Abelmoschus manihot
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID644006380512d561738804 |
| Scientific name | Abelmoschus manihot |
| Authority | (L.) Medik. |
| First published in | Malvenfam. : 46 (1787) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Across East and South Asia the tender leaves of Abelmoschus manihot are prepared as soothing infusions. In China, dried foliage is steeped in hot water for a bitter‑green “tea” that has been classed among simple diuretic decoctions in traditional materia medica, and the plant appears under Aibika in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China, 2020). In Sri Lanka, rural families boil fresh leaves to make a leafy broth or use them as a base for infusions considered mildly tonic, a practice noted by the Field Museum’s Sri Lanka Ethnobotanical Database (de Rosayro, 1945; Felter, 1917). In the Philippines the species—locally called gumamela—has been recorded among Tagalog and Ilocano groups: pounded fresh leaves or pounded bark are mixed with water to form a poultice for sores, while an infusion of the leaves is taken for low‑grade fevers and stomach upset (Concha and Ray, 1971; Burkill, 1935). In New Guinea, women prepare a leaf infusion in the Markham and Wamena valleys for fevers and as a general tonic; the same preparation is used to wash inflamed eyes (Flanagan, 1993; UNOCHA‑Papua New Guinea, 2000).
A practical recipe for a mild leaf infusion uses roughly 8 grams of dried leaf (about two heaping teaspoons) per cup of 250 ml of near‑boiling water. Steep covered for 10–12 minutes, strain, and drink up to two cups a day for a day or two at a time. The same dosage (or slightly more if using fresh, well‑rinsed leaves) is appropriate for a decoction: gently simmer the material for 10 minutes before straining. Although okra foliage is widely eaten as a vegetable, some people are allergic to plants in the Hibiscus family; pregnant or lactating people should avoid medicinal dosing, and never ingest seeds, which contain gossypol and can be toxic (Burkill, 1935; Conrad et al., 2004).
The pharmacology of okra foliage supports a mild demulcent and diuretic action. Steam‑dried leaves contain substantial mucilage polysaccharides that hydrate and soothe irritated mucous membranes, along with flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol derivatives that have documented antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory effects in vitro (Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, 2023). These compounds plausibly account for the traditional use of the leaf infusion as a gentle diuretic and throat soother, and for the topical use of macerated leaf or bark as a wash or poultice for skin irritation.
Today A. manihot is still cultivated and used fresh in soups and stews, and dried foliage is sold for tea in regional markets of Sri Lanka and Southern China. Pharmacological studies continue to explore its mucilage‑rich extracts as a functional food adjunct, but the traditional infusion remains an accessible home remedy in rural households and herbal lore (Flanagan, 1993; Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, 2023).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Abelmoschus manihot is cultivated for its immature fruits (pods) and young leaves as leafy greens. Mature leaves are processed into a food ingredient in Japan known as “tororo konbu,” typically supplied dried or rehydrated. Edible canned products of A. manihot leaves are marketed internationally in specialty food channels.
Industrial and craft applications:
No documented commercial non-food uses are reported in primary literature for the taxa-level product forms.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Young leaves are consumed fresh or cooked as a vegetable; immature pods are used as a vegetable ingredient in prepared dishes. Dried and processed leaves (“tororo konbu”) function as a food ingredient; packaged canned leaves serve as shelf-stable products for culinary use. Products are identified in market listings as “Edible hibiscus leaves (A. manihot)”.
Properties relevant to use:
Edible leaves and pods are mucilaginous due to neutral polysaccharides, conferring viscosity and gel-forming behavior that can enhance mouthfeel and stabilize textural attributes in foods. Pods also contain starch; leaves exhibit a carbohydrate-rich profile consistent with horticultural uses as vegetables.
Standards and regulation:
Where marketed as foods, products are subject to national food laws and relevant labeling standards of the country of sale (e.g., the Philippines and Japan for domestically produced items).
Sustainability and sourcing:
A. manihot is propagated via seed; leaf production supplies both fresh markets and drying processors in Japan and other markets. Mature foliage yields are the basis for “tororo konbu” supply chains.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Abelmoschus maculatus | Bartl. | Linnaea 12: 81 (1838) |
| Abelmoschus manihot var. megaspermus | Hemadri | Bull. Bot. Surv. India 11: 338 (1969 publ. 1972) |
| Abelmoschus manihot f. platidactylis | Bakh. | |
| Abelmoschus manihot var. timorensis | (DC.) Hochr. | Candollea 2: 87 (1924) |
| Abelmoschus pentaphyllus | Voigt | Hort. Suburb. Calcutt. : 119 (1845) |
| Abelmoschus platidactylus | (Bakh.) Nakai | Bull. Tokyo Sci. Mus. 22: 35 (1948) |
| Abelmoschus pseudomanihot | (DC.) Endl. | Cat. Hort. Vindob. 2: 253 (1842) |
| Abelmoschus venustus | Walp. | Repert. Bot. Syst. 1: 309 (1842) |
| Hibiscus bartlingianus | Steud. | Nomencl. Bot. , ed. 2, 1: 758 (1840) |
| Hibiscus manihot | L. | Sp. Pl. : 696 (1753) |
| Hibiscus pseudomanihot | DC. | Prodr. 1: 448 (1824) |
| Hibiscus timorensis | DC. | Prodr. 1: 448 (1824) |
| Hibiscus zenkeri | Gürke | Notizbl. Königl. Bot. Gart. Berlin 1: 241 (1897) |
| Hibiscus japonicus | Miq. | Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batavi 1: 19 (1863) |
| Hibiscus papyriferus | Salisb. | Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton 384. 1796 |
| Hibiscus manihot var. typicus | Hochr. |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | sunset hibiscus |
| English | hibiscus manihot |
| English | sunset muskmallow |
| English | abika |
| Arabic | زهرة الكركدية |
| Arabic | مسك غروب الشمس |
| Arabic | أبلموسشوس مانيهوت |
| bi | ailan kapis |
| German | maniok-bisameibisch |
| Japanese | トロロアオイ |
| Korean | 닥풀 |
| Malay | aibika |
| Tonga | pele |
| Vietnamese | thục quỳ vàng |
| Vietnamese | bụp mì |
| Chinese | 黄葵 |
| Chinese | 黃蜀葵 |
| Chinese | 秋葵 |
| Chinese | 黄蜀葵叶 |
| Chinese | 黄蜀葵子 |
| Chinese | 黄蜀葵根 |
| Chinese | 黄蜀葵花 |
| Chinese | 黄蜀葵茎 |
| Chinese | 假阳桃 |
| Chinese | 黄蜀葵 |
| Chinese | 棉花葵 |
Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Abelmoschus manihot subsp. tetraphyllus | (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Borss.Waalk. | Blumea 14: 97 (1966) |
Varieties (abbr. var.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Abelmoschus manihot var. pungens | (Roxb.) Hochr. | Candollea 2: 87 (1924) |
| Abelmoschus manihot var. tetraphylla | (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Borss.Waalk. | Blumea 14: 97 (1966) |
| Abelmoschus manihot var. manihot |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!| Maintain seeds at a constant 10°C. |
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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West Tropical Africa
- Guinea
- Liberia
- Nigeria
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
-
West-central Tropical Africa
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Gabon
- Zaïre
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Western Indian Ocean
- Réunion
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West Tropical Africa
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
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Arabian Peninsula
- Oman
-
China
- China North-central
- China South-central
- China Southeast
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Eastern Asia
- Korea
- Nansei-shoto
- Taiwan
-
Arabian Peninsula
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- Bangladesh
- East Himalaya
- India
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- West Himalaya
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Indo-China
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Thailand
- Vietnam
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Malesia
- Christmas Island
- Jawa
- Lesser Sunda Islands
- Maluku
- Philippines
- Sulawesi
- Sumatera
-
Papuasia
- Bismarck Archipelago
- New Guinea
- Solomon Islands
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Indian Subcontinent
-
Australasia click to expand
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Australia
- Queensland
-
Australia
-
Pacific click to expand
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South-central Pacific
- Cook Islands
- Line Islands
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Southwestern Pacific
- Fiji
- New Caledonia
- Santa Cruz Island
- Vanuatu
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South-central Pacific
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Southern America click to expand
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Northern South America
- Venezuela
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Western South America
- Ecuador
- Peru
-
Northern South America
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000510878 |
| UNII | P51K8V050N |
| USDA Plants | ABMA9 |
| Tropicos | 19601203 |
| INPN | 447299 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:558020-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2609589 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 368543 |
| PFAF | Abelmoschus manihot |
| Open Tree Of Life | 17450 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 183220 |
| Nature Serve | 2.140399 |
| IUCN Red List | 123707475 |
| IPNI | 558020-1 |
| iNaturalist | 157766 |
| GBIF | 3152706 |
| Freebase | /m/0gvmy2 |
| EPPO | HIBMA |
| EOL | 584457 |
| USDA GRIN | 621 |
| Wikipedia | Abelmoschus_manihot |
| CMAUP | NPO28231 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives | |||||
| 2,4-Dihydroxybenzoic Acid | 1491 | Click to see | 154.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Hydrocarbons / Saturated hydrocarbons / Alkanes | |||||
| Tetracosane | 12592 | Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC | 338.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Very long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| Heptatriacontanoic acid | 5282597 | Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)O | 551.00 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols | |||||
| 1-Triacontanol | 68972 | Click to see | 438.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Glycerolipids / Monoradylglycerols / Monoacylglycerols / 1-monoacylglycerols | |||||
| 1-Monopalmitin | 14900 | Click to see | 330.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (-)-beta-Sitosterol | 222284 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 86821 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 414.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Npc29 | 6432744 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Nucleosides, nucleotides, and analogues / Purine nucleosides | |||||
| 2-amino-9-[(2R,3R,4S,5R)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]-3H-purin-6-one | 6802 | Click to see | 283.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Adenosine | 60961 | Click to see C1=NC(=C2C(=N1)N(C=N2)C3C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)N | 267.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Dicarboxylic acids and derivatives | |||||
| Maleic Acid | 444266 | Click to see | 116.07 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones | |||||
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-[2,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 57339948 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(OC4O)CO)O)O)O)O | 464.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Quercetin-7-olate | 46906036 | Click to see | 301.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols | |||||
| Gossypetin | 5280647 | Click to see | 318.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCHROMB.2010.12.016 |
| Myricetin | 5281672 | Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O | 318.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Myricetin(1-) | 25201643 | Click to see | 317.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Quercetin | 5280343 | Click to see | 302.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glucuronides / Flavonoid-8-O-glucuronides | |||||
| Hibifolin | 5490334 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(O2)C(=C(C=C3O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)C(=O)O)O)O)O)O)O)O | 494.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHYMED.2015.02.002 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides | |||||
| Myricetin 3'-glucoside | 5486615 | Click to see | 480.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| 2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-Dihydroxy-3-(3,4,5-Trihydroxy-6-(Hydroxymethyl)Oxan-2-Yl)Oxychromen-4-One | 5378597 | Click to see | 464.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-[(2S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 44259091 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 464.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-3-[(3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-4-one | 11557027 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 464.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-4-oxo-4H-chromen-3-yl D-galactopyranoside | 11751616 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 464.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 4-[5,7-dihydroxy-4-oxo-3-[(3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxychromen-2-yl]-2-hydroxyphenolate | 54758589 | Click to see | 463.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Hyperoside | 5281643 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 464.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1093/CHROMSCI/47.3.206 |
| Isoquercetin | 5280804 | Click to see | 464.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Quercetin 3-robinobioside | 10371536 | Click to see | 610.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Quercetin 3-robinobioside | 44259100 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)OC3=C(OC4=CC(=CC(=C4C3=O)O)O)C5=CC(=C(C=C5)O)O)O)O)O)O)O)O | 610.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Rutin | 5280805 | Click to see | 610.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |