Hibiscus cannabinus: effects on nutritional parameters and biochemical of rats dyslipidemic

DOI: 10.15343/0104-7809.201640011120

Abstract

The plant Hibiscus cannabinus (Hc) is used in folk medicine for inflammatory treatments. There are few studies that
characterize the anti-hyperlipidemic potential of this plant, mainly flowers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
effect of dry extract of Hc flowers in nutritional and biochemical parameters of dyslipidemic mice. 21 male rats and
adults were divided into three groups: Group C - standard diet; Group D - fat diet; DH Group - plus fat diet dry extract
of Hc flowers. The study lasted seven weeks. In two weeks the animals in Groups D and DH received high fat diet for
induction of dyslipidemia, then the DH group received treatment with Hc (500mg / kg weight) for five weeks. Group C
received standard diet (AIN-93M) during the study. The animals were kept in a controlled environment, being collected
body weight, food intake, water intake, urinary and fecal excretion. At the end of the study the blood was used for
biochemical determinations and weight of organs for comparison between groups. The DH Group, the 7th week of the
study, showed lower food consumption compared to Group C and increased fecal excretion in the 2nd and 4th weeks,
compared to Groups C and D. The variables body weight, water intake and urinary excretion were not influenced the
Hc extract of flowers. The dyslipidemic diet increased liver weight in Groups D and DH. The Hc was not effective in
maintaining the normal parameters of the variables studied, with the exception of food and fecal excretion consumption.