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE common name Roselle (Hibisci sabdariffae flos). Hibiscus is now widely cultivated for its flowers, fruit, and FUTURE OUTLOOK calyces in the tropical and subtropical regions of almost every The main supply of hibiscus comes from Thailand, Sudan, continent. The hibiscus plant has many medicinal, decorative, China, and Mexico and is known as jamaica (ha-my-kah).15 and culinary uses. In Egypt and Sudan the deep red tea from Sudanese hibiscus, formerly the primary source of hibiscus sold the calyces, called karkade, is popular as a “refrigerant,” i.e., a in herbal teas in the United States, is considered by many in the beverage that helps lower body temperature. In Egypt prepara- herb trade as the preferred product. Due to the US trade embargo tions from the calyx have been used to treat cardiac and nerve on agricultural goods from Sudan due to the conflict in Darfur, diseases and also to stimulate diuresis (increased production of Sudanese hibiscus is now sold through brokers in Germany at a urine).1 Elsewhere in North Africa, calyx preparations are used to substantial price mark-up. Therefore, the majority of hibiscus in treat cough, sore throat, and genital problems, and the emollient the United States now comes from China and Thailand. Germany leaf pulp is used for treating external wounds and abscesses.2 In and the United States are the main importers of hibiscus products. Europe dried calyces and epicalyces (a group of bracts simulat- There is a growing industry of hibiscus production in the Afri- ing a calyx) are used primarily as a caffeine-free beverage tea.3 can nations of Gambia (where it is called wanjo), Mali, Namibia In 1990 the German Commission E evaluated various European (omutete), Nigeria (zobo), Senegal (bissap), Tanzania, and Uganda, uses of hibiscus and determined that efficacy for the claimed uses plus the Tamil Nadu area of South India, as well as in the Carib- has not been substantiated, including its uses to stimulate appetite, for colds, catarrhs of the upper respiratory tract, Continues on page 4 to dissolve phlegm, as a gentle laxative, diuretic, and for circulatory disorders.4 Still, hibiscus is used in many medic- inal herbal products in the German-speaking countries. It is used particularly in medicinal teas in combination with lemon balm leaf (Melissa officinalis, Lamiaceae) and St. John’s wort herb (Hypericum perforatum, Clusiaceae) for nervous restlessness and difficulty falling asleep.5 In Iran, sour hibiscus tea is a traditional treatment for hyperten- sion.6 The stalks are used in making rope in Africa and the seeds are expressed for the oil.7 MODERN RESEARCH The traditional uses of hibiscus for its blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect have been clinically researched. A stan- dardized extract of hibiscus was shown effective in lowering BP in hypertensive humans in a controlled Mexican trial.8 A clinical study in Iran also investigated the BP-lowering effects of sour tea (hibiscus tea) and found it superior to Hibiscus Hibiscus sabdariffa Photo by Steven Foster. ©2007 stevenfoster.com www.herbalgram.org 2007 HerbalGram 74 | 1 Your Source for Herbal Information Coming Soon! New and Improved Benefits for ABC Members ABC is proud to announce the upcoming launch of our re-designed and re- engineered website at www.herbalgram.org Offering our Members more security for financial transactions, better management of online profile, and easier navigation to the password-protected Members-only online educational resources. Other benefits of Membership include: • A subscription to HerbalGram, ABC’s quarterly, peer-reviewed journal • Monthly news and updates from HerbalEGram • Discounts on publications from our e-store, and much more. Personal Memberships begin at $50 per year Company Memberships begin at $500 per year Join or Renew Online at www.herbalgram.org or Call 800-373-7105 HIBISCUS Continued from page 1 bean islands. Some of the African hibiscus production has focused on organically grown advisory board material, based on initiatives by the Swedish Each issue of HerbalGram is peer reviewed by members of the ABC International Development Agency (SIDA) Advisory Board and other qualified experts before publication. and a group called the Export Promotion of Organic Products from Africa (EPOPA).7 Cindy K. Angerhofer, PhD Edward M. Croom, Jr., PhD Director of Botanical Research, Aveda Institute, Adjunct Associate Professor of Pharmacognosy, Additionally, the United States Agency for Minneapolis, Minnesota University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi International Development (USAID)-backed Agriculture in Sustainable African Plant Prod- John Thor Arnason, PhD Wade Davis, PhD Professor of Biology, Department of Biology, Explorer-in-Residence, National Geographic Society, ucts (ASNAPP) supports initiatives in which University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Washington, D.C. over 4000 rural farmers, mostly women, are growing the herb, mainly in the west-African Dennis V. C. Awang, PhD, FCIC Steven Dentali, PhD area around Senegal.16 MediPlant Natural Products Consulting Services, Vice President of Scientific and Technical Affairs, White Rock, B.C., Canada American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, In 1999, reports from the Food and Agri- Maryland culture Organization of the United Nations Bruce Barrett, MD, PhD stated that the demand for hibiscus had been Associate Professor of Family Medicine, Hardy Eshbaugh, PhD increasing steadily. At that time, about 15,000 University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School Professor of Botany & Assistant Curator, Willard Sherman Turrell Herbarium, Miami University, metric tons of hibiscus were involved in inter- Marilyn Barrett, PhD 15 Oxford, Ohio national trade over a period of one year. Pharmacognosy Consulting Service, San Carlos, California Trish Flaster, MS Executive Director, Botanical Liaisons, LLC, Boulder, CO Ezra Bejar, PhD —Gayle Engels Director of Technical Sciences, Herbalife International, Joe Graedon, MS Inc., Los Angeles, CA Author, syndicated columnist, radio host, REFERENCES Durham, North Carolina Bradley C. Bennett, PhD 1. Leung AY, Foster S, eds. Encyclopedia of Associate Professor of Biology, Florida International Charlotte Gyllenhaal, PhD Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, University, Miami Research Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy, Drugs, and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York: John University of Illinois at Chicago; Research Program Wiley and Sons; 1996. John A. Beutler, PhD Manager, Block Center for Integrative Cancer Care, 2. Neuwinger HD. African Traditional Medicine. Staff Scientist, Molecular Targets Development Evanston, IL Stuttgart: Medpharm Scientific Publication; Program, National Cancer Institute 2000. 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