EVALUATION OF ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF FICUS CARICA IN ALLOXAN - INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

摘要

Ficus carica Linn. (Moraceae) is commonly known as Edible fig. The leaves, roots, fruits and latex of the plant are medicinally used in different diseases. In traditional medicine the roots are used in treatment of leucoderma and ringworms and its fruits which are sweet, have antipyretic, purgative, aphrodisiac properties and have shown to be useful in inflammations and paralysis. The Present investigation was carried out to study the antidiabetic effect of the methanolic extract of Ficus carica (MEFC) in alloxan induced diabetic rats. The LD50 determination was done in mice as per OECD guidelines 423. The rats were divided into five groups. Diabetes was induced using alloxan and the treatment was continued for 21 days using Metformin (500 mg/kg p.o) as a standard drug. Blood glucose level, bodyweight, biochemical parameters and histopathological observation were done. The methanolic extract (200 mg/kg p.o) had shown significant (p < 0.01) antidiabetic activity than (100 mg/kg p.o) by showing a reduction in blood glucose levels and triglycerides compared to pretreatment levels. The results indicate that, methanolic extract of Ficus carica have prominent antidiabetic effect and can therefore be used as an alternative remedy for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and its complications