A comprehensive review on Kenaf seeds and leaves for medicine

Abstract

Kenaf plant is a valuable industrial crop from Malvaceae family. It’s considered as dual purpose crop, in which its best and core fibers used in paper, pulp industry and livestock feed. Recently, kenaf seeds and leaves used in medicine because of their beneficial chemical composition that include phenolic compounds, antioxidants, phytosterols, fatty acids, steroid, flavonoid and kaempferol which have many health benefits. Therefore, this review aims in determining possible medicinal uses of kenaf seeds and leaves. The oil of kenaf seeds were reported by several studies which used as anti-oxidant activity, anticancer activity, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic activity and anti-hyper-cholesterolemic activity. As well as, kenaf leaves can be used as freshly or dried leaves as tea for treating blood, bilious, coughs, diabetes, throat problems and lowering blood pressure. Kenaf leave extract can also be used in cosmetic as lotion for skin as anti-aging, dryness of skin, pigmentation, skin whitening and hair damage. Kenaf seeds and leaves have other uses including biofuel, lubricants, edible oil, making breads, cakes, etc. There are few researches on kenaf leaves furthermore studies is required for examining kenaf leaves health impacts.