Project Materials

CHEMICAL/MINERAL COMPOSITIONS OF WATER EXTRACTS OF HIBISCUS SADARIFFA

ABSTRACT

Using a contemporary atomic absorption spectrophotometer, this study examined the chemical characteristics of the water extract of the zobo (Hibiscus sabdariffa) beverage. In Nigeria, particularly in the northern region, zobo drink is a popular beverage. The analysis’s findings showed that the beverage is rich in essential mineral nutrients needed for human growth and for maintaining healthy metabolic processes. When compared to other leaves, such as the well-known vegetable leaf known as awa (Piper methysticum), zobo drink has a higher concentration of iron, a key component of human haemoglobin, according to the results.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Epidemiological research and related meta-analyses at the close of the 20th century strongly implied that eating a diet high in plant-based foods for an extended period of time provided some protection against chronic illnesses, particularly cancer (Wallstrom et al., 2000).

These observations brought attention to the potential role of radical scavenging and radical suppressing nutrients and non-nutrients in explaining the apparent benefit of such diets (Weisburger, 1991), as uncontrolled production of free radicals was believed to be significantly implicated in the aetiology of cancer (Guyton and Kensler 1993).

As soon as it was discovered that free radicals were also linked to the development of numerous other chronic illnesses (Kehrer, 1993; Stohs, 1995), flavonoids and the foods and drinks that contain them came into focus.

It was a regrettable but unintended consequence of some studies and publications that many researchers mistakenly believed that dietary phenols, polyphenols, and tannins (PPT) only included flavonoids, flavonols, and flavones.

Long-term consumption of diets high in plant-based foods has been linked to improved health, according to more recent epidemiological studies (Hung et al., 2004 and Jansen et al., 2004).

However, it’s unclear if this is because such diets increase intake of certain beneficial nutrients (like isothiocyanates and other sulfur-containing plant constituents, mono-unsaturated fatty acids, and poly-unsaturated fatty acids, PPT

polyacetylenes, selenium, terpenes, etc.), decrease exposure to harmful substances (like oxidised cholesterol, pyrolysis mutagens, salt, saturated fat, etc.), or some combination as recommended in the “Polymeal” concept (Franco et al., 2004 and Johnson, 2004).

According to an in vitro study, PPT and isothiocyanates may have a mechanistic basis for genuine synergy. Conversely, more recent research attempting to evaluate the proposed association between flavonoid intake and flavones, or other flavonoids, has produced far less consistent findings.

According to certain research, flavonoids may have a preventive effect against some (but not all) types of cancer (Knekt et al., 1997 and Sun et al., 2002) or vascular illnesses (Hirvonen et al., 2001 and Mennen et al., 2004).

It’s interesting to note that in order to determine the beneficial effects of isothiocyanates and/or the phenolic components of the plants (such as the dietary phenols including flavonoids) in the management of cancer growth and the initiation of various types of diabetes, a study of the association between the consumption of Hibiscus sabdariffa (zobo) and other cruciferous vegetables and the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women needs to be conducted.

Numerous studies conducted during this time period have indicated positive effects linked to increased intake of other dietary phenol classes. For example, increased coffee consumption has been linked with reduced incidence of type II diabetes (van Dam et al., 2002 and Saremi et al., 2003).

Similarly, increased consumption of lignans (or at least greater plasma concentrations of their metabolites)has been linked with reduced incidence of estrogen-related cancers in some (Boccardo et al., 2004 and McCann et al., 2004) but not all studies (Kilkkinen et al., 2004 and Zeleniuch –Jacquotte et al., 2004),and a prospective study was equivocal.

1.1 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The flavonoids in the water extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa should be extracted for further experimental and clinical research in the management of certain ailments and disorders like cancer, diabetes mellitus etc.

The mechanisms of flavonoid-protein interactions have been discovered; it is my idea that such mechanisms should be carried to the in-vivo metabolic and physiological processes aiming at understanding the exact mechanisms involved in cellular aging processes and the advancement of illnesses.

1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objective of this study is to determine the physico chemical (biochemical) and water constituent of Zobo produced from dried calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa (Linn Roselle).

Using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The biochemical makeup of the zobo has adverse consequences on human health when taken.