Hello Hive,
It's my first time posting here and I will like to share with you the procedure in preparing roselle stew sauce, popularly known as isapa among the youruba's
Hibiscus has more than three hundred species distributed in tropical and subtropical regions around the world and are used as ornamental plants. Research on have shown that some species of Hibiscus possess certain medicinal properties of which Hibiscus sabdariffa is one. Hibiscus sabdariffa is commonly named as “roselle”. Even though permeable soil is the best, Roselle can adapt to a variety of soil in a warmer and more humid climate.
Hibiscus sabdariffa is a member of Malvaceae family, is a known medicinal plant with a worldwide fame and the plant can be found in almost all warm countries such as India, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Sudan, Egypt and Mexico. Roselle is mainly cultivated to be consumed and the main producers of Roselle blossoms are Egypt, Sudan, Mexico, Thailand and China. Other hibiscus varieties are planted for their fibers they produce.
ORIGIN OF HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA
There is a big argument about the origin of Roselle among different scholars. Cobley suggested Roselle is a native plant of West Africa and from there it was carried to other parts of the world such as Asia and America, whereas in others opinion, Roselle was originated from India and Saudi Arabia.
VARIETIES OF HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA
Among numerous varities of Hibiscus, Hibiscus altissima and Hibiscus sabdariffa are the commonest and better introduced. Hibiscus altissima is branchless plant with yellow flowers and red or green colored calyxes. Though this species is not used for food, this plant is more economically important than Hibiscus sabdariffa because of its high fiber content. The other distinct type Hibiscus sabdariffa or “Roselle” grows in a bush with many branches. The flowers of Roselle are axillaries or in terminal racemes, the petals are white with reddish center at the base of the stamina column and this species is widely used as food.
NUTRITIONAL AND MEDICAL IMPORTANCE OF HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA
Roselle, the safe medicinal plant, having various medically important compounds called phytochemicalsis well known for delicacy and also for its nutritional and medicinal properties. The application of the plant in managing different medical problems including cancer, inflammatory diseases, different cardiovascular problems has been well investigated by different scholars in different settings
NUTRITION FACTS OF ROSELLE
Sources include: USDA
Amount Per 100 grams
Calories 49% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.6 g 0%
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 6 mg 0%
Potassium 208 mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 11 g 3%
Protein 1 g 2%
Vitamin C 20% Calcium 21%
Iron 8% Cobalamin 0%
Magnesium 12%
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs
DOMESTIC APPLICATIONS
Even though, the uses of different parts of Roselle are many and varied both in food and in traditional medicine, all parts of Roselle including seeds, leaves, fruits and roots are used as a food in different parts of the world. Fleshy red calyxes of Roselle are commonly used for the production of soft drinks and tonic without alcohol like wine, juice, jam, jelly, syrupand also dried and brewed into tea and spice. These are rich in carotene, riboflavin, anthocyanins, ascorbic acid, niacin, calcium, iron and vitamin C. The young leaves and tender stems of Roselle are consumed raw as green vegetable. The Roselle seeds are good source of protein, fat, total sugars and are widely used in the diet in many African countries.
HERBAL MEDICINE APPLICATIONS
Roselle is used in many folk medicines. It is valued for its mild laxative effect, ability to increase urination, relief during hot weather and treatment of cracks in the feet, bilious, sores and wounds. Traditionally in Sudan, Roselle has been used for relief of sour throat and healing wounds. In African folk medicine, Roselle leaves are used for their, antimicrobial, emollient, antipyretic, diuretic, anti-helmentic, sedative properties and as a soothing cough remedy, whereas in India, leaves are poultice on abscesses.
Hypo- lipidemic effects: According to a study conducted among hyper-cholesterolemic patients, two capsules of Roselle extract (1g), given three times a day (for a total of 3g/day), significantly lowered serum cholesterol. Another scientific study also confirmed that ethanolic extract from the leaves of Roselle significantly exhibit hypo-lipidemic effect. Roselle extract was also studied among subjects, some with and some without metabolic syndrome. Subjects with metabolic syndrome receiving ethanolic extract of Roselle had significantly reduced glucose, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein, while increasing high density lipoprotein.
Blood pressure lowering effect: The effectiveness of an aqueous extract of Roselle on mild to moderate hypertension was investigated in many researches. Aqueous extract of Rosellewas as effective as captopril in treating mild to moderate hypertension and there is no adverse effect with the treatment, confirming the effectiveness and safety of the extract. Even though the possible mechanism(s) of action of Roselle extract is not investigated, daily consumption of an aqueous Roselle extract resulted in decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Anti diabetic activity: Extracted the polyphenolic components of Roselle and studied their effect in a type II diabetic rat model (high fat diet model). Studied revealed anti-insulin resistance properties of extract at a dose level of 200mg/kg, and reduction in hyper glycaemia and hyper insulinemia. The extract was found effective in lowering serum cholesterol, triacylglycerol, the ratio of low density lipoprotein/high-density protein (LDL/HDL), and also (AGE) formation and lipid per oxidation. Intestinal α-glycosidase and pancreatic α-amylase help in digestion of complex carbohydrates present in the food into bioavailable monosaccharide and plays an important role in postprandial hyperglycaemia; therefore inhibition of these enzymes has been reported as an effective mechanism for the control of postprandial hyperglycaemia. Hibiscus acid (hibiscus- type (2S,3R)-hydroxycitric acid lactone) have been shown as a potent inhibitor of pancreatic α-amylase and intestinal α-glucosidase and pancreatic α-amylase activity. In another study, Adisakwattanaet al conducted an in vitro study and reported Roselle extracts as an effective inhibitor of pancreatic α-amylase.
ANTI HELMENTIC AND ANTI MICROBIAL EFFECTS
Roselle is known for its antibacterial, antifungal and anti-parasitic actions. Oil extracted from seeds of Roselle has been shown to have an in vitro inhibitory effect on Bacillus anthracis and Staphylococcus albus. Aqueous and ethanol extracts were also found to be effective against Schistosoma mansoni and other microorganisms. Afolabi et al. demonstrated the antibacterial effect of hibiscus extract on Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium from oral cavity. In a similar study, antibacterial potential of hibiscus was also observed on Campylobacter species. An ethanol extract of the dried leaves of Roselle reduce aflatoxin formation and have in vitro inhibitory effect against some fungi.
Anti-oxidant effect: Protective property of a compound to inhibit the oxidative mechanisms by scavenging reactive oxygen and free radicals is known as antioxidative activity. It protects lining organelles from premature cell damage and reduces ageing. A large number of invitro and invivo studies have shown that Roselle calyxes contain potent antioxidant. According to Augustine, both the whole aqueous and anthocyanin-rich extracts of Roselle are effective antioxidant. Studies have also highlighted that poly-phenolic acid, flavonoids and anthocyanins which are found in Roselle are potent antioxidants
Other pharmacological effects: Roselle has been reported to possess a lactogenic activity. Okasha et al. observed enhancement in the serum prolactin level of lactating female Albino Rats on administration of seed extract of Roselle. Bako et al. studied the lactogenic effect of ethyl acetate fraction of Hibiscus sabdariffa, from 3-17days of lactation. The results showed an increase in serum prolactin level and milk production in lactating female albino rats, which confirms the lactogenic property of Hibiscus sabdariffa.
Source
PREPARATION OF ROSELLE (ISAPA)
Firstly you placed water on the fire to boil and while the water is boiling you chop out the Roselle into tiny piece. After which you rinse it and put it inside a sieve
Then you leave it inside the sieve for few seconds so as to extract the remnant water you use in rinsing it
Then you pour it back inside a bowl and add little salt
While doing all these, your boiling water must have been ready for use. Then you pour the boiled water inside the bowl and then cover it to steam up for about 45secs
Then you rinse and pour back inside a sieve for the water to be withdrawn and then the cooking process begins
Light up your cooking appliance and place your dry pot on it, then pour palm oil inside the pot and wait for like 3 seconds to heat up
Then add your your grinded pepper and onion and stir fry
After which you add your bullion cubes (Maggi) and little seasoning, at this point you really do not need salt but if you are the excess salt type then you can just add very little salt
Wait for it to cook for about 2 minutes then add your roselle and I will be using cow skin popularly know as Ponmo in the Yoruba land to eat it so I will also add that to it at this point
Stir very well to mix up and then wait for about 3 minutes to cook
Light off the cooking appliance and your roselle is ready for consumption
THANK YOU 🤗🥰