Chemistry and Biological Activities of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Flowers
description: Hibiscus sabdariffa L. is one of the underutilized plants of the Malvaceae family, used for its nutritional and medicinal properties. Its native range spans central Africa, including the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Sudan, and naturalized globally. Traditionally, flowers are used as a food, either consumed fresh or prepared into various recipes. Flowers are also used in the preparation of beverages, fermented and herbal drinks, ice cream, jam, wine, cakes, puddings, chocolates, sauce, soup, and stew. The medicinal properties of the flowers are due to the presence of a wide array of bioactive compounds, such as anthocyanins, flavonoids and their glycosides, phenolic acids, terpenoids, alkaloids, coumarins, organic acids, vitamins, and fatty acids. A total of 78 secondary metabolites belonging to different phytochemical groups mentioned above have been identified in the flowers. The activity of H. sabdariffa flowers against hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cancer and tumours, oxidation, obesity, microbial infection, inflammation, and anaemia is reported extensively. The present chapter summarizes the distribution of H. sabdariffa and traditional uses, bioactive compounds, and pharmacological activities of its flowers. Further, the toxicological studies concerning flowers were also discussed. 2026 Hosakatte Niranjana Murthy.
creator: Yadav, Guggalada Govardhana; Murthy, Hosakatte Niranjana
source: Bioactive Compounds in Edible Flowers;pp.225-245
publisher: CRC Press
date: 01-01-2026
rights: Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library
relation: ISBN: 978-104058108-7; 978-104107986-6;
language: English
type: Book chapter
coverage: Yadav G.G., Department of Botany, A. D. B. First Grade College, Harapanahalli, 583131, India, P. G. Department of Studies in Botany, Karnatak University, Dharwad, 580003, India; Murthy H.N., P. G. Department of Studies in Botany, Karnatak University, Dharwad, 580003, India, Department of Horticultural Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, South Korea, Department of Life Sciences, CHRIST University, Bengaluru, 5600039, India