Hibiscus extract can protect the liver from the damage of harmful chemicals, says pilot studies.

Hibiscus sabdariffa, a herbaceous shrub also known as roselle, karkade, Jamaica sorrel or Florida cranberry, is commonly used in Asia and Africa to make beverage and jams or used as treatment for various ailments like hypertension, pyrexia, liver disorders and antidotes to poisoning chemicals.

Hibiscus has been used ever since long time ago, and now scientists show much interest on this plant. As a good resource of natural anthocyanins, hibiscus extract exerts versatile health-giving functions. Researches focusing on its benefits have been done, most of them were based on its antioxidant activity and related biological activities of anti-hyperlipidemia and anti-hypertension. Actually, hibiscus has been thought to help with the liver disorder though much fewer studies on this activity have been done compared to the studies on other functions. But this point has attracted researchers, and there have been some pilot articles on this subject.

Animal studies showed that when the body was inflamed by the exogenous harmful chemicals, hibiscus extract can help to resist the damage. One study said that hibiscus extract can help with the recovery from hepatic damage induced by CCl₄^[1]. Oral administration of the extract following a single CCl₄ dose promoted the healing of oxidative liver damage.

Another one showed that this extract protected the blood against 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (2, 4-DNPH) lipoperoxidative effects^[2]. Blood levels of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined as indices of alteration and protection. 2, 4-DNPH treatment significantly decreased (P < 0.05) blood level of GSH and increased blood MDA level. On the other hand, treatment of the extract led to significant (P < 0.05) increase in blood GSH and a decrease in MDA. These findings indicate that extract from H.sabdariffa protects the blood against 2, 4-DNPH lipoperoxidative effects, which will help with the liver protection.

Also the hibiscus extract can protect the liver from the damage of commonly-used medicine. For example, Azathioprine (AZP)^[3], a common immunosuppressant and paracetamol^[4], which is an OTC analgesic and antipyretic drug.

All the researches above showed the possibility for hibiscus extract of being a novel hepatoprotective ingredient. Further studies and human trails are also necessary.

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Liver is one of the most important organ of the body, which is of paramount signification in the removal of toxins including the drug in the medical treatment, and at the mean time it¡¯s vulnerable to the damage from these harmful chemicals. So the protection of liver is of great necessity. A lots of plants show hepatoprotective capability, and the super fruit------cranberry is also involved^[5]. No matter if there¡¯s any story between cranberry or Florida cranberry(Hibiscus sabdariffa), the active components from these two plant are similar antioxidant substance.

Chinese supplier Kangcare has launched its new Hibiscus sabdariffa Extract------HibRose^TM. As a ingredient of antioxidant, its function in liver-function is to be explored.

Reference

[1]Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx extract on carbon tetrachloride induced liver damage. Biokemistri, 2003, 15(1): 27-33

[2]Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa anthocyanins on 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine-induced hematotoxicity in rabbits. African Journal of Biochemistry Research, 2009, 3(4): 140-144

[3]Hepatoprotective effects of Hibiscus, Rosmarinus and Salvia on azathioprine-induced toxicity in rats. Life Sciences, 2005,77: 266¨C278

[4]Acetaminophen-induced liver damage in mice: Effects of some medicinalplants on the oxidative defense system. Experimental and Toxicologic Pathology, 2008,59: 319¨C327

[5] Dietary Whole Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) Modulates Plasma Lipid and Cytokine Profiles, and Prevents Liver Toxicity in Response to Cholesterol-Feeding in the JCR-LA-cp Corpulent Rat Model. The FASEB Journal, 2008,22: 702.6