Comparative Investigation of the Effects of Different Aqueous Preparations of Hibiscus sabdariffa (Zobo Drinks) on Haematological Parameters in Normal Wistar Albino Rats

Aim: Investigating and comparing the effect of administration of different preparations of the commonly-consumed Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn (Zobo) drinks on haematological parameters.

Study Design: Comparative study using animal models (Wistar Albino Rats) with daily administration of the same concentration of different zobo drink samples.

Place and Duration of Study: University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria and its environs between November 2014 and February 2015.

Methodology: Thirty (30) Wistar albino rats were grouped into six (6) groups of five rats each. Group A served as the control and B was administered an unblended zobo drink. Groups C – E were administered locally-produced zobo samples and group F was a National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)-branded zobo drink. A concentration of 200 mg/kg body weight of the samples was administered orally to groups B–F for 21 days. Packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin count, white blood cell (WBC) count, red blood cell (RBC) count, platelets, neutrophils, lymphocytes, mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were analyzed and compared.

Results: The White blood cell (WBC) count and percentage lymphocytes were significantly lower (P < 0.05), while Haemoglobin, Packed cell volume, Red blood cell (RBC) count and Platelet count were significantly higher (P < 0.05) when compared with the control. Percentage neutrophils showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) compared with the control.

Conclusion: The zobo drinks possess haematocrit properties that result in higher levels of blood volume and may be used for the management of anaemia. They also possess the ability to reduce WBC count.