Effect of administration of flavonoid-rich extract from Hibiscus sabdariffa to lactating rats on plasma glucocorticoid, leptin, and postnatal growth of offspring

Introduction: Flavonoids are a group of natural substances with variable phenolic structures well-known for their beneficial effects on health. Flavonoids are now considered an indispensable component in a variety of nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, medicinal, and cosmetic applications because of their anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, and anti-carcinogenic properties coupled with their capacity to modulate key cellular enzyme function. Aim: This study was aimed at investigating the effect of administration of flavonoids from Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) to lactating rats on plasma glucocorticoids, leptin, and postnatal weights of the offspring. Materials and Methods: Forty pregnant female Sprague − Dawley rats weighing 150 g–200 g were used for this study. Flavonoids were extracted from HS following standard procedures. On the day of delivery, the rats were divided basically into four groups of 10 dams per group. Group A received tap water; Group B received low dose of flavonoid (5 mg/kg body weight daily); Group C received medium dose of flavonoid (10 mg/kg body weight daily); and Group D received high dose of flavonoid (20 mg/kg body weight daily). Flavonoid administration commenced on day 1 of lactation and ended at weaning. Dams from each group had their blood withdrawn from the orbital sinus on days 1, 7, and 21 for assay of plasma glucocorticoids and leptin. Food intake of the dams and body weight of the offspring was measured. Results: There was a progressive dose-dependent decrease (P < 0.05) in maternal plasma glucocorticoids and leptin with the most decrease seen in the high dose group and PND 21. Low dose flavonoid caused a progressive decrease in maternal food consumption when compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Low dose extract caused a progressive decrease in the body weight of the offspring, whereas the high dose caused a progressive increase in the body weight of the offspring (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Flavonoids from HS caused a progressive decrease in glucocorticoids and leptin with a resultant progressive increase in maternal food intake and body weights of the offspring.