Study summary · research use only
Improvement on blood pressure and skin using roselle drink: A clinical trial
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
This randomized, cross-over, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in 39 healthy adult humans tested a roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) drink, containing 1.96 g gallic acid equivalent phenolics/100 ml and 1.65 g cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalent anthocyanins/100 ml, given as 200 ml daily for 6 months versus a placebo drink. The abstract reports a significant reduction in blood pressure in the roselle group compared with preintervention values, along with significant increases in serum phenolics, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, and a significant increase in facial skin redness and moisture, which the authors attribute to phenolics and anthocyanins in roselle.
Abstract
Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) is an increasingly attractive plant for its health and pharmaceutical, beverage, and cosmetic applications. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effects of roselle drink on antioxidant activity, blood pressure, and skin condition. Roselle drink used in this study contained rich phenolics (1.96 g of gallic acid equivalent/100 ml) and anthocyanins (1.65 g of cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalent/100 ml). In a randomized, cross-over, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, 39 healthy adults received drank 200 ml of roselle drink or placebo-control drink for 6 months. A significant reduction in the blood pressure was observed in the roselle drink treated group when compared with preintervention values. After 6 months of treatment with roselle drink, serum phenolics contents, the levels of Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione reductase (GSH-Rd) were significantly increased in healthy subjects. However, a significant increment in skin redness and skin moisture was observed in the facial skin of roselle drink-treated participants. Oral administration of roselle drink for 6 months significantly lowered the blood pressure, improved antioxidation level, and positively regulated skin redness as well as moisture. Phenolics and anthocyanins in roselle could be the major potential contributors to such health effects. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Roselle is a typical plant. Continuous administration of roselle drink clearly improved antioxidation levels, reduced blood pressure and positively regulated skin redness and moisture. Phenloics and anthocyanins in roselle could be the major potentila contributors of such health benefits.
pepmg summarizes the peer-reviewed literature and links to every source — it sells nothing, ships nothing, and gives no medical, dosing, or human-use guidance. Don't just trust this summary: follow the citation to its source and read it yourself. Research use only.