#ficus hispida

Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate the acute and chronic effects of the methanol extract of Ficus hispida against alloxan (150 mg/kg) induced diabetic rats.

Methods: In acute study, hypoglycemic potency of methanol  extract of Ficus hispida was assessed by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and in chronic study of 21 days, extract at different doses (ie 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) was screened  for its anti-diabetic activity. Blood glucose level had been estimated at 0, 7th, 14th and 21st and addition to this serum concentrations of insulin, triglycerides, cholesterol, serum glutamate oxaloacetae transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and urea determined at 21st day of the study.

Results: In OGTT, standard glibenclamide and extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) have shown significant reduction in blood glucose level compared to control group. In chronic model, the methanol extract was effective in reducing the blood glucose levels (P <0.001) at higher dose (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) and effect was comparable to that of standard. The extract could also significantly (P<0.001) reduced level of SGOT, triglycerides and cholesterol in serum and significantly (P<0.001) increased the insulin level in blood which proves beneficial antidiabetic potentials of the extract in diabetic model. The change in concentrations of SGPT and urea were not significant (P>0.05).

Conclusion: The methanol extract of Ficus hispida posses significant anti-diabetic activity in alloxan induced diabetis in rats model. Author(s) Details

Dr. V. D. Ravichandra Department of Pharmacognosy, East West College of Pharmacy, Bangalore-91, India.

Dr. Padmaa M. Paarakh Department of Pharmacognosy, The Oxford College of Pharmacy, Bangalore-68, India.