PLANT PROFILE
Abelmoschus manihot is a perennial shrub from Hibiscus tribe of Malvaceae family. It probably originates from tropical and subtropical areas of southern and eastern parts of China, and from there it was spread to north of India and Southeast Asia. And nowadays it is cultivated and often also grows wild in the South Asia region from India and Sri Lanka, through Myanmar, Thajland, Indonesia, the Philippines to Melanesia, Polynesia and northern Australia. It was also introduced in some regions of Africa and South America.
It is commonly cultivated as a leafy vegetable, but often also for its medicinal use and sometimes as an ornamental plant, as its big yellow flowers has a lot of charm. It is highly polymorphic species, as its leaves form vary from slightly to deeply cutted palmate or can even have a thin spearhead-like shape. And even on one plant there might be signifficant differences in shape of the leaves. A huge number of differently looking cultivars of Abelmoschus manihot, is mainly due to the fact that this species domesticated plants easily get crosspolinated by wild forms of A. manihot, as well as with other species from genus Abelmoschus. To which among few other belongs Abelmoschus esculentus and Abelmoschus caillei species, which seedpods called Okra are popular vegetable in many regions of the world.
Abelmoschus manihot popularity is much lesser, as it is little known outside of S-E Asia and Oceania. And even there it stays unknown or little known in many parts of the regions. But in some communities of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Samoa and Fiji, it is one of the most commonly used leafy vegetables. Grown in private vegetable gardens or gathered from wild, but sometimes also cultivated on plantations, and often sold on local markets, in form of bundles of whole stems with leaves. Plantators in Fiji even export fresh A. manihot leaves to Canada and frozen to New Zealand, Australia and USA, where it is much appreciated mostly by migrants from Pacific islands, longing for their traditional food ingredients.
Although medicinal properties of Abelmoschus manihot are lesser known than its highly nutritional value. In many communities it it is highly esteemed as a medicinal herb, and its leaves are consumed as a remedy for many diseases, from stomach problems, urinary ailments to fever, headache and tumors. In China the flowers of Abelmoschus manihot has been used for centuries to treat even most serious kidneys problems. It was described in two oldest books of classical Chinese medicine, namely Jia You Ben Cao (mid-11th century) and Ben Cao Gang Mu (1578), and officially listed in 2021 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.
Abelmoschus manihot was also used in China for centuries as an ingredient in paper making. Nowadays the plant's musilage is still used in Japan in production of special paper called Washi, and in Korea traditional paper called Hanji.
Here are some of the common names used for this plant : Aibika, Aigiri, Gogae, Kabul (Papua New Guinea), Gedi, Degi, Sarolo (Indonesia), Jungli Bhindi (Hindi), Raan Bhendi (Marathi), Usipak (Assamese), Kantalo Bhende (Gujarati), Phuttu Bhaji (Chhattisgarhi), Sweet Hibiscus, Edible Hibiscus, Manihot Mallow, Sunset Hibiscus, Yellow Hibiscus, Lettuce Tree, Queensland Greens (English), Pele (Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands), Bele, Vauvau, Momoke (Fiji), Nuk, Barmai, Kwere (Vanuatu), Slippery Cabbage, Island Cabbage, Pacific Cabbage, Nambelle, Neka, Lema, Gole (Solomon Islands), Te Nambere (Kiribati), Naonit (New Caledonia), Lagikuway, Barakue, Glikway (the Philippines), Paw Fai (Thailand), Bonde, Koto (Sierra Leone), Gbamafetri (Ghana), Tororo-aoi, Kusadamo (Japanese), Dakpul (Korean), Somaradza (Tibetan) ; Chinese names: flowers - Huang Shu Kui Hua, seeds - Huang Shu Kui Zi, leaves - Huang Shu Kui Ye, stem or stem bark - Huang Shu Kui Jing, roots - Huang Shu Kui Gen. And you will find impressive extended list of A. manihot verncular names here.
Abelmoschus manihot in the past was also known under its botanical synonyms like : Hibiscus manihot, Hibiscus palmatus, Bamia manihot, Bamia magnifica and Erebennus manihot, to name just a few.
And some botanists recognise varieties of this plant like : dissecta, megaspermus, platidactylis, timorensis, pungens, genuinus, or subspecies : caillei, tetraphyllus. But other says that Abelmoschus caillei is probably hybrid of Abelmoschus manihot and Abelmoschus esculentus, or endemic African species.
And in my and many other scientists opinion Abelmoschus tetraphyllus is a seperate species, and the line between it and A. manihot, should be that all the disputed manihot-like specimens with any kinds of micro-hairs should be classified as tetraphyllus, while only those with glabrous leaves and stems should be recognised as a real A. manihot. That means consider A. manihot as a domisticated form of wild, hairy A. tetraphyllus, that evolved over centuries of selective cultivation of specimens with non-hairy and more juicy leaves, in order to acheive better vegetable type.
But at the present many if not the most of authors are stating that Abelmoschus manihot leaves and stems are covered with short hispid or prickly hairs.
CULTIVATION AND HARVESTING Abelmoschus manihot is a perrenial shrub, that when young is more of a robust herbaceus plant nature, as only its old stems become fully woody, while young one are quite soft and succulent. It has erect stems, and can reach height of up to 5m, and width of around 3m. In its wild state it can be found mostly in valleys and wet grasslands but also in wastelands and humid rocky hillsides. And it is commonly planted in vegetable gardens in pacific islands villages. It often grows as just an annual plant either due to climate conditions, like extreeme seasonal draughts or cold winters or because of cultivation manner. In temperate climates with mild frosts A. manihot dies back to the ground but can grow back from the underground parts.
Aibika prefers humid tropical climate, sandy loam and clay loam soil with fair amount of compost, pH between 5 and 7, and sunny position. And in those conditions it can have rapid growth of one meter per month in young plants. The growth of new stems and leaves, its number and size is lesser near and during flowering period, and also decline with plant's age. And for that reason A. manihot is cultivated mainly as an annual plant, as the old plants are removed and replaced with young ones, which are more leaf productive. Its propagation is quick and easy, as its woody and half-woody cuttings are growing roots very fast.
It can be also grown from the seeds, but the seedlings grow initially much slower than young plants from cuttings. Cuttings cultivation method also accertain you that your young plants will have all the characteristics of the mother plant. As cultivars of Abelmoschus manihot easily crosspolinate with wild forms of A. manihot, as well as with other species of Abelmoschus genus. This hybridisation and common occurance of mutations cause huge variation in morphology of this species. Its leaves shape can be anything from slightly to deeply cutted palmate, and also cordate or spear-like, while its size can be from a fist size to size of a big plate.
The leaves color can be from light to dark green or reddish, young stems and leaf petioles are often red or purplish. The leaves look can be even significantly different within the one plant, as it is often changing with weather conditions or growth stage, it is usually smaller in size in older plants and during the flowering period. The flowering of Abelmoschus manihot generally occurs during dry, summer months, but of course vary due to region, for example in China it is during August to October, in Fiji June to November, while in the Philippines it is December to March. The flowers are usually yellow with dark purple centre, but it can also be white with purple center.
This plant is said to grow best in lowlands at altitudes to 800 m, but I have grew mine in the Philippines at elevation of 1400 m with good results, and it is noted to be cultivated even at heights of 2000 m. There is a huge number of cultivars of Abelmoschus manihot and some might be better adapted to particular conditions than other, for example : narrow-leaved Aibika varieties may be more drought tolerant than round-leaved forms.
A. manihot does not require much maintenance and it is usually cultivated in a mixed-cropping system. It is commonly intercropped with low growing vegetables, root crops and banana. It is highly salt tolernt plant, although extensive salinity is slowing its growth. Its growth can be also slowed by deficiency of water or waterlogging in soil. But the plant can withstand seasonal droughts, and is said to tolerate alkalinity and micronutrients deficiencies.
With enough watering A. manihot can produce continous abundance of its juicy leaves all year round. The cuttings start to grow shoots after about two weeks and the first harvest is taken usually after 3 months. Since then it can be harvested weekly (stems tops) or even daily (separate leaves) for year or two, before the plants start to be less leaf productive. Seperate leaves, tender shoots or whole longer stems tops with leaves can be harvested. But in case of harvesting only the leaves, sporadic prunning have to be done to curb the height of the bush and encourage better branching, which cause better leaf production.
Unfortunatelly humans are not the only animals that like tasty, nutritious leaves of Aibika, pests like grasshoppers, caterpillars and aphids, also loves it. The other threats are : Aibika Jassid (Amrasca devastans), Shot-hole Beetle (Nisotra basselae), Green Coconut Bug (Amblypelta cocophaga), Spherical Mealybug (Nipaecoccus viridis), Red Cotton Bug (Dysdercus cingulatus), Red Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae), Oribius Weevils (Oribius species) and White Fly (Hemiptera species). The plants can be also damaged by Black Shank (Phytophthora nicotianae), Myrothecium roridum and other types of fungal diseases, and viruses like Hibiscus Chlorotic Ringspot Virus (HCRSV). You can find more details about Abelmoschus manihot's pests and diseases and its prevention here.
Aibika leaves wilt easily, so for longer storage it is better to harvest leaves with the whole stem tops, and seperate the leaves from those stems just before the use. Seperate succulent shoot tips with very young, underdeveloped leaves also storage well. The mature leaves separately are best to be stored in plastic ventilated bags or containers in cool temperatures, it can be also wrapped in bababa leaves and occasionally sprinkled with water for better freshness. The whole stems can be held in buckets or other containers with water, so that the buttoms of the stems would be immersed in water.
CULINARY USES Abelmoschus manihot leaves are one of the most important leafy vegetables for many communities in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Melanesia, where many people consumes it daily. The leaves has soft texture and are juicy, mucilaginous and mild in taste. Which makes it a universal vegetable that combines well with any dish, and is great for salads and sandwiches. The very young immature leaves and stems tips are quite crispy, while older leaves can be a bit tougher and contain more mucilage. It is eaten raw, boiled in water or coconut milk, steamed, fried in vegetable oil or roasted on stone ovens.
In Fiji, Vanuatu and Tonga, Aibika leaves are much loved served like spinach. It is usually boiled for not longer than five minutes, and served hot with butter and lemon juice or coconut cream.
In Indonesia the leaves are essential ingredient for cooking porridge as a special gourmet food among the North Sulawesi cuisine, because the mucilage it contain enables the porridge to have a special viscosity. It is also commonly added to thicken soups and stews.
Aibika leaves and tops are great for making deep-fried batter snacks, like Indian Pakora.
The tender young leaves are low in fiber and rich in vitamins, which makes it excellent first food for infants when mashed together with root vegetables. While old leaves are good source of dietary fiber, which makes it usefull help in cases of chronic constipation.
Nutritious value of Abelmoschus manihot is much better than those of many popular leafy vegetables. For boiling Aibika a relatively small volume of water should be used, as some minerals, especially potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron and calcium are lost in the water. Therefore it is good to consume that water as a soup. Serving Aibika leaves with coconut cream, is said to increase the uptake of beta-carotene and conversion to vitamin A.
Abelmoschus manihot leaves contain high level of protein (18 - 24% of dry weight) and polysaccharides. It contains the essential amino acids : isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, valine and histidine. And is rich in vitamins A and C, riboflavin, thiamine, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium, manganese, phosphorus, sulphur and carotenoids ; more details, and here.
Aibika flower buds can be also eaten raw or cooked, and the fresh flowers was commonly eaten as a vegetable in old days in China. But unlike Okra, Aibika fruits are usually not smooth but covered with short bristle hairs, and therefore it is rarely eaten (but the anoying hairs can be scrabed off and Aibika fruits can be boiled just like Okra).
Despite that it is a heighly nutritious vegetable, Aibika should not be consumed by pregnant women, as some native tribes in Asia use it to induce abortion.
MEDICINAL USES Abelmoschus manihot was used as a medicinal plant for centuries. The oldest written record of its use as a healing herb comes from Zhou Hou bei Ji Fang ( A Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies ), written in 340 by Chinese physician Ge Hong. And it was later described in Chinese Medicine classics like Jia You Ben Cao (mid-11th century) and Ben Cao Gang Mu (1578). Chinese high regard for this plant's medicinal value, esspecially of its flowers, can be well seen, as they have listed it in 2021 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Medicinal use of A. manihot has also long tradition and strong importance in some regions of India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu and in other countries in South-east Asia, Melanesia and Polynesia (There are also reports of use of A. manihot as a medicine in some countries of Central and West Africa, although it might actually relate to use of Abelmoschus caillei). But while in China the plant's extracts are used also in clinical treatment by orthodox medicine doctors, in other countries this herb is only utilized by folk healers and traditional medicine practitioners.
Although, in the last decade interest of academics in medicinal potential of Abelmoschus manihot has risen, which resulted in many reaserches on the plants chemical constituents and its pharmacological actions (with the leaders in number of researches being China, India and Indonesia). And that has added to better understanding of Aibika's healing powers.
Traditionally all parts of this plant are used as a medicinal herb. Different parts of Aibika are commonly used as a mutual substitutes in treatment of many diseases, especially the leaves and flowers. But despite possesing many of the same medicinal properties, different parts of A. manihot might have different efectiveness in therapy of particular ailments.
Mucilage extracted from Aibika can be used in the same way like Okra mucilage, as a plasma replacement or blood volume expander.
LEAVES
The leaves of Abelmoschus manihot can be called a medicinal vegetable or functional food, as it is mainly not being dried and procesed, but simply eaten raw or slightly cooked (without salt) for its medicinal actions, which is : anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral hepatoprotective, renoprotective, anti-diabetic, lubricant, anticonvulsant, chelating, antipyretic, analgesic, antidepresant and emmenagogue, it also posess wound-healing, immunity-enhancing, myocardial and cerebral ischemic-reperfusion injury protecting properties.
In terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine A. manihot leaves are described as sweet and cold in nature, soothing, eliminating heat and detoxifying, setting a fracture and promoting tissue regeneration.
Abelmoschus manihot leaves are consumed as a treatment for :
- Digestive system ailments. It is used in cases of stomach aches, upset stomach, constipation, diarhoea, dysentery, hematemesis, acid reflux, it can also prevent nausea and vomiting.
- Inflammations. Aibika leaves are traditionally taken as a remedy for different kinds of inflammations, from sore throat, lungs or stomach inflammation to edema and rheumatism. Its extracts exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activities on paw edema in rats.
- Diabetes. It consumption is traditionally considered to be helpful in cases of diabetes. The study on mice has shown that A. manihot leaf extracts improve autophagy activity and mitochondrial function to attenuate the Diabetic Nephropathy progression.
- Hypercholesterolemia. In Indonesia Aibika leaves are boiled without salt, and both the leaves and decoction water are taken as a traditional medicine for high cholesterol. The leaf extracts has shown reduction of lipid accumulation in mice on high-fat diet.
- Urinary tract disorders. The leaves are taken to cure many types of urinary tract illnesses, like infections, inflammations, diabetic nephropathy and strangury (painful frequent urination). It was proved to improve glomerular filtration function, reduce proteinuria and mesangium hyperplasia, and that can reduce kidney tissue damage.
- Ulcers. Abelmoschus manihot leaves are widely used to treat different kinds of ulcers, i.a. oral and stomach ulcers. Its efectiveness against ulcers is mainly due to soothing, protective properties of mucilage, of which the leaves are a rich source.
- Osteoporosis and fractures. The leaves are traditionally used for fractures to stimulate bone repair and to prevent osteoporosis. Studies showed that consumption of high dose of the leaves provided bone-sparing effect.
- Pain. The leaves are also consumed to bring relief in headaches, kidney and ulcers pain, and are considered to be analgesic.
- To increase lactation. A. manihot is commonly eaten as leafy vegetable to stimulate milk production, lactating mothers are encouraged to drink plenty of unsalted Aibika soup or tea from the leaves.
- Childbirth and gynecological issues. The leaf infusion is used to induce and ease childbirth and to stimulate menstruation, shorten menstruation period, stop metrorrhagia or metrostaxis. The slimy liquid made from leaves is also used to control the fertility or to induce abortion, and should be avoided by pregnant women.
The leaves are also traditionally consumed to treat : colds, fever, chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, edema, burns, hemorrhoids, anemia and impotence.
Externally fresh mashed leaves of Abelmoschus manihot or the leaves decoction is applied as a treatment on : skin ulcers, burns, skin rashes, wounds, fractures, insect bites, cellulitis, leucoderma, hemorrhoids and carbuncle . The leaves juice is applied on sprains as an analgesic agent.
Abelmoschus manihot leaves are rich in mucilage consisting of polysaccharides and protein. It also contains : flavonoids (quercetin-3-o-robinobioside, isoquercetin, gossypetin-8-o-glucuronide, myricetin), flavonoid glycosides (hyperine), steroids (stigmast-4-en-3-one), steroidal saponins, alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins, amino acids, fatty acids (mainly linolenic acid and palmitic acid), nucleotides, phytol, dioctyl phthalate, tocopherol, Urs-12-en-28-ol, (2E,4E)-2,4-heptadecadienoic acid, methyl isopalmitate, 25-hydroxycholesterol, DL-α-tocopherol acetate, 3,5-di-tertbutylbenzaldehyde, fludrocortisone acetate and beta-amyrone.
FLOWERS
Abelmoschus manihot flowers, and more precisely the flowers petals also called corolla, with stamens and style, are mainly used dried. It is used to prepare infusions or decoctions (standard dose in TCM 5-15g), or ingested in form of powder (3-6g). But the fresh Aibika flowers can be also eaten raw, and the whole dried one can be eaten after soaking.
Its actions are described as : antioxidant, antiinflammatory, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, diuretic, antiviral, antibacterial, anticoagulant, analgesic, antitumor, neuroprotective, antidepresant and wound healing.
In terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine Aibika flowers are described as sweet, pungent, cooling and detoxifying, it is said to quicken blood circulation, arresting bleeding, reduce swelling and remove dampness and heat from the body.
Aibika flowers are taken orally as a treatment for :
- Kidney diseases. The flower of Abelmoschus manihot has a very long tradition of use as a herb for kidney diseases in China. It is used to treat chronic kidney diseases, such as Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), membranous nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy and pyelonephritis, and to protect kidney functions. A. manihot flowers were included as a medicine for kidney diseases in the Compendium of Materia Medica more than four centuries ago, and was listed in the 2021 edition the Chinese Pharmacopoeia for treating many diseases, such as chronic glomerulonephritis and diabetic nephropathy, in clinical practice.
A pharmacological study found that the effects of A. manihot flowers might be associated with the improvement of immune reactions inhibition of inflammation, protection of renal tubular epithelial cells, amelioration of kidney fibrosis, proteinuria and haematuria, and anticoagulant effects, among others. The results showed that A. manihot flower extract can significantly reduce urinary protein in patients with primary kidney disease (CKD stages 1-2), threw the protection of podocytes, and its effect is better than that of losartan potassium.
Pharmaceutical preparation of the extract of A. manihot flower, called Huang Kui Capsule, has been approved by the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) in 1999, as a class III drug for treating chronic glomerulonephritis, membranous nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy and other inflammatory diseases. There have been no reports of severe adverse events, and the most common adverse event is mild to moderate gastrointestinal discomfort. The HKC capsule contain: Flos Abelmoschus manihot dry extract (powder) 80%, magnesium stearate 3%, and calcium hydrogen phosphate 17%. The medicinal parts of the flower (corolla with stamens and style) undergoes alcohol extraction into ambrette fluid extract, and then is vacuum dried and crushed into a dry extract powder. Pharmaceutical preparation does not involve boiling.
- Liver diseases. In China, the decoction of the A. manihot flowers is traditionally used for the treatment of jaundice and various types of chronic and acute hepatitis. Its hepatoprotective actions was confirmed in scientific tests. Hyperoside, a compound isolated from the flowers, has shown significant activity against Hepatitis B virus.
- Women complaints. In Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands, the flowers are commonly used to impede menorrhagia and stop metrorrhagia or metrostaxis, but also to induce abortions, ease childbirth, help with retention of afterbirth, and to stimulate lactation.
- Bronchitis. In India, a glass of juice from A. manihot flowers is drunk regularly to get relieve from chronic bronchitis.
- Infections. Aibika flowers are traditionally taken as a remedy for different kinds of bacterial and viral infections, like stomach infections, pyogenic infections, infected wounds, carbuncle, mumps and gonorrhoea.
- Hypercholesterolemia. In Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands, Aibika flowers are used as a staple folk medicine to lower high cholesterol level.
- Toothache. For relief of toothache a glass of Aibika flowers juice is drunk regularly.
- Hemorrhages. In TCM, the flowers are used as a remedy for non-traumatic hemorrhages, hematemesis (vomiting of blood), metrorrhagia (intense intermenstrual bleeding) and metrostaxis (long lasting intermenstrual blood spotting).
Abelmoschus manihot flowers are also taken orally as treatment for : oral and stomach ulcers, reumatoid arthritis, inflammatory diseases, edema, strangury and to restore tissue damaged by ulcers and burns, and prevent osteoporosis.
Externally, Aibika flowers powder is used with added oil, or the fresh smashed petals are applied topically to treat : skin ulcers, burns and scalds, cellulitis and other types of skin inflammations, and carbuncle.
The flower contains : flavonoids (myricetin, isoquercetin, quercetin, gossypetin, anthocyanins), flavonoid glycosides (hyperoside, rutin, hibifolin, tiliroside, cannabiscitrin, floramanoside F, myricetin and quercetin derivatives), sterols (beta-sitosterol and its derivatives), glycerolmonopalmitate, 2,4‐dihydroxy benzoic acid, guanosine, adenosine, uracil, maleic acid, tannic acid, heptatriacontanoic acid, 1‐triacontanol, tetracosane, protocatechuic acid, hexadecane, octadecane and nicotinamide.
Accoring to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, hyperoside is used as a standard for quality control of Abelmoschus manihot and its compound preparations, and its flowers should contain not less than 0.5% of hyperoside.
SEEDS
In Tibetan Traditional Medicine, the seeds are the main part of Abelmoschus manihot used medicinaly. It is described as warming, astringent, bitter and slightly acrid. And used to treat leucorrhea, skin disorders, diabetes and blood disorders, to control sweating, and to act as aphrodisiac. Also in combination with Frankincense and Foetid Cassia to treat lymph disorders. Those information comes from the book '' Essentials of Tibetan Traditional Medicine '' by Thinley Gyatso and Chris Hakim. And contradict info form Medicinal Plant Database website of Hong Kong Baptist University, which states that the seeds are sweet and cold in nature.
The authors of this website wrote also that it excrete water, stimulate menstrual discharging, reduce swelling and detoxify. And is taken orally in form of decoction (10-15g of grinded seeds) or powder (2-5g) for treatment of stranguria, edema, constipation, infrequent lactation, carbuncle, epistaxis (nosebleeds) and injury from falls.
Aibika seeds are also said to boost up the stamina and immune system, regulate the proper functioning of the stomach and strenghtening it. And that it can be used for urinary stones
The seeds contain saturated acids and liquid acids, such as linoleic and oleic acids. It is also rich in protein and lysine.
BARK
The bark of Abelmoschus manichot is traditionally used as an anthelmintic, febrifuge, emmenagogue, diuretic, alexeteric and detoxifying. The bark decoctions are taken orally to treat strangury and urinary complaints, constipation and fever.
Fresh bark of Aibika is mashed with a bit of water added into a paste, which is applied on open wounds and cuts, with new paste being put every 2-3 days. It works as an antiseptic and is also used on open sores. The bark juice helps to lessen the swelling and muscle sores.
A. manihot stem bark contain abundance of phenolic constituents.
STEMS
Woody stems of Abelmoschus manihot are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a sweet and cold herb, to remove heat and detoxify, reduce defecation or urination. The stems extract has shown analgesic and wound healing activity.
Aibika stems decoction is taken orally to treat : consistent pyrexia, constipation, difficulty in urination, scalding injuries, furunculosis and swelling.
The ointments made with the woody stem extracts showed significant wound healing activity.
The woody stems of Aibika contain : stigmasterol, sitosterol, isoquercitrin, quercetin, hyperoside, hibifolin and isohamnetin. Some of those constituents are known for anticonsulvant and anti depressant-like activity.
ROOTS
The roots of Aibika are considered to be sweet, bitter and cold in nature. In Traditional Chinese Medicine roots decoction (9-15g) is used to excrete water, stimulate menstrual discharging and detoxify. It is taken to treat stranguria, urinary tract infections, edema, constipation, cancer, diabetes, injury from falls, infrequent lactation, carbuncle, ear canal inflammation and parotitis.
Externally the fresh smashed roots are applied or decoctions are used for topical washing of boils, sores, sprains, inflammations and leucoderma.
In Nepal the root juice is warmed and applied to sprains or drunk to relieve muscle pain due to sprains.
Abelmoachus manihot roots has been reported to posses analgesic and larvicidal activity. It contain muscilage, starch, tannins, flavonoids and glycosides, araban, lactose and rhamnosan.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
All parts of Abelmoschus manihot are safe for human consumption, according to both traditional knowledge records and modern toxicological tests. But none of Aibika parts should be given to women during pregnancy, as there are many records of its ethnobotanical uses as an abortifacient agent.
Sources
'' Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicines - Molecular Structures, Pharmacological Activities, Natural Sources and Applications: Vol. 5: Isolated Compounds T—Z, References, TCM Plants and Congeners '' - Jiaju Zhou, Guirong Xie, Xinjian Yan, Springer Science & Business Media 2011
HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF Abelmoschus manihot L. Medik LEAVES EXTRACT AND ITS NANOPARTICLE AGAINST CARBON TETRACHLORIDE INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN RATS - Yos Banne
ANTIOXIDANT AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF ABELMOSCHUS MANIHOT L. MEDIK LEAF FRACTION AGAINST CCL4-INDUCED LIVER DAMAGE IN RATS - YOS BANNE1, TATY SETYAWATI PONIDJAN, JOVIE MIEN DUMANAUW
Ethanobotanical Uses and Phytochemical analysis of Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medik - Arangale KB, Dhanwate AK, Shinde RN, Aher UB
Promoting nutritious leafy vegetables in the Pacific and Northern Australia - G.H. Lyons, R.G. Goebel, P. Tikai, K-J Stanley, M Taylor
