Ambrette Seed
Botanical Name: Abelmoschus moschatus
Family: Malvaceae
Other Names: Egyptian alcee, Hibiscus abelmoschus, musk mallow, musk seed, target leaved hibiscus
Description: An evergreen annual or biannual shrub –around 1.5m/5ft tall, yellow flowers with a purple centre and bristly hairs. Seeds: grey-brown kidney shaped, 3mm in diameter
Native to: India
Cultivated in: Indonesia, Africa, Egypt, China, Madagascar, West Indies
Part Used: Seeds
Actions: Antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, carminative, nervine, stimulant, stomachic
Extraction: Steam distillation of seeds
Constitutes: Fixed oil containing esters of palmitic, linoleic and stearic acids. Sterols including beta-sitosterol. Volatile oil containing farnesyl acetate, ambrettolide, ambrettolic acid
Traditional uses:
Used in Chinese medicine for headaches
Used in Africa for snake bites
Circulation, muscles joints: Cramp, fatigue, aches, poor circulation
Nervous system: Anxiety, depression, nervous tension
Other Uses: Cosmetics, perfume, drink flavouring