abika

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Aibika
• Bele
• Sunset Hibiscus
• manioc-hibiscus
• sunset-hibiscus
• sunset muskmallow
• tongan spinach

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hibiscus manihot

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Malvales and the family Malvacaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Abelmoschus, specifically identified as the species Abelmoschus manihot.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Abelmoschus manihot, is primarily distributed across several countries in West Tropical Africa. Its range extends through the coastal and inland regions of Guinea and Liberia. In the eastern part of this region, the species is also documented within the borders of Nigeria. Furthermore, the plant can be found growing in the tropical landscapes of Sierra Leone. Finally, its geographical presence concludes with sightings in Togo, completing its West African distribution.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Abelmoschus manihot is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, allowing it to thrive in diverse topographical settings ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 3000 m AMSL. This species typically colonizes specific ecological niches, finding its primary habitat within dense secondary shrublands and ruderal vegetation. Its presence in these disturbed or regenerating plant communities suggests an ability to compete effectively in areas where secondary growth is prominent or where human-induced disturbances have altered the landscape.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Life history

The life history of Abelmoschus manihot is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. As a perennial species, it maintains its physiological functions and structural integrity over extended periods, which can result in a variable growth pattern depending on environmental stability and resource availability. This longevity enables the plant to establish a more robust root system and a more substantial biomass over time compared to annual varieties, facilitating repeated reproductive cycles throughout its lifespan.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Abelmoschus manihot is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This terrestrial species functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies, and maintains a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a vine or liana. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 3 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 2.67 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

2.66666666666667 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Abelmoschus manihot is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process typical of plants that fix carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle under standard atmospheric conditions. The plant exhibits non-succulent foliage, lacking specialized water-storage tissues in its leaves. Its vegetative morphology is defined by a distinct leaf dimension range, where leaf length typically averages 13 cm, fluctuating from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 20 cm. The leaf width displays significant variability, with a mean width of 3.5 cm, extending from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 20 cm. Additionally, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms.

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length mean:

13 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf width max:

20 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Abelmoschus manihot is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily facilitated by insects. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a capsule-type fruit that exhibits dehiscence to release its seeds. The dimensions of these fruits vary, with a mean length of 4.5 cm (ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 5 cm) and a mean width of 2.75 cm (ranging from 2.5 cm to 3 cm). The seeds produced within the capsule are relatively small, featuring a mean mass of 0.03334 g, with individual seed weights ranging from a minimum of 0.01418 g to a maximum of 0.0525 g. The dispersal of these seeds is identified as anthropochorous, suggesting that human activity plays a role in the movement and distribution of the species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Fruit length max:

5 cm

Fruit length mean:

4.5 cm

Fruit length min:

4 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

3 cm

Fruit width mean:

2.75 cm

Fruit width min:

2.5 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.0525 g

Seed mass mean:

0.03334 g

Seed mass min:

0.01418 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Abelmoschus manihot has 4 reported plant parts identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf, root, stem.

Flower

1. Journal of medicinal food
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
4. Microbiome
5. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Leaf

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Root

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Stem

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Chemicals

Abelmoschus manihot has 45 reported phytochemicals identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Hyperoside, quercetin, Isoquercitrin, myricetin, Flavonoids.

Hyperoside

1. Journal of medicinal food
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Heliyon

quercetin

1. Journal of medicinal food
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Heliyon

Isoquercitrin

1. Journal of medicinal food
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

myricetin

1. Journal of medicinal food
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
4. Heliyon
5. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Flavonoids

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Heliyon
3. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

RUTIN

1. Journal of medicinal food
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
4. Heliyon

quercetin 3'-O-glucoside

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Nucleosides

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

rhamnose

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. International journal of biological macromolecules

1-Triacontanol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Activities

Abelmoschus manihot has 146 reported activities identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include ACE-Inhibitor, Analgesic, AntiBPH, AntiCFS, AntiCrohn's.

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiBPH

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCFS

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCrohn's

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

AntiLyme

1. Dr. Duke

AntiMS

1. Dr. Duke

AntiPMS

1. Dr. Duke

AntiRaynaud's

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Abelmoschus manihot has 27 reported investigations on conditions identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include chronic kidney disease, colitis, proteinuria, diabetic nephropathy, inflammation.

Chronic kidney disease

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of microbiology and biotechnology
3. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Heliyon

Colitis

1. Microbiome
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
3. Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B

Proteinuria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Heliyon

Diabetic nephropathy

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Inflammation

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Gastric ulcer

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Iga nephropathy

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Arteriosclerosis

1. Journal of medicinal food

Atherosclerosis

1. Journal of medicinal food

Burns

1. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Preparations

Abelmoschus manihot has 5 reported preparations identified across 12 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include AM, Abelmoschus manihot extract, Abelmoschus manihot polysaccharide, Huangkui capsule, flowers.

Am

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Abelmoschus manihot extract

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Abelmoschus manihot polysaccharide

1. Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B

Huangkui capsule

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Flowers

1. International journal of biological macromolecules