Clinical, Hematological and Biochemical Health Benefit Effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa Lin Dried Calyces Beverage in Human

Abstract

Background/Objective: This study was carried out to investigate the health benefit effects of Hi-biscus sabdariffa Lin (H. sabdariffa L.) dried calyces beverage on some clinical, biochemical and hematological parameters in humans. Methods: The dried calyces were harvested in the two re-gions (Adamaoua and West) of Cameroon. The proximate, mineral composition and phytochemical screening were evaluated. A standardized extraction procedure was set up and from the calyces; we prepared a drink for 32 male volunteers' subjects aged from 21 to 32 years, specially recruited for the experiment. Each participant consumed 500 mL twice a day (in the morning and in the evening) as supplement beverage during two weeks. The anthropometrics (age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI)), clinical (systolic and diastolic blood pressure), hematological (RBC, Hb, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, WBC, Lymphocytes, MID cells, Granulocytes, platelet and MPV) and bio-chemical (TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG, serum iron, blood glucose, creatinine, urea, ASAT and ALAT) pa-rameters were determined in the blood on days 0 and at the end of each week. Results: Crude pro-tein, lipid, fiber and ash content of calyx ranged respectively from 4.57 -5.98, 10.10 -11.33, 20.39 -22.30 and 9.15% -10.38% while the levels of minerals were ranged from 512.0 -740.6, 77.8 -177.7, 52.84 -52.85, 1.10 -2.10, 41.2 -119.5, 3.25 -8.20 and 0.56 -17.5 mg/100g respectively for Ca, Mg, K, Na, P, Fe and Zn. The phytochemical screening tests revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols and anthocyanins on methanol and aqueous extracts. A significant increase of RBC, Hb, PCV, MPV, HDL-C, TG and creatinine and a significant decrease of WBC, MID cells, LDL-C and TC (p < 0.05) were observed during the study period. Furthermore, there was no significant change on BMI, MCV, MCH, MCHC, lymphocyte, granulocyte, platelet, serum iron, blood * Corresponding author. G. Maffo Tazoho et al. 384 glucose, ASAT, ALAT and urea levels. Conclusion: H. sabdariffa L. dried calyces from Cameroon are rich sources of crude fibers and minerals. The H. Sabdariffa L. dried calyces drink can be safely used for people suffering for anemia. It also revealed good cholesterol lowering potential. No he-patoxicity and no kidney damage have been observed as far as serum enzymes were concerned.