Comparative Investigation of the Effects of the Commonly-consumed Aqueous Extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa (Zobo Drinks) on Body Weight, Glucose Level and Lipid Profile Using Normal Wistar Albino Rats

Aim: Investigating and comparing the effect of administration of different preparations of the commonly-consumed Hibiscus sabdariffa (Zobo) drinks on body weight, glucose level and lipid profile.

Study Design: Animal models (Wistar Albino Rats) with daily administration of the same concentration of different zobo drink samples.

Place and Duration of Study: University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria and its environs between November 2014 and February 2015.

Methodology: Thirty (30) Wistar albino rats were grouped into six (6) groups of five rats each. Group A served as the control and B was administered an unblended zobo drink. Groups C – E were administered locally produced zobo samples and F was a National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)-branded zobo drink. A concentration of 200 mg/kg body weight of the samples was administered orally to all the groups for 21 days. Changes in body weight, glucose level and lipid profile were analyzed and compared

Results: The percentage weight gains in groups B, C, E and F (4.93%, 6.68%, 0.55%, and 9.99%) were very low compared with the control (23.75%). The glucose level was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in groups B and C, significantly higher in group F and showed no significant difference in D and E when compared with the control. Total cholesterol level was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in groups C, E and F, while High density lipoprotein level was higher in all the groups but only significantly (P < 0.05) in group D when compared with the control. Triglyceride, Low density lipoprotein and Very low density lipoprotein levels showed no significant difference when compared with the control.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the aqueous extract of different samples of Hibiscus sabdariffa (Zobo drink) possesses anti-obesity, hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties.