| RESEARCH ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2015 | Volume
: 47
| Issue : 5 | Page : 540-545 |
Effects of aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system of Nigerians with mild to moderate essential hypertension: A comparative study with lisinopril
Daniel Chukwu Nwachukwu1, Eddy Ikemefuna Aneke2, Leonard Fidelis Obika3, Nkiru Zuada Nwachukwu4
1 Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria
2 Department of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria
3 Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
4 Department of Ophthalmology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Daniel Chukwu Nwachukwu
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Enugu State
Nigeria
 Source of Support: Nil., Conflict of Interest: There are no conflicts of interest.  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0253-7613.165194
Objectives: The present study investigated the effects of aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) on the three basic components of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system: Plasma renin, serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), and plasma aldosterone (PA) in mild to moderate essential hypertensive Nigerians and compared with that of lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor.
Materials and Methods: A double-blind controlled randomized clinical study was used. Seventy-eight newly diagnosed but untreated mild to moderate hypertensive subjects attending Medical Outpatients Clinic of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu were recruited for the study. Those in Group A received placebo (150 mg/kg/day), Group B were given lisinopril (10 mg once daily) while those in Group C received aqueous extract of HS (150 mg/kg/day). After 4 weeks of treatment, the levels of plasma renin, serum ACE, and PA were determined.
Results: HS and lisinopril significantly (P < 0.001) reduced PA compared to placebo by 32.06% and 30.01%, respectively. Their effects on serum ACE and plasma renin activity (PRA) were not significant compared to placebo; they reduced ACE by 6.63% and 5.67% but increased plasma PRA by 2.77% and 5.36%, respectively.
Conclusion: HS reduced serum ACE and PA in mild to moderate hypertensive Nigerians with equal efficacy as lisinopril. These actions are possibly due to the presence of anthocyanins in the extract.
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