Abelmoschus manihot

Abelmoschus manihot, the aibika, is a flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It was formerly considered a species of Hibiscus, but is now classified in the genus Abelmoschus. The plant is also known as the sunset muskmallow, sunset hibiscus, or hibiscus manihot.

Abelmoschus manihot
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Abelmoschus
Species:
A. manihot
Binomial name
Abelmoschus manihot
(L.) Medik
Synonyms[1]

Applications
See also: Mucilage

In Japanese, this plant is known as tororo aoi and is used to make neri, a starchy substance used in making the traditional Japanese paper washi. In Korean, this plant is known as hwang chok kyu and is used to make dak pul, which assists in making hanji (Korean paper).

Chemical constituents

A chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis published in China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica showed that aibika contained thirteen compounds: myricetin, cannabiscitrin, myricetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, glycerolmonopalmitate, 2, 4-dihydroxy benzoic acid, guanosine, adenosine, maleic acid, heptatriacontanoic acid, 1-triacontanol, tetracosane, β-Sitosterol, and beta-sitosterol-3-O-beta-D-glucoside.[2]

Nutrition

Although technically a shrub, aibika is a perennial which, under good conditions, can grow to over three meters in height. It is reputedly an extremely nutritious vegetable. Its leaves are very high in vitamins A and C, and iron, and have 12% protein by dry weight. Moreover, it is easily propagated from cuttings, easy to cultivate, relatively disease-resistant and even is considered to be of medicinal value. It is widely planted either along borders of gardens or as an intercrop throughout many traditional gardens in the tropics.[3]

References
  1. "Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medik". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  2. Lai, X. Y.; Zhao, Y. Y.; Liang, H. (2006). "Studies on chemical constituents in flower of Abelmoschus manihot". China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica. 31 (19): 1597–1600. PMID 17165583.
  3. Thaman, R.R. Rural Fiji. Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific 1988, p. 41.
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