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Effect of
aqueous extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa and
Zingiber Officinale on blood cholesterol and
glucose levels of rats
F. O. Agoreyo1*, B. O.
Agoreyo2 and M. N. Onuorah2
1Department
of physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University
of Benin, Nigeria.
2Departments
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Benin,
Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
agoreyofo@yahoo.com.
Accepted 5 September, 2008 |
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The effect of aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa
and Zingiber officinale on plasma cholesterol and
glucose concentration in albino rats was determined. Thirty
albino rats weighing between 225 – 270 g were divided into
six groups of five rats each. Group 1 (control 1) rats were
fed 100% growers mash whereas group 2 (control 2) rats and
other groups were fed 99% growers mash and 1% cholesterol.
Subsequently, group 3 rats were given 0.8 ml/kg body weight
of H. sabdarffa extract, while those in group 4 were
given 0.2 ml Z. officinale extract/kg body weight.
Rats in group 5 were given 1 ml of H. sabdariffa and
Z. officinale mixture (17.2 mg/400 ml+ 8.6 mg/200
ml). Rats in group 6 were given the same treatment as those
in group 5 but different concentration of the mixture (17.2
mg/200 ml+8.6 mg/100 ml) respectively. The rats were treated
with the extracts once a day, 7 days a week for 6 weeks.
Groups 3, 4, 5, and 6 revealed a statistically significant
(p < 0.05) decrease in plasma cholesterol. Also, plasma
glucose was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in groups 3, 4,
5 and 6. Group 6 had the greatest reduction in plasma
glucose, test value (group 6) 0.60 ± 0.28 when compared with
control value 5.14 ± 0.89. Therefore, the plants H.
sabdariffa and Z. officinale apart from being
hypocholesterolemic are also hypoglycemic.
Key words:
H. sabdariffa, Z. officinale, aqueous
extracts, plasma Cholesterol, plasma glucose.
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