Musk Okra

Scientific Name(s): Abelmoschus moschatus Medik., Hibiscus abelmoschus L.
Common Name(s): Ambrette, Gumbo musque, Musk ambrette, Musk mallow, Muskdana

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 16, 2024.

Clinical Overview

Use

The plant, especially the seeds, has been used traditionally for multiple purposes; however, there is no clinical evidence to support any applications. Animal studies suggest a role for the constituent myricetin in the management of diabetes.

Dosing

There is no clinical evidence to provide guidance.

Contraindications

Contraindications have not yet been identified.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Avoid use. Documented adverse reactions have occurred with a related species.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Photosensitivity and dermatitis are possible in sensitive individuals, although case reports of contact dermatitis are lacking. Dizziness and headache have been associated with doses greater than 3 drams (2.25 teaspoons) of musk okra seed.

Toxicology

Research reveals little information regarding the toxicity of A. moschatus.

Scientific Family

• Malvaceae (mallow)

Botany

Musk okra is indigenous to India, southern China, and tropical Asia, and is cultivated throughout the tropics. The evergreen shrub grows to about 1 m and has yellow flowers with crimson or purple centers. The fruit is a green-brown capsule containing many kidney-shaped seeds. The plant is cultivated for these seeds, which have a characteristic musky odor, and are the source of ambrette, an aromatic oil used in perfumery.Leung 2003, Molfetta 2013, USDA 2014 A synonym for musk okra is Hibiscus abelmoschus L.

History

Several parts of the plant have been used throughout history, most notably the seed oil, which is valued for its fragrant smell. The oil is used in cosmetics and has been used to flavor alcoholic beverages, especially bitters, and coffee. The tender leaves and shoots are eaten as vegetables and used in soups, and the plant is often grown ornamentally.(Duke 2003)

Ambrette has traditionally been used as a stimulant and as treatment for a variety of conditions, including headaches, cramps, muscle aches and pains, nervous system disorders (including depression), bacterial infections, and hysteria. Decoctions of musk okra have been traditionally used to treat stomach cancer. Extracts of the plant have been used to treat such diverse ailments as hysteria, gonorrhea, and respiratory disorders; they have also been used for antispasmodic, cardiotonic, and aphrodisiac effects.(Arokiyaraj 2015, Duke 2003, Gul 2011, Lans 2007, Leung 2003, Molfetta 2013) Alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the leaves and seeds have been used to treat a variety of bacterial infections.(Arokiyaraj 2015)

Chemistry

Distillation of the plant yields farnesol and furfural. The volatile seed oil is high in fatty acids, including palmitic, oleic, and myristic acids. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed 35 compounds in the oil, with farnesol acetate (51.45%) and ambrettolide (12.96%) being the major components.(Arokiyaraj 2015) Ambrettolide is responsible for the plant's characteristic musky odor. The seeds have been found to contain 4 stable trypsin inhibitors.(Dokka 2015) A variety of other related compounds, including myricetin, have also been identified in smaller quantities.(Cavalheiro 2013, Du 2008, Jarret 2011, Leung 2003, Liu 2005, Molfetta 2013)

Uses and Pharmacology

Antimicrobial

In vitro data

Weak activity against bacterial pathogens, varying according to extraction method, has been demonstrated. Antibacterial assays of ambrette seed oil against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria support earlier studies by demonstrating an inhibitory effect on Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis, with less activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Farnesol acetate and ambrettolide were observed to have sufficient binding energy towards the beta-lactamase TEM-72 and dihydrofolate reductase protein.(Arokiyaraj 2015)

Two of the trypsin inhibitors identified in ambrette seeds have been found to have significant antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Aspergillus flavus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida glabrata, and Aspergillus niger, but not strains of Fusarium, Alternaria, Mucor, or Penicillium.(Dokka 2015, Gul 2011) Activity against Trichosporon species has also been demonstrated.(Uniyal 2013)

Antioxidant

Animal and in vitro data

The radical-scavenging and antioxidant activity of farnesol, as well as the total antioxidant content, have been demonstrated in mice and by chemical assays, respectively.(Gul 2011, Jahangir 2005)

Ambrette isolated from A. moschatus exerts promising protective effects against adriamycin-mediated acute kidney injury through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptosis pathways in Wistar rats.(Amarasiri 2022)

Cancer

In vitro data

Antiproliferative activity against colorectal and retinoblastoma cell lines has been demonstrated for musk okra extracts.(Gul 2011) Anticlastogenic properties have also been described for farnesol extracted from the seeds.(Jahangir 2005)

Diabetes

Animal and in vitro data

A limited number of researchers have evaluated the potential application of the hexahydroxyflavone myricetin in diabetes. Improved glucose metabolism and decreased insulin resistance in rats have been demonstrated in a dose-dependent manner. The magnitude of these results are similar to that rosiglitazone.(Liu 2005, Liu 2006, Liu 2010) Two compounds, hibiscone B and N-trans-feruloyl tyramine from A. moschatus showed significant alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 121.7±3.9 and 4.3±0.5 mcg/mL, respectively, compared to those of a positive control, acarbose, which had an IC₅₀ value of 183.5±12.2 mcg/mL.(Dung 2021)

A review investigating enzyme inhibitors from natural sources with antidiabetic activity noted that myricetin, an isolated compound from A. moschatus had an IC₅₀ of 0.38 mM in vitro, inhibiting rat intestinal alpha‐glucosidase and porcine alpha‐amylase by 29% and 64%, respectively.(Alam 2019)

Nephroprotective effects

Animal data

The lyophilized powder of A. moschatus was found to exert nephroprotective effects against adriamycin-induced nephrotoxicity in Wistar rats.(Amarasiri 2022)

In a zinc-induced model of urolithiasis in rats, antiurolithiatic activity was demonstrated with doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg of a methanolic A. moschatus seed extract and 400 mg/kg of a chloroform A. moschatus seed extract.(Pawar 2016)

Dosing

Clinical evidence is lacking to provide dosing recommendations.

Pregnancy / Lactation

Avoid use. Documented adverse reactions have occurred with benzene extractives from the flowers of the related species Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, including an anti-implantation effect.(Lans 2007, Pal 1985) A. moschatus is used as a traditional medicine for infertility and childbirth in the Caribbean.(Zietz 2008) Ambrette and related "nitro musks" are highly lipophilic and have been shown to persist in human breast milk, presumably following absorption through the skin from dermally applied cosmetics.(Zietz 2008)

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Musk okra ambrette and musk okra ketone are both found in cosmetics and aftershave lotions. They have been shown to cause photosensitivity and dermatitis in sensitive individuals, although case reports of contact dermatitis are lacking.(Chuah 2013) Dizziness and headache have been associated with doses greater than 3 drams (2.25 teaspoons) of musk okra seed.(Duke 2003)

Related/similar drugs

Toxicology

Information regarding the toxicity of A. moschatus is limited. Ambrettolide is reported to be nontoxic.(Leung 2003) An acute and 28-day repeated-dose oral toxicity assessment of A. moschatus in healthy Wistar rats concluded that hexane and aqueous extracts of A. moschatus were completely nontoxic, whereas butanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed statistically significant changes in some of the hematological parameters, as well as in the relative organ weight of the kidneys.(Amarasiri 2020)

Index Terms

• Hibiscus abelmoschus L.

References

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Copyright © 2025 Wolters Kluwer Health