Yen: Did u familiar with Hibiscus Cannabicus L. ?

Hibiscus Cannabicus L.

Hibiscus Cannabicus L., known as kenaf, is an annual plant originated from West Africa for more than 4000 years. Kenaf is commercially cultivated in more than 20 countries such as in India, China, Thailand, and Vietnam as a significant plantation area (FAO, 1998). At the same time, more than 95% of the global production and sown to kenaf were found in China, India and Thailand (FAO, 2003). Besides, Mozambique, Taiwan, Iran, El Salvador, Gautemala, Dahomey, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria also showed important production areas for kenaf (Dempsey, 1975). Kenaf also can be found in Latin America and some other countries of Asia (Rouxlene Coeetzee, 2004).

In Malaysia, intensive research of kenaf is highly required in order to maximize the broad applications of the kenaf plant in fibre board, bio composite materials and high protein animal feed production, especially the kenaf seed. The compositions of kenaf seed oil, kenaf seed cake and their antioxidant activity have been reported by different authors (Chan & Maznah, 2009; Mohamed, Bhardwaj, Hamama, & Webber, 1995; Webber, Bhardwaj, & Bledsoe, 2002). Moreover, Malaysian government is concerned to develop kenaf as the fourth industrial crop in nation to attain agricultural diversification. Research on kenaf production in Malaysia was commenced in the early of 2000. The first kenaf seed production was accomplished in Serdang, Selangor according to MARDI (2005).

Physically, kenaf seeds are relatively small, dark brown or black in colour and triangular in shape. Kenaf seeds contain alpha-linolenic acid, phytosterol such as sitosterol vitamin E and antioxidants with chemo preventive properties. An intensive review of the hibiscus family showed that the bark and core had a strong antitumoral cell avtivity. Kenaf seed has been reported as a good source for edible oil and flour for cooking. However, kenaf seed were usually wasted by the industry as an agricultural waste or animal feed . Thus, intensive research of kenaf plant is necessary in order to maximize its usage. Apart from that, kenaf core fibres and bast involve 65% and 35% respectively of the fibrous part of the entire kenaf plant. On the other hand, for kenaf bast fibres, when the pulping process occurs, a measure of pulp damage showed a highly sensitive to the conditions.

Kenaf seed varies in size. The number of seeds per kilo gram in most cultivated varieties varies from 36,000 to 40,000 seeds according to Dampsey. Nevertheless, the content per kilogram may reach to 100,000 seeds and more in some African varieties. The average number of seeds per kilogram is about 60,000 based on Boulanjer. The chemical characteristics of the seed are almost same with cotton. However, linolenic acid and lack of gossipol was found in kenaf seed when compared with cotton. The kenaf seed easily loses its germinability due to its high oil content.