Oxidative Stress Attenuation in Hiv/Aids Patients on Antiretroviral Drugs by Calyx Juice of Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn (Malvaceae)

摘要

The present study was aimed at evaluating the in vivo antioxidant potential of Hibiscus sabdariffa Linnaeus calyx juice (folere) in HIV/AIDS patients on antiretroviral therapy. In the study, 5g of dried calyces were decocted with 250 mL of fresh tap water at 95℃ for 15 minutes. The experimental design was a case-control randomized blinded trial in which, 58 patients on antiretroviral drugs were divided into 2 groups age-and-sex-matched. The experimental group was served a glass of 250 mL calyx juice per day alongside their antiretroviral treatment while the control group was exclusively on antiretroviral drugs with no available placebo. The trial was run for three (3) months after which blood samples were analyzed for the biochemical aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and alanine aminotransferase ALAT) and the hematological CD4, white blood cells (WBCs), red blood cells (RBCs), and hemoglobin (HGB)] parameters. The results show an increase in RBCs and WBCs in the experimental group which on the other hand experienced a decrease in CD4 and HGB. The control group experienced a decrease in RBCs, less decrease in HGB, and a higher decrease in CD4, but with increased WBCs. There was a parallel increase in ALAT and ASAT in both groups, more elevated in the control group.