Abstract

This study evaluates the effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffacalyces on the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Both the aqueous and ethanolic extracts showed marked antioxidant activity in oleic acid systems of ferric thiocyanate and thiobarbituric acid (TBA). They also exhibited 1, 1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine (DPPH) scavenging activity and reducing power in a concentration dependent manner. The in vivo study of the plant on the liver and kidney level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), catalase, vitamin C and packed cell volume (PCV) showed that the extract exhibited significant reduction in the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and increased the activity of catalase and concentration of vitamins C. The extract also exhibited a considerable increase in the level of PCV when compared with diabetic control group. Thus our study shows that Habiscus sabdariffa exhibits in vitro and in vivo antioxidant action in alloxan induced diabetic rats.

Key words:  Hibiscus sabdariffa, antioxidant, thiobarbituric acid (TBARS), catalase.