Phytochemical and in vivo pharmacological evaluation of various extracts of Ficus racemosa L.

Abstract

Background: Ficus racemosa Linn. (FR) is commonly known as gula fig/cluster fig. It is moderate sized avenue tree found throughout India either wild or cultivated for its fruits eaten by villagers. Objective: The main aim of the study was to evaluate the antidiabetic potential of various polar and non-polar extracts of leaves and bark of FR in animals. Materials and Methods: The crude drugs were extracted using various polar and non-polar solvents and preliminary phytochemical screening was performed for the presence of various phytocompounds. Diabetes was induced by a single I.P. injection of streptozotocin in normal control animals and treatment of different polar and non-polar extracts of leaves and bark of FR in diabetic animals. Blood glucose levels and various lipid parameters were evaluated in normal, diabetic, and various drug-treated animals. Results: In 21-day, glibenclamide as standard drug restored the blood glucose level and it is highly significantly(P < 0.001) in 14 days, where as methanolic extracts of FR (200 and 400 mg/kg) reduced the glucose level moderately and highly significant (P < 0.001). Petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and ethanolic extracts of FR had moderately significant effects (P < 0.01) on 14th and 21st days. Conclusion: This study reveals that methanolic extract of the plant is more effective in both cause of potential evaluation. In future, this plant can be used as antidiabetic and hypolipidemic drug for developing new pharmaceuticals and treatment of several diseases.