Maternal consumption of an aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa during lactation accelerates postnatal weight and delays onset of puberty in female offspring.

The present study was designed to investigate whether maternal consumption of aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) during lactation will affect the postnatal growth and onset of puberty in the female offspring. Eighteen in-bred virgin female Sprague-Dawley rats aged between 10-12 weeks and weighing 125 +/- 5.5g (mean +/- SEM) with two consecutive regular 4-day estrus cycles were randomly assigned to one of three groups of 6 rats per group. One group had tap water (Control); another had 0.6g/100ml while the third group had 1.8g/100ml in their drinking water throughout lactation (21 days). Results showed that HS consumption during lactation significantly (P < 0.05) decreased maternal fluid and food intake, increased postnatal weight gain and delays the onset of puberty in the female offspring.