Aqueous Extract Of Hibiscus Sabdariffa Research Articles

Postnatal Weight Gain and Onset of Puberty in Rats Exposed to Aqueous Extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa in Utero

2 Abstract: The present study was designed to investigate whether or not maternal consumption of aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) during pregnancy has any effect on the growth and onset of puberty in the female offspring. Eighteen in-bred virgin female Sprague-Dawley rats aged between 10-12 weeks and weighing 125±5.5g (mean±SEM) with two consecutive regular 4-day estrus cycle were randomly assigned to one of three groups of 6 rats/group. One group had tap water (control); another had 1.5g-extract/kg while the third group had 3.0g-extract/kg in their drinking water throughout pregnancy. Results showed that HS consumption during pregnancy significantly decreased maternal fluid and food intake, increased postnatal weight gain and delays the onset of puberty in the female offspring.

Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa on obesity in MSG mice

The aim of the present investigation was determine whether a standardized Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces aqueous extract has an effect on body weight in an obese animal model induced by the administration of monosodium glutamate. Hibiscus sabdariffa aqueous extract, containing 33.64 mg of total anthocyanins per each 120 mg of extract, was orally administered (120 mg/kg/day) for 60 days to healthy and obese mice, and body weight gain, food and liquid intake, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), cholesterol, and triglycerides levels were measured. Hibiscus sabdariffa administration significantly reduced body weight gain in obese mice and increased liquid intake in healthy and obese mice. ALT levels were significantly increased on the 15th and 45th days in obese mice, but AST levels did not show significant changes. Mortality was not observed in the Hibiscus sabdariffa treated groups. Triglycerides and cholesterol levels showed non-significant reductions in animals treated with Hibiscus sabdariffa. Our data confirm the anti-obesity effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa reported by the Mexican population.

The effect of an aqueous extract of <i>Hibiscus sabdariffa</i> on gestational weight gain, pregnancy outcome and postpartum weight retention in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats

Pregnancy and increased gestational weight gain has been observed to be associated with increased postpartum weight retention. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of an aqueous extract of Hibiscus Sabdariffa (HSE) on gestational weight gain, pregnancy outcome and postpartum weight retention in Sprague-Dawley rats. Fifteen pregnant SD rats were randomly assigned to groups A, B and C. Group C had tap water while groups A and B had 0.6g HSE and 1.8g HSE respectively in 100ml tap water to drink throughout pregnancy and through 34 days postpartum. The rats in all groups were fed normal rat chow ad libitum. The weights of the rats were measured daily throughout pregnancy and at delivery and at 10, 14, 20 and 34 days postpartum. Results show statistically significant (p Keywords : Hibiscus sabdariffa , gestational weight gain, pregnancy outcome, postpartum weight retention Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 5 (2) 2006: 26-29

Neuropharmacological Effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa Aqueous Extract

The neuropharmacological effects of the aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) calyx were studied in rodents. HS (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, i.p.) caused a remarkable dose-dependent decrease in spontaneous motor activity in mice and increased the duration of pentobarbital (40 mg/kg, i.p.) induced sleep in rats. The extract (100-400 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced the exploratory behaviour in mice. The extract significantly inhibited the intensity of apomorphine (1 mg/kg, s.c.) induced stereotypic behaviour and attenuated climbing in the mice dose-dependently. Similarly, chlorpromazine (3 mg/kg, i.p.) blocked apomorphine induced stereotype behaviour significantly. The intraperitoneal LD 50 of the extract was estimated to be greater than 5000 mg/kg. These results suggest that the aqueous extract of HS may contain psychoactive substances that are sedative in nature and which contribute to its use in traditional medicine as sedative.