Benefícios do tratamento com Hibiscus sabdariffa para a obesidade, doenças associadas e seus efeitos adversos

Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease caused by an imbalance in food intake and energy expenditure, being associated with an increase in adipogenesis. Hibiscus sabdariffa, considered the second most studied plant after green tea, is used against inflammation, obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and liver disease. This study aimed to investigate the effects of H. sabdariffa in the treatment of these pathologies and adverse reactions. In vitro studies indicate that H. sabdariffa, administered at a concentration of 2.5 mg/ml, had anti-lipase and anti-amylase activity. In another study, 450 mg of H. sabdariffa extract, administered 3 times a day for 12 weeks, demonstrated a reduction in body weight in women. In one investigation, the same extract lowered blood cholesterol in teenagers when administered at a concentration of 2 g per day for 30 days. In another study, there was an adverse reaction interfering with spermatogenesis in male rats, impairing their fertility. H. sabdariffa had beneficial effects for the adjunctive treatment of obesity and associated diseases, but further clinical trials on the safety and efficacy of this plant are needed.