Hibiscus asper

Hibiscus asper

Hibiscus asper

Common Names: Bush Roselle, Thorny Roselle, Water Hemp, African Hemp
Local Names: Isapa (Yoruba, Nigeria), Ireagu (Igbo, Nigeria), Ramar-raafii, Ramar-ruwa, Raman kogi (Hausa, Nigeria), follere (Fulani, Nigeria), Nkarika (Efik, Nigeria)
Species ID: NMP-085 | wfo-0000722309 | NCBI_Taxonomy ID: 491163

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Tracheophytes

Clade: Angiosperms

Clade: Eudicots

Order: Malvales

Family: Malvaceae

Genus: Hibiscus

Species: H. asper

Synonyms: Hibiscus cannabinus chevalieri Hochr., Hibiscus cannabinus punctatus (A. Rich.) Hochr., Hibiscus cordofanus Turcz., Hibiscus unidens Lindl., Hibiscus verrucosus Guill. & Perr., Ketmia glandulosa Moench

Morphological Description

Hibiscus asper is a robust, erect annual or short-lived perennial herb, typically growing 1–2 m tall, occasionally reaching 2.5 m. Its key morphological features include:

·       Stem: Cylindrical, fluted, robust, covered with dense stellate hairs and prickly bristles, giving a thorny texture; green to reddish.

·       Leaves: Alternate, polymorphic, 3–15 cm long, 2–10 cm wide, ovate to deeply lobed (trilobed or parted), with serrated margins, smooth trinervate blades, and a cup-shaped gland at the base of the midrib; bristly petioles 2–10 cm long.

·       Flowers: Large, 5–8 cm in diameter, white to pale yellow with a red or purple center, borne in axillary clusters; epicalyx with 7–10 triangular lobes; calyx with five thick sepals, red-dotted, and a central wart gland.

·       Fruit: Pubescent capsule, spherical to ovoid, 1–2 cm long, containing 10–20 seeds; seeds gray-beige, 3–4 mm, with dark brown asperities.

The plant’s thorny stem and glandular features distinguish it within the Malvaceae family (Hutchinson & Dalziel, 1958).

Distribution and Habitat

Hibiscus asper is widely distributed across tropical Africa, with records from:

·       West Africa: Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Mali (annual rainfall 600–1,500 mm).

·       Central Africa: Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic.

·       East Africa: Sudan, Ethiopia, Madagascar.

It thrives in sunny, disturbed habitats—roadsides, riverbanks, savannas, and fallow fields—preferring well-drained, sandy-loam soils (pH 5.5–7.0) and tolerating seasonal flooding (Burkill, 1997).

Ethnopharmacology

Hibiscus asper is traditionally utilized in various African regions for its medicinal properties. The leaves are employed as potent sedatives, restorative tonics, anti-inflammatories, antidepressants, and anti-anemic agents, and in the management of jaundice. Phytochemical analyses have revealed that H. asper contains compounds with significant antioxidant properties, which may contribute to its therapeutic effects. Additionally, the leaves have been applied to treat various skin conditions, including eczematous sores, underscoring their traditional dermatological applications. These findings support the traditional use of Hibiscus asper in managing neurological disorders and highlight its potential as a source of therapeutic agents, with studies validating its uses:

·       Neuroprotective: Leaf decoctions treat depression in Cameroon. Hritcu et al. (2011) found methanolic leaf extracts (100 mg/kg) improved spatial memory in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats, linked to antioxidant activity (SOD increase by 30%).

·       Anti-inflammatory: Leaves used for swelling in Nigeria. Foyet et al. (2015) showed methanolic extracts (400 mg/kg) reduced carrageenan-induced edema in rats by 57%, due to flavonoids and phenolic acids.

·       Sedative/Tonic: Leaf infusions act as sedatives in West Africa.

·       Antioxidant: Used as a restorative in Ghana. Hritcu et al. (2011) reported In 6-OHDA-lesioned rats, methanolic extract of Hibiscus asper leaves showed potent antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities. Chronic administration of the methanolic extract (50 and 100 mg/kg, i.p., daily, for 7 days) significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, GPX and CAT), total GSH content and reduced lipid peroxidation (MDA level) in rat temporal lobe homogenates, suggesting antioxidant activity.

·       Jaundice/Skin Infections: Leaf pastes treat jaundice and sores in Senegal. Burkill (1997) notes traditional use, with preliminary antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.

⚠ Toxicity Profile: No specific toxicity data exist for H. asper. Related Hibiscus species (e.g., H. sabdariffa) contain trace pyrrolizidine alkaloids, potentially hepatotoxic at high doses (>1,000 mg/kg in rats). Caution is advised pending further study (Herrera-Arellano et al., 2007).

Additional Uses

·       Culinary: Young leaves and shoots are eaten as a vegetable in Nigeria (Burkill, 1997).

·       Fiber: Stem bark yields a coarse fiber for ropes in Senegal (Hutchinson & Dalziel, 1958).

·       Ecological: Stabilizes soil along riverbanks and supports pollinators (Verdcourt, 2001).

References

  • Burkill, H. M. (1997). The useful plants of West Tropical Africa (Vol. 4). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Foyet, H. S., Hritcu, L., Ciobica, A., Stefan, M., Kamtchouing, P., & Cojocaru, D. (2011). Methanolic extract of Hibiscus asper leaves improves spatial memory deficits in the 6-hydroxydopamine-lesion rodent model of Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 133(2), 773–779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2010.11.011
  • Herrera-Arellano, A., Miranda-Sánchez, J., Ávila-Castro, P., Herrera-Álvarez, S., Jiménez-Ferrer, J. E., Zamilpa, A., ... Tortoriello, J. (2007). Clinical effects produced by a standardized herbal medicinal product of Hibiscus sabdariffa on patients with hypertension. Planta Medica, 73(1), 6–12. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-957065
  • Hritcu, L., Foyet, H. S., Stefan, M., Mihasan, M., Asongalem, A. E., & Kamtchouing, P. (2011). Neuroprotective effect of the methanolic extract of Hibiscus asper leaves in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rat model of Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 137(1), 585–591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2011.06.008
  • Hutchinson, J., & Dalziel, J. M. (1958). Flora of West Tropical Africa (Vol. 1, Part 2). Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations.
  • Verdcourt, B. (2001). Malvaceae. In Flora of Tropical East Africa (pp. 1–176). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

External Links

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Compounds of Hibiscus asper
References

Olivia, N. U., Goodness, U. C., & Obinna, O. M. (2021). Phytochemical profiling and GC-MS analysis of aqueous methanol fraction of Hibiscus asper leaves. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 7, 1-5.