Effect of aqueous extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa and Zingiber Officinale on blood cholesterol and glucose levels of rats

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.