Antihyperglycemic Activity Of Ficus Sarmentosa Leaf Extract On Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus remains the global health challenge, necessitating exploration of the alternative therapy derived from medicinal plants. Ficus species have a long been used in traditional medicine for managing metabolic disorder with supported by anecdotal evidence but requiring scientific validation. Aim: This study aim to evaluate the anti hyperglycemic potential of Ficus sarmentosa leaf extract in Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats and correlate its ethnomedicinal use in the experimental evidence. Methodology: Diabetes induced in the albino wistar rats of either male or female se via intraperitoneal injection of STZ of 60 mg/kg b.w. which dissolved in the citrate buffer of 0.01 M & pH 4.5. Post induction the rats were grouped to receive daily oral doses of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanolic, or aqueous leaf extracts for 9 days, adhering to OECD guidelines for animal experimentation. Ficus sarmentosa leaf extracts in various solutions viz. petroleum ether, methanol, ethyl acetate and aqueous were administered to diabetic rats for  the 9 days. The effect of extract on blood glucose and body weight was studied on day 1 and 9. Results: The study shows that ethyl acetate, aqueous extracts and methanolic of Ficus sarmentosa leave reduced blood glucose level & body weight significantly. Body weight loss, a hallmark of uncontrolled diabetes was mitigated by 12 to 15% in treated groups that suggesting improved metabolic stability. Petroleum ether extract exhibited negligible effects with highlighting solvent dependent bioactivity. Conclusion: This make justify the use of Ficus species as  the ethnomedical medicine for diabetes mellitus treatment. Phyto constituents such as flavonoids or terpenoids may underlie its antihyperglycemic activity, warranting further phytochemical and mechanistic studies. These findings strengthen the rationale for integrating Ficus species into complementary antidiabetic therapies.