Botanical Supplement May Help Improve Blood Pressure

A new study found that supplementing with a proprietary extract of hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) and lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora) may help improve systolic blood pressure.

Participants in the study included 80 hypertensive adults with an average age of 38. Half received 500 mg of hibiscus sabdariffa and lippia citriodora daily for 84 days. The other half received a placebo. Diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, and pulse pressure were measured every day during the study period.

Participants in the supplement group saw a 5% decrease (3.76 mmHg) in daytime systolic blood pressure. No change was seen in the placebo group. The supplement group also saw a decrease of 2.24 mmHg in nighttime systolic blood pressure, compared to a 2.46 increase in the placebo group.

The study was conducted by researchers from San Antonio Catholic University of Murcia. It was published on March 22, 2021 in the journal Molecules.