A BRIEF REVIEW ON HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA LINN WITH THEIR MEDICINAL USES AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY

Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn is a medicinal plant commonly known as Rosella, Sorrel, Jamaica, red-Ambadi, Queensland jelly plant etc. belonging to the family Malvaceae. Since ancient times, it has played an important role in treating various diseases. It enlarges great importance for its therapeutic potential. It is native to India, tropical Africa, and many countries like Brazil, Australia, Hawaii, Florida, Philippians, Vietnam, Central America, etc. H. sabdariffa is one such plant grown as a garden plant and vegetable plant with many traditional uses. It has immense potential as a medicinal plant and also has many beneficial effects. The plant is having height of about 3.5 m tall with dark green, red steam. The leaves are 7.5 to 12.5 cm long, calyx is red colored and consists of 5 large sepals, and the fruit is a velvety capsule about 1.25-2cm long, green in color containing 5 valves each containing 3-4 seeds. The whole plant is having many pharmacological activities reported, including Antidiabetic effect, anticancer activity, hypertensive effect, hypolipidemic effect, blood pressure-lowering effect, Antihelmentic, antioxidant effect, antiseptic, astringent, demulcent, digestive, purgative properties. It is also used to treat cancer, cough, dyspepsia, hangover, heart ailment, neurosis, scurry and strangury. These activities can be attributed mainly to the presence of phytochemicals such as flavonoid, pectin, antioxidant, anthocyanin’s, hibiscus acid, Vitamin C, protein, citric acid, β-carotene and so on.