Comparative Study of the Effects of the Commonly-consumed Aqueous Extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa (Zobo Drinks) on Hepatic and Renal Indices of Normal Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

Aim: Investigating and comparing the effect of administration of different preparations of the commonly-consumed Hibiscus sabdariffa (Zobo) drinks on hepatic and renal indices. 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 group B was administered an unblended zobo drink. Groups C – E were administered locally-produced zobo samples and group 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 the groups B – F for 21 days. Hepatic marker enzymes (ALT, AST and ALP), bilirubin (total and conjugated), albumin, total protein and renal indices were analyzed and compared. Results: The results indicate that the activities of ALT, ALP, Albumin and Unconjugated bilirubin were significantly lower (P < 0.05), while Total protein and Total bilirubin levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the control (Group A). AST and Conjugated bilirubin showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) in all the groups. The levels of Urea, Creatinine, Sodium (in group B), Potassium (K+), and Chloride (Cl-) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the control. The Sodium (Na+) level was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than the control in groups C, D and E. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that all the samples were not hepatotoxic. However, the aqueous extract of Zobo may have nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic effects if the concentration is increased over time.