Antidiabetic effect of Ficus bengalensis aerial roots in experimental animals.
BACKGROUND
Herbal preparations of Ficus bengalensis had been considered as effective, economical and safe ethnomedicines for various ailments in Indian traditional system of medicine.


OBJECTIVE
The present study was aimed to explore scientifically the antidiabetic potential of Ficus bengalensis aerial roots as its bark had already been reported to possess antidiabetic efficacy.


METHODS
Effect of variable doses of aqueous extract of Ficus bengalensis aerial roots on blood glucose level (BGL) of normal-, sub- and mild-diabetic models have been studied and the results were compared with the reference drug Glipizide and elemental Mg and Ca intake as glycemic elements.


RESULTS
The dose of 300 mg kg(-1) showed the maximum fall of 43.8 and 40.7% in BGL during FBG and glucose tolerance test (GTT) studies of normal rats, respectively. The same dose showed a marked reduction in BGL of 54.3% in sub- and 51.7% in mild-diabetic rats during GTT. The concentration of Mg (1.02%) and Ca (0.85%) identified through laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in the most effective dose could be responsible for this high percentage fall in BGL as they take part in glucose metabolism.


CONCLUSIONS
The hypoglycemic effect in normoglycemic and antidiabetic effect in sub- and mild-diabetic models of aqueous extract of aerial roots of Ficus bengalensis are due to the presence of these glycemic elements in high concentration with respect to other elements.
Alternative Therapeutics Unit, Drug Development Division, Medicinal Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, 211 002, India.
Rakesh Kumar
RK
Singh
Shikha
S
Mehta
Dolly
D
Jaiswal
Prashant Kumar
PK
Rai
Geeta
G
Watal
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D030681:Ficus / Q000737:chemistry*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013311:Streptozocin