title: Does consumption of an aqueous extract of Hibscus sabdariffa affect renal function in subjects with mild to moderate hypertension?
abstract: Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) has been traditionally used as a herbal medicine in Nigeria mainly because of its antihypertensive action. In view of the recent increase in the prevalence of renal failure, we have investigated the effect of HS consumption on renal function in Nigerians with mild to moderate hypertension. A total of 78 newly diagnosed but untreated subjects with mild to moderate hypertension attending the medical outpatients unit of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (Enugu, Nigeria) were recruited for the study. These subjects were randomly divided into three equally sized groups that received HS or lisinopril (treatment groups) or placebo (control group), once daily for 4 weeks. Indices of renal function (urine volume and creatinine clearance) were measured at baseline and weekly throughout the study period. HS and lisinopril significantly increased (P < 0.001) urine volume compared to placebo, and HS significantly (P < 0.001) increased urine volume more than lisinopril. HS significantly increased (P < 0.001) creatinine clearance compared to placebo whereas lisinopril did not. These results indicate that HS consumption improved indices of renal function in our study population of Nigerians with mild to moderate hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria. daniel.nwachukwu@unn.edu.ng.
authors.forename: Daniel Chukwu
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Nwachukwu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Eddy Ikemefuna
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Aneke
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Nkiru Zuada
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Nwachukwu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Nkiru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Azubike
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin, Edo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Lenard Fidelis
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Obika
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003404:Creatinine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D031584:Hibiscus; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017706:Lisinopril / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D003404:Creatinine; D017706:Lisinopril
keywords: Creatinine clearance; Essential hypertension; Hibiscus sabdariffa; Lisinopril; Urine volume