Uses of hibiscus, in particular pharmaceutical uses

摘要

The invention relates to the use of hibiscus or of a crude or purified hibiscus extract in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of urinary infections associated with the presence of Escherichia coli and Candida albicans, especially for the treatment or prevention of cystitis.

主权项

1. A method for the treatment or limiting the occurrence of urinary infections associated with the presence of Escherichia coli and Candida albicans, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a purified hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) extract, wherein the purified extract is prepared by the following steps:
(a) extracting a hibiscus plant by macerating in a solvent for a duration of time and separating the solvent and concentrating to produce a crude extract, and (b) purifying the crude extract by subjecting the crude extract to purification by either (1) chromatography on adsorption/desorption resin or (2) liquid/liquid extraction with a water-immiscible organic solvent different from the solvent used to produce the crude extract in step (a), to produce the purified hibiscus extract, wherein the purified hibiscus extract has reduced organic acid content relative to the crude extract produced in step (a).