Anti-inflammatory Effects of Hibiscus Sabdariffa Linn. on the IL-1β/IL-1ra Ratio in Plasma and Hippocampus of Overtrained Rats and Correlation with Spatial Memory

Overtraining leads to an increase in IL-1β systemically due to muscle microtrauma, which affects the hippocampus, an important structure in spatial memory consolidation. The administration of Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn is expected to decrease IL-1β and increase IL-1ra, thereby potentially preventing impairments in spatial memory consolidation. This research was an experimental study using 20 male Wistar rats. The overtraining of Wistar rats altered the ratio of IL-1β/IL-1ra in the plasma and hippocampus. Moreover, this overtraining impaired spatial memory consolidation. The methanol extract of H. sabdariffa improved spatial memory consolidation in Wistar rats and prevented impairment in spatial memory consolidation by maintaining the ratio of IL-1β/IL-1ra in the plasma and hippocampus of Wistar rats who experienced overtraining. H. sabdariffa is a potent anti-inflammatory substance that prevents impairments in spatial memory consolidation in overtrained Wistar rats.