ABSTRACT
This work was carried out to
investigate the chemical properties of the water extract of zobo (Hibiscus sabdariffa) drink using the modern
atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Zobo drink is a popular drink in the
Nigeria, especially in the northern part of Nigeria. The result of the analysis
indicated that the drink is high in vital mineral nutrients required for the
healthy growth by humans and for the proper metabolic processes to be
adequately maintained. Zobo drink is high, as indicated in the result, in iron
– a major component of the human haemoglobin, when compared with other leaf
like the popular vegetable leaf known as awa (Piper
methysticum).
CHAPTER ONE
1.0
INTRODUCTION
Toward the end of the 20th century, epidemiological studies and associated
meta-analyses suggested strongly that long-term consumption of diets rich in
plant foods offered some protection against chronic diseases, especially cancer
(Wallstromet al., 2000).Because
uncontrolled production of free radicals was thought to be significantly
implicated in the etiology of cancer (Guyton and Kensler 1993),these
observations focused attention on the possible role of radical scavenging and
radical suppressing nutrients and non-nutrients in explaining the apparent
benefit of such diets (Weisburger, 1991).
The realization that free
radicals were similarly implicated in the etiology of many other chronic diseases
(Kehrer, 1993 and Stohs, 1995), immediately focused attention on flavonoids and
the foods and beverages rich therein. An unfortunate, but unintended side
effect of some research works and papers was the misleading tendency of many
investigators to think of dietary phenols, polyphenols, and tannins (PPT)as
encompassing only the flavonoids, flavonols, and flavones. More recent
epidemiological studies have supported the association between better health
and long-term consumption of diets rich in foods of plant origin(Hung et al., 2004 and Jansen et al., 2004).However, whether this is
because such diets minimize exposure to deleterious substances (example
oxidized cholesterol, pyrolysis mutagens, salt, saturated fat, etc.), or
maximize intake of certain beneficial nutrients (example isothiocyanates and
other sulfur-containing plant constituents, mono-unsaturated fatty
acids, and poly-unsaturated
fatty acids, PPT, polyacetylenes, selenium, terpenes, etc.) or some combination
as advocated in the ‘‘Polymeal’’ concept, remains unknown (Franco et al., 2004 and Johnson, 2004).An in vitro study indicates that there
may be mechanistic basis for true synergy between PPT and isothiocyanates. In
contrast, more recent studies seeking to assess the suggested link between the
consumption of flavonols and flavones, or other flavonoids, have given much
less consistent results. Some studies have suggested a possible protective
effect of flavonoids against vascular diseases (Hirvonen et al., 2001 and Mennen et al., 2004) or certain (but not all)
cancers(Knekt et al., 1997 and Sun et al., 2002).Interestingly, an
investigation of the relationship between the consumption of Hibiscus sabdariffa (zobo) and other
cruciferous vegetables and the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women has
to be carried out in order to ascertain the beneficial effects to
isothiocyanates and/or the phenolic components of the plants (like the dietary
phenols including flavonoids) in the management of cancer growth and initiation
of various types of diabetes.
In the same time period,
various studies have suggested beneficial effect associated with raised
consumption of other classes of dietary phenols. For example, increased coffee
consumption has been linked with reduced incidence of type II diabetes (van Dam et al., 2002 and Saremi et al., 2003).Similarly, increased
consumption of lignans (or at least greater plasma concentrations of their
metabolites)has been linked with reduced incidence of estrogen-related cancers
in some (Boccardo et al., 2004 and
McCann et al., 2004) but not all
studies (Kilkkinen et al., 2004
and Zeleniuch –Jacquotte et al.,
2004),and a prospective study was equivocal.
1.1 SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER
RESEARCH
The flavonoids in the water
extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa should
be extracted for further experimental and clinical research in the management
of certain ailments and disorders like cancer, diabetes mellitus etc.
The mechanisms of
flavonoid-protein interactions have been determined; it is my suggestion that
such mechanisms should be carried to the in-vivo metabolic
and physiological processes aimed at determining the detailed mechanisms
involved in cells aging processes and the progression of diseases.
1.2 OBJECTIVE OF STUDY
The
objective of this study is to determine the physico chemical (biochemical) and
water constituent of Zobo produced from dried calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa (Linn Roselle). Using
atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The biochemical content of the zobo
has undesirable effects on human health when consumed.
Department | Bio-Chemistry |
Project ID Code | BCH0004 |
Chapters | 4 Chapters |
No of Pages | 56 pages |
Reference | YES |
Format | Microsoft Word |
Price | ₦4000, $15 |
|
|
Contact Us On | +2347043069458 |