Writing in the current edition of the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, Dr Chang-Che Chen and colleagues from Chung Shan Medical University explain that the plant hibiscus sabdariffa has long been used in Chinese folk medicine to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and liver disorders.

To explore the possible cardiovascular benefits of hibiscus, the researchers studied rats that were divided into four groups and fed different diets. Two groups received a high-cholesterol diet supplemented with different amounts of hibiscus extract, one group was given a high-cholesterol only diet, while the remaining group were fed their usual diet. After 12 weeks, all the rats were given blood tests to assess their health.

The team found that the rats given the hibiscus extract had significantly lower cholesterol levels in their blood than those fed on the high-cholesterol only diet. The hibiscus extract also seemed to successfully prevent the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins, commonly known as "bad" cholesterol, which is associated with heart disease.

The researchers say their findings suggest that hibiscus extract has the potential to prevent cholesterol deposition and may therefore be useful in the prevention and even treatment of a number of cardiovascular diseases in which cholesterol plays a major role.

Researcher Dr Chau-Jong Wang said: "Experiments have shown that compounds extracted from red wine and tea reduce cholesterol and lipid build-up in the arteries of rats. This is the first study to show that Hibiscus extract has the same effect."