A study on the hypoglycemic effect of Ficus carica L. leaves aqueous extract against alloxan-induced diabetes in rabbits

Abstract EN

The hypoglycemic effect of orally administered aqueous extract of Ficus carica (F.C.) leaves against alloxan-induced diabetes in rabbits was studied.

Animals were treated daily with 0.3 gm / kg F.C.

aqueous leaves extract alone, or 10 IU / Kg body weight (B.wt) insulin alone, or a combination of 0.3 gm / kg B.wt F.C aqueous leaves extract and 10 IU / Kg B.wt insulin, each started one week after alloxan injection and continued for 6 weeks period for reversing the change in glucose level in diabetic rabbits.

In addition, diabetic rabbits were randomly selected and received a combination of different doses of insulin with Ficus carica leaves aqueous extract to evaluate the extent of Ficus carica leaves aqueous extract in reducing insulin dose compared with diabetic rabbit treated with insulin alone (10 I.U.

/ Kg).

Blood samples were collected weekly from the caudal ear vein of rabbits for the assessment of blood glucose level.

Analysis of data obtained from the first experiment showed that, 0.3 gm / kg B.wt.

of aqueous extract of F.C.

leaves given alone or in combination with insulin caused an improvement of blood glucose level in diabetic rabbits compared to diabetic non-treated group.

The results from the second experiment showed that, there were no significant differences between 8 U / kg insulin and 0.3 gm / kg Ficus carica leaves aqueous extract group compared to 10 U / kg insulin, thus there were a reduction in insulin dose to almost 20 % produced by Ficus carica leaves aqueous extract.

In conclusion, Ficus carica leaves aqueous extract has the ability for decreasing glucose level and may have additional effect to insulin, and could be used as a supplement with insulin in order to improve its effect and / or reduced its doses and hence reduces its suspected side effects.