Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (H. sabdariffa) has long been recognized for its therapeutic properties, largely due to its abundant phytochemical content. This study investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of the calyces extract through both in vitro and in vivo approaches. In the laboratory, the extract was obtained by hot maceration with soaking durations ranging from 10 minutes to 24 hours. Results demonstrated that the extract yield did not vary significantly with extended soaking times, suggesting that a short brewing period is sufficient. GC-MS analysis of the brewed tea revealed several active compounds, while standard assays quantified the extract as containing 10.4 mg Gallic acid/g of phenolic acids and 1.562 mg Quercetin/g of flavonoids. Furthermore, the DPPH free radical scavenging assay indicated high antioxidant efficacy with an IC50 value of 0.503 ± 0.13. The in vivo segment involved thirty rats divided into five groups to evaluate the extract’s protective effects against chlorpyrifos-induced oxidative stress, using vitamin C as a comparative reference. Serum markers, including (MDA and GSH), and liver enzymes (AST, ALT, and ALP), were measured along with the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Histological examination of liver tissue further supported the biochemical findings. Rats treated with the H. sabdariffa extract exhibited significant improvements in antioxidant status, reduced inflammatory indicators, and normalized liver enzyme activities, paralleling the effects of vitamin C.
Sadiq et al. (Tue,) studied this question.