Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa on obesity in MSG mice

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2007-10, Vol.114 (1), p.66-71
• Main Authors: Alarcon-Aguilar, Francisco J., Zamilpa, Alejandro, Perez-Garcia, Ma. Dolores, Almanza-Perez, Julio C., Romero-Nuñez, Eunice, Campos-Sepulveda, Efrain A., Vazquez-Carrillo, Laura I., Roman-Ramos, Ruben
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alanine Transaminase - blood; Alanine Transaminase - drug effects; Animals; Anthocyanins; Anthocyanins - pharmacology; Anti-obesity plants; Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood; Aspartate Aminotransferases - drug effects; bioassays; Biological and medical sciences; body weight; Body Weight - drug effects; chemical constituents of plants; Cholesterol - blood; Disease Models, Animal; Drinking - drug effects; Eating - drug effects; Edible plant Malvaceae; ethnobotany; Female; Flowers; General pharmacology; herbal medicines; Hibiscus - chemistry; Hibiscus sabdariffa; Medical sciences; Medicinal plants; medicinal properties; Mice; Obesity; Obesity - drug therapy; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; plant extracts; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Sodium Glutamate; traditional medicine; Triglycerides - blood; weight gain
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2007.07.020

The aim of the present investigation was determine whether a standardized Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces aqueous extract has an effect on body weight in an obese animal model induced by the administration of monosodium glutamate. Hibiscus sabdariffa aqueous extract, containing 33.64 mg of total anthocyanins per each 120 mg of extract, was orally administered (120 mg/kg/day) for 60 days to healthy and obese mice, and body weight gain, food and liquid intake, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), cholesterol, and triglycerides levels were measured. Hibiscus sabdariffa administration significantly reduced body weight gain in obese mice and increased liquid intake in healthy and obese mice. ALT levels were significantly increased on the 15th and 45th days in obese mice, but AST levels did not show significant changes. Mortality was not observed in the Hibiscus sabdariffa treated groups. Triglycerides and cholesterol levels showed non-significant reductions in animals treated with Hibiscus sabdariffa. Our data confirm the anti-obesity effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa reported by the Mexican population.