Abstract

Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces commonly known, as “Zobo” is widely used in African folk medicine for the treatment of several ailments. Oral administration of the extract 0.5 mg/ml as drinking water for 5 weeks resulted in a significant reduction in weekly fasting blood gluose and prevents decrease in weekly body weight. The aqueous extract also resulted in significant decrease (P<0.05) in weekly fluid intake and increase in feed intake. The result also shows that the aqueous extract exhibited significant (P<0.05) decrease in serum cholesterol, triacylglycerol and LDL-cholesterol and increase HDL-cholesterol level. The study did not show significant (P<0.05) decrease in the level of serum creatinine and urea.H. sabdariffa demonstrate similar activity as glibenlamide and Vitamin C.