Effect of Standardized Hibiscus Sabdariffa Tea in Seemingly Healthy Human Volunteers

Standardized Hibiscus Sabdariffa Linn Tea, Potential Nutraceutical Candidate for the Prevention of Hypertension, Diabetes, and Hypercholesterolemia - a Pilot Study

Hibiscus sabdariffa tea is commonly used all over the world by healthy individual but the tea is also employed by patients in the management of chronic diseases such as hypertension diabetes, high cholesterol, liver disease etc. Several studies in humans and animal have proved the efficacy of Hibiscus sabdariffa tea in lowering blood pressure, blood glucose level and serum total cholesterol. But no study exists on the effect of daily consumption of this tea on blood pressure, blood glucose, total cholesterol and other biochemical and hematological parameters in healthy humans. Hence this study.

Several studies have been carried out on the effect of the water beverage of Hibiscus sabdariffa, most focus on hypertensive patients, diabetic patients and obese patient and some studies investigated the hypolipidemic a effect of the water beverage of Hibiscus sabdariffa as well as its effect on haematological parameters but mice were used for these studies. Little or no investigation has been done to assess the safety of daily consumption of this water beverage of hibiscus sabdariffa on humans.

Hence, this study aims at investigating the safety in the daily consumption of Zobo in humans, monitoring lipid profile, blood pressure, blood glucose, body mass index and haematological parameters such as haematocrit, haemoglobin, total white blood cells and also hepatic indices.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy volunteers only
• Not on any medications or herbs
• No disease condition
• Females not pregnant
• Non-smokers

Exclusion Criteria:

• Below 18yrs or above 40 years
• presence of chronic disease
• on medications pregnant females