*4.7.1 Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn*

 *H. sabdarriffa* commonly known as Roselle (English), Sobolo (Akan Ghanaian language) is widely cultivated among the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. These include some parts of Asia and West Africa. This plant was domesticated by natives of Western Sudan before 4000 BC [61]. The plant is an erect herbaceous annual and a shrub that can grow up to about 2 m in height. It consists of smooth cylindrical and typically red stems. The leaves are simple, deeply lobed, petiolate and alternately arranged with reddish reticulate veins. The flowers occur singly in the axils of the leaves. The calyces are typically red and made up of five sepals fused at the base which become fleshy and juicy upon maturity [62, 63].

 The main class of phytochemicals present in *H. sabdariffa* is anthocyanins and flavonoid, as well as organic acids and polysaccharides. Citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid and ascorbic acid are also present [64]. Some flavonoids that have been described in *H. sabdariffa* extracts include hibiscitrin, sabdaritrin, gossytrin and gossypitrin [65, 66]. Different parts of *H. sabdariffa* are used for various medicinal purposes. The calyces of the flower are commonly incorporated in hot and cold drinks due to its pleasing taste. In many parts of Africa, it has been used for its spasmolytic, antioxidant [67–69], antibacterial [70, 71], antipyretic [72], diuretic and anthelmintic properties [73]. It is also used for the treatment of high blood pressure and liver diseases. Additionally to their medicinal uses, various parts of the plants are incorporated in meals and used for other culinary purposes. In some cultures, *H. sadariffa* is included in some herbal mixtures and consumed by nursing mothers to increase milk supply [74]. In Nigeria also, the decoctions of the seeds have been reported to be used to increase lactation in cases of poor milk supply [75]. In 66 healthy mothers who took extracts of hibiscus, fennel, fennel oil, verbena, raspberry leaves, fenugreek and vitamin C, there was an increase in breastmilk production by the third day [76]. Toxicity studies have shown that the prolonged usage of the aqueousmethanolic extract of *H. sabdariffa* calyces at the dose of 250 mg/kg could cause liver injury in rats [77]. Also, the 12-week subchronic effect of *H. sabdariffa*  calyx aqueous extract at the doses of 1.15, 2.30, and 4.60 g/kg induced testicular toxicity [78].
