Hypoglycaemic activity of an aqueous extract from ficus carica (fig tree) leaves in streptozotocin diabetic rats.

To investigate the hypoglycaemic activity of Ficus carica leaf aqueous extract, a decoction was administred to rats in lieu of drinking water for three weeks. The groups were: untreated non-diabetic (n = 13), untreated diabetic (n = 13), treated non-diabetic (n = 13) and treated diabetic (n = 13) animals. The extract decreased (p <0.025) plasma glucose in diabetic (27.9 +/- 4.5 mmol/L to 19.6 +/- 9.9 mmol/L) while not in normal rats. Plasma insulin levels were decreased by treatment (p <0.05) in non-diabetic rats from 4.9 +/- 1.6 ng/mL to 3.3 +/- 1.2 ng/mL. Glucose uptake (mu mol/min) by rat hindquarters perfused was: 5.9 +/- 2.2 (untreated non-diabetic rats), 4.8 +/- 2.3 (treated non-diabetic rats, p <0.05 vs. untreated non-diabetic rats), 2.0 +/- 2.0 (untreated diabetic rats, p <0.01 vs. untreated non-diabetic rats) and 4.1 +/- 3.6 (treated diabetic rats) in absence of insulin; 7.0 +/- 1.7 (untreated non-diabetic rats), 8.3 +/- 0.8 (treated nondiabetic rats, p <0.05 vs. untreated non-diabetic rats), 5.0 +/- 1.6 (untreated diabetic rats, p <0.05 vs. untreated non-diabetic rats) and 6.4 +/- 2.4 (treated diabetic rats) in presence of insulin. Lactate released was lower in untreated diabetic vs. untreated non-diabetic rats. Thus, Ficus carica extract showed a clear hypoglycaemic effect in diabetic rats. Such an effect cannot be mediated by an enhanced insulin secretion, so an as yet undefined insulin-like peripheral effect, may be suggested.