Effect of Daily Consumption of Green Tea and Hibiscus on Some Biochemical Parameters in a Sample of Healthy Volunteers (Preliminary Study)

Abstract

Green tea from the leaves of plant Camellia sinensis has been shown to have wide range of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic and antibacterial activity against many pathogens. In addition, Hibiscus sabdariffa (Linn) (HS) (family Malvaceae), showed benefits in the most of body health. This study is aimed to evaluate the effect of daily consumption of green tea and hibiscus on some biochemical parameters in healthy volunteers. Fourteen healthy volunteers were divided randomly into two groups each one contains seven volunteers. They were allowed to drink hot tea of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces and the leaves of green tea 2g three times daily for 2 weeks. Then fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, blood pressure, serum uric acid and testosterone level were measured before and after as well as total body weight was measured daily. Both plants were shown significant reduction in lipid profile, SBP, DBP and mean arterial blood pressure, as well as uric acid only in green tea group, but there is no significant change according to the fasting blood sugar and testosterone level. There is rapid reduction in body weight by using green tea but not significantly. From this study, we conclude that both plants showed potent hypotensive and hypolipidemic effect. These effects made them very efficiently in protection against cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, Green tea showed worthwhile hypouricemic effect compared with hibiscus.