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SOBOLOA renowned prostate cancer researcher, expert, scholar, a prostate cancer community champion and a PhD student in Alternative Medicine at the Indian Board of Alternative Medicines, Dr. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu, has revealed that sobolo, a (local Ghanaian beverage), has high antioxidant properties than the green tea. This revelation was as a result of a review paper for publication as part of the requirement for the PhD in alternative medicine.

His PhD synopsis subject “Impact of alternative medicine in Ghanaian men of African descent diagnosed with prostate cancer” has been approved by the Indian Board of Alternative Medicine in Kolkata, India.

The prostate cancer PhD student was himself amazed after his review paper on sobolo.

“Previously I thought green tea was the healthiest tea men could drink as preventative medicine; but this new revelation has change my mind.”

Sobolo also known as hibiscus tea; in fact, hibiscus tea contains more antioxidants than the top of the line green tea, match a tea, and it doesn’t contain caffeine.

So when ask: What should men know about the healthiest tea in the world? The PhD student gave account of the hibiscus plant.

“Hibiscus is a bright coloured flowering plant that is native to tropical and subtropical areas of the world, but especially China, Egypt, Mexico, Sudan, and Thailand. More than 200 species belong to the genus Hibiscus, and the plant is often referred to sorrel or flor de Jamaica (or sometimes just Jamaica). The flowers are trumpet shaped and consist of five or more petals with colours that range from white to yellow, pink, red, purple, or orange.

The plant typically used to make hibiscus tea is from the Hibiscus sabdariffa flower. Hibiscus tea is an excellent source of various organic acids (e.g., citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid), as well as vitamin C and minerals.

“Perhaps the most important thing that can be said about hibiscus tea is that it is one of the richest sources of antioxidants in a beverage in the world.

PhD accounts on Hibiscus or “Sobolo”

According to Dr. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu, who is a registered  Alternative Medical Ddoctor who specialized in prostate cancer, In a study published in Nutrition Journal, researchers explained how they developed a comprehensive food database that listed the antioxidant content of more than 3,100 foods, spices, beverages, herbs, and supplements.

After analyzing 283 different beverages, hibiscus tea beat match a green tea when it came to antioxidant content. Though green tea is still a very good beverage choice for antioxidants, hibiscus tea tops the list.

Hibiscus sabdariffa leaf, the edible part of H. sabdariffa Linne, is usually ignored and discarded. In a study by Hui-Hsuan Lina et al 2012 to examine the anticancer properties of H. sabdariffa L. leaf extract (HLE). First, HLE was demonstrated to be rich in polyphenols, including catechin and ellagic acid (EA). 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)- 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) data showed that among three kinds of human prostate cancer (CaP) cells, androgen-dependent LNCaP cells were the most susceptible to HLE. HLE and its purified compound EA were evaluated for apoptotic activities. Molecular data showed the effect of HLE in LNCaP cells might be mediated via both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways. Finally, HLE inhibited the growth of LNCaP cells in xenograft tumour studies. As a result, the data presented the first evidence of HLE as an apoptosis inducer in LNCaP cells, and these findings may open interesting perspectives to the strategy in human CaP treatment.

Over the centuries, hibiscus has been valued for its ability to support heart health, soothe upper respiratory conditions, help skin health, and relieve constipation, but the one condition that has been supported by research is high blood pressure.

In fact, a 2012 Tufts University study published in the Journal of Nutrition reported that hibiscus tea demonstrated promising results when pitted against placebo tea. In the double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 65 adults with prehypertension or mild hypertension was given either three 240-mL servings of either hibuscus or placebo tea daily for six weeks.

At the end of six weeks, adults who had consumed the hibiscus tea had a lower systolic blood pressure when compared with adults in the placebo group, but the same was not true for diastolic pressure. The authors concluded that “daily consumption of hibiscus tea…lowers BP in pre- and mildly hypertensive adults and may prove an effective component of the dietary changes recommended for people with these conditions.”

The healthful benefits of hibiscus don’t end there. Another study explored the impact of hibiscus extract powder in patients with metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a combination of disorders that increase a person’s risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Components of metabolic syndrome include insulin resistance, obesity, high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, and low “good” cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, HDL).

The study evaluated the effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract powder on people with and without metabolic syndrome. All the participants took 100-mg capsules of hibiscus extract daily for one month. At the end of the month, individuals with metabolic syndrome showed significantly lower levels of glucose and total cholesterol as well as an in increase in HDL levels. Hibiscus extract also lowered triglyceride levels in people with and without metabolic syndrome.

How to enjoy Hibiscus Tea

Director of De Men’s Clinic & Prostate Research Lab in Dodowa, Akoto House, Dr. Raphael Nyarkotey Obu, explains how to prepare a quick and delicious batch of hibiscus tea.

When shopping for hibiscus tea, look for either 100% hibiscus or combination teas that list hibiscus as the first ingredient. To sweeten your tea, Dr. Nyarkotey mentions adding dates, lime but you can also use honey. He advises not to use sugar, additive or colours for preparation. Dr. Nyarkotey studied a Master’s program in Prostate cancer-Sheffield Hallam University; he is the founder of Men’s Health Foundation Ghana. He has published close to 200 articles on prostate cancer.