Effect of Garcinia kola Consumption on the Blood Pressure of Normotensive Individuals

Abstract

Introduction: Garcinia kola, commonly known as bitter kola, has been widely used in traditional African medicine for its therapeutic properties. It is particularly recognized for its potential antihypertensive effects, as demonstrated in animal studies, notably in Wistar rats. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of oral G. kola consumption on the blood pressure of normotensive individuals. Methods: A single-arm, non-randomized repeated-measures study was conducted with 22 normotensive participants aged 18–50 years. Each participant consumed 15 g of G. kola daily for two consecutive days. Blood pressure measurements were recorded at baseline and at 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes post-ingestion. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, and a paired t-test was applied to identify significant differences in blood pressure readings following G. kola consumption. Results: There were no significant changes (p>0.05) in mean diastolic blood pressure or mean heart rate at any time point across the two days of evaluation. However, a significant reduction (p<0.05) in mean systolic blood pressure was observed at the 60-minute mark post-ingestion. Conclusion: While G. kola consumption resulted in a transient significant decrease in systolic blood pressure at 60 minutes post-ingestion, this effect was not sustained beyond the first hour. These findings highlight the need for further research to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the antihypertensive properties of G. kola.

Keywords: Garcinia kola, Blood pressure, Antihypertensive, Heart rate, Kolaviron