title: Antidiabetic activity of Ficus amplissima Smith. bark extract in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ficus amplissima commonly known as kal-itchchi have a long history of use in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani herbal preparations in Indian traditional system of medicine. It has been used in folklore medicine for the treatment of diabetes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of methanolic extract of the bark of Ficus amplissima (FAB) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oral administration of FAB bark at the doses of 50mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 150 mg/kg was studied in normal, glucose-loaded and STZ-induced diabetic rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The three doses caused significant reduction in blood glucose levels in all the models. The effect was more pronounced in 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg than 150 mg/kg. FAB also showed significant increase in serum insulin and body weight. The glycogen content in liver, skeletal muscle, total protein contents were markedly increased and marker enzymes of hepatic function of STZ-induced diabetic rats while there was significant reduction in the levels of serum triglyceride and total cholesterol. FAB also showed significant anti-lipid peroxidative effect in the pancreas of STZ-induced diabetic rats. The anti-diabetic effect of FAB was compared with glibenclamide, a well known hypoglycemic drug. Histological analysis showed the regenerative effect of FAB on the β-cells of diabetic rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this experimental study indicated that FAB possessed anti-diabetic and antioxidant activities. Hence it could be used as a natural source of antidiabetic (Type-I) and antioxidant drug.
authors.affiliation: Bioprospecting Laboratory, Department of Botany, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore-641 046, Tamil Nadu, India. arunachalam04@gmail.com
authors.forename: Karuppusamy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arunachalam
authors.forename: Thangaraj
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Parimelazhagan
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D030681:Ficus; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D006003:Glycogen; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase