ABSTRACT
Hibiscus sabdariffa, commonly recognized as Roselle or Zobo, is a plant deeply rooted in diverse cultural and medicinal traditions. In traditional medicine, it has been used to treat a wide range of ailments, including hypertension, diabetes, liver diseases, and bacterial infections. It has also been used to promote overall health and well-being, including as a remedy for digestive issues and as a diuretic. As our understanding of the therapeutic potential of natural compounds expands, there is an emerging curiosity about the influence of Hibiscus sabdariffa, and specifically Zobo, on ocular physiology. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa leaf aqueous extract on intraocular pressure (IOP) in normotensive subjects. A total of fifty-two (52) individuals participated in this study, majorly between the ages of 24-26 years with a mean age of 22.79 ± 2.645 years and an equal gender distribution. 26 normotensive participants comprising 13 males and 13 females were selected for the experimental group (group A) while 26 normotensive participants comprising 13 males and 13 females were selected for the control group (group B). The findings of this study showed that in group A, there was a significant reduction in IOP in both the right and left eyes over time intervals (p < 0.001) post-ingestion of Hibiscus sabdariffa leaf aqueous extract. The peak reduction in IOP occurred at 120 minutes on the right eye (10.15 ± 1.190 mmHg) and left eye (10.31 ± 1.192 mmHg) compared to the baseline findings of 13.23 ± 1.996 mmHg and 13.04 ± 2.490 mmHg respectively. Notably, group B did not exhibit any significant changes in IOP. Across the time intervals examined, it was observed that there was no significant relationship between the age and gender of participants and the fluctuations in their IOP subsequent to ingesting Hibiscus sabdariffa leaf aqueous extract (p > 0.05). Conversely, there were significant relationships identified between the participants’ baseline IOP levels and the alterations in their IOP after ingesting Hibiscus sabdariffa leaf aqueous extract (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study showed that the aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa leaf exerts a significant reduction in IOP in both eyes of normotensive subjects. This study suggests that eye care professionals could consider the integration of Hibiscus sabdariffa leaf aqueous extract as a complementary therapy in the management of IOP in some ocular conditions like glaucoma. Keywords: Hibiscus drink, intraocular pressure, Hibiscus sabdariffa, normotensive subjects.
