Hibiscus extract may lower cholesterol

Hibiscus flower extract may have the same health benefits as red wine and tea, according to scientists in Taiwan. The research, published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, showed that the antioxidant properties of flavonoids, polyphenols and anthocyanins contained in the flower can prevent the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins or "bad cholesterol."

The study tested four groups of rats on different diets: one control, one high cholesterol control, and two high cholesterol diets supplemented with different amounts of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract.

After 12 weeks, blood tests revealed that the extract significantly reduced cholesterol content in blood serum and successfully prevented oxidation of LDL. In addition, the study found that hibiscus extract suppressed blood lipid levels, including triglycerides and total cholesterol, significantly. The researchers concluded that the data suggest that the extract can potentially prevent a number of cardiovascular diseases in which cholesterol plays a major role.