Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn.
Family Malvaceae.
Habitat Native to the West Indies; now cultivated in Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Punjab, Assam and Tamil Nadu.
English Roselle, Jamaican Sorrel, Natal Sorrel, Red Sorrel.
Ayurvedic Ambashtthaki.
Hippophae rhamnoides Linn. 311
Siddha/Tamil Sivappu Kashmakki, Pulichai-keerai, Gogu, Seemai Kaseru.
Folk Laal-ambaadi, Patavaa, Patsan.
Action Digestive, choleretic, antibilious, laxative, diuretic, hypotensive, antiscorbutic. Used as a cardiac and nervine tonic for disorders of circulation, also for calcified arteries.
Key application Flowers—used for loss of appetite, for colds, catarrhs of the upper respiratory tract and stomach, for disorders of circulation. (Included among unapproved herbs by German Commission E.)
The seeds contain sterols, including 3.2% ergosterol; leaves contain sitosterol-beta-D-galactoside. Flowers contain myricetin, kaempferol and quercetin, but did not contain free mutagenic flavonol aglycons.
The aqueous extract of flower buds has been reported to decrease blood pressure, cause relaxation of rat uterus. Succulent sepals and leaves—hypotensive, antimicrobial and anthelmintic.
Oil and unsapanofiable matter—antibacterial, antifungal.
Dosage Root—5—l0 g. (API Vol. III.)
Hibiscus surattensis Linn.
Family Malvaceae.
Habitat Throughout the warmer parts of India.
Ayurvedic Ran Bhindi.
Folk Kishli-Keerai (Tamil Nadu).
Action Flower—emollient,
pectoral. Stem and leaf—used in urethritis and venereal diseases.
Petals (yellow part) gave gossypitrin and gossypetin; the purple part gave cyanidin, delphinidin and pelargonidin.
Hippophae rhamnoides Linn. Family Elaeagnaceae.
Habitat North-west Himalayas at
