Effect of Ficus glomerata Fruit Extract on Various Biochemical Parameters in Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

 

A Choudhury*1, RJ Mandade1, SH Patil1, A Khan1, PD Warke2 and  KS Patil2.

1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Institute of Pharmacy, Hyderabad, R.R. District, Andhra Pradesh.

2Department of Pharmacognosy, K.L.E.S. College of Pharmacy, JNMC Campus, Belgaum, Karnataka.

 

ABSTRACT:

Serum cholesterol and serum triglycerides are the element which provokes the development of hyperlipidemia and coronary arterial disease. Present study deals with the study of effect of Ficus Glomerata Fruit extract on biochemical parameters like serum urea, serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides and blood glucose level in alloxan induced diabetic rats. Petroleum ether, benzene, alcohol and aqueous extract showed highly significant activity in decrease of blood cholesterol, petroleum ether and chloroform extract showed highly significant activity in decrease of serum triglyceride. From the data obtained, it can be concluded that the various fruit extract of Ficus glomerata acts as potent antihyperlipidemic and antidiabetic agent.

 

KEYWORDS: Serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, Ficus glomerata, antihyperlipidemic.

 

INTRODUCTION:

Ficus glomerata Roxb. has been used as medicinal plant from ancient times.  The plant has got major medicinal activities like Antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antidiarrhoeal, anthelmentic also used in various skin diseases, bronchitis, urine complaints(1-4). The fruit of the plant contains Hentriacotane, b-sitosterol, gluanol acetate, glucose, lupeol acetate, friedelin. Research on Ficus glomerata stem bark revealed the presence of lupeol, b-sitosterol-D-glucoside, friedelin and stigmasterol(5). The leaves of the plant were found to contain glycosides, psoralen, gluacol. The plant also contains Tannins, wax and ash containing silica and phosphoric acid(6).

 

MATERIAL AND METHOD:

Authentification of Plant

In the present study, the ripe fruits of Ficus glomerata Roxb were collected in the month of March from the local areas of Belgium. The fruits were authenticated from botanist Dr. P. S. N. Rao, Deputy Director, Botanical Survey of India, Pune.

 

Material

In the present study, the fruits were carefully selected and shade dried.  The dried material was reduced to coarse powder in a mechanical grinder and passed through a Sieve No.40 to obtain powder of desired particle size. About 200 gms of powdered material was subjected to exhaustive extraction successively with petroleum ether, benzene, chloroform and ethanol at temperature of 450 – 500C to about 40 cycles per batch for 8 batches.  The extraction was continued until the solvent in the thimble became clear then few drops of solvent were collected in a test tube during the completion of the cycle (during siphoning) and chemical test of that solvent was performed. 



Extraction was completed only when chemical test shows negative results.  Finally the drug was be macerated with chloroform water. After each extraction the solvent was distilled off rotary evaporator and the extract was concentrated at low temperature.  Some part of the total extract was reserved for phytochemical investigation and rest of the extract was used for pharmacological activity(6,7).

 

Selection of animal species

Healthy young albino rats of either sex weighing between 150 to 220 gms (8 to 12 weeks old) were used for acute toxicity study to determine LD50 of various extracts. Totally there were eight groups, each groups consists of three animals. Healthy young albino rats of either sex weighing 150 to 220 gms (8 to 12 weeks old) were selected for the experiment. They were employed for assessing anti-diabetic activity. Totally, there were seven groups receives test dose and one group was selected as control group.

 

Administration of doses

The test substances are administered in a single dose by gavage using a stomach tube. Animals were fasted prior to dosing, following period fasting, the animals were weighed and test substance was administered. After the dose was administered, food was withheld for a further 3-4 hrs in rats.

 

 

Selection and Finalising LD50 Cut Off value of Extracts:

S. No.

Name of Extract

LD50 Cut-Off mg/ kg, b.w

Vehicle

1

Petroleum ether extract

2000mg/kg, b.w.

Tween 80

2

Benzene extract

2000mg/kg, b.w.

Tween 80

3

Chloroform extract

2000mg/kg, b.w.

Tween 80

4

Alcohol extract

2000mg/kg, b.w.

Tween 80

5

Aqueous extract

2000mg/kg, b.w.

Water

 

 

Animals were observed initially after dosing at least once during the first 30 minutes, periodically during the first 24 hours. In all cases death was observed with in first 24 hours. Additional observations like changes in skin and fur, eyes and mucous membranes and also respiratory, circulatory, autonomic and central nervous systems and vasomotor activity and behaviour pattern. Attention was also given to observation of tremors and convulsions(6,8).

 

Assay for Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic activities:

The animals were rendered diabetic by injecting alloxan intra peritoneally (I.P) at a dose of 150mg/kg body weight.  Alloxan was weighed according to the body wt. of animals separately before starting the experiment and the alloxan in normal saline solution was prepared freshly prior to the injection(6).

After 3 hrs of administration of alloxan injection all the animals were injected 1ml of (100mg/ml) glucose, I.P. to combat ensuring severe hypoglycemia.  After 72 hrs of the alloxan injection, the animals were tested for the evidence of diabetes by estimating their blood glucose by using glucose estimation kit.  The blood glucose level more than 150 mg/ml was criteria. To the animals the test extracts (250 mg/kg b.w.) and standard drug Glibenclamide 10mg/kg body weight was administered by dissolving in Tween 80 / water and normal saline respectively.  The blood samples were obtained through the tail vein puncturing with hypodermic needle.  A 0.2ml of blood was withdrawn at interval of initial (0 hr) o day and the end of 15th day (after prolonged treatment). The animals were segregated into eight groups of six rats each, taking into consideration of the diabetic blood sugar level.  One group is normal control and other is diabetic control along with petroleum ether, benzene, chloroform, alcohol and aqueous extracts which were compared with standard Glibenclamide group.

 

 

Fig no.1 Effect of Ficus glomerata Fruit Extract on Serum Cholesterol Level of Alloxan in alloxan induced diabetic rats.

 

Figure: 2. Effect of Ficus glomerata Fruit Extract on Serum Triglycerides Level of Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats after Prolonged Treatment.

 

Determination of Serum cholesterol, Serum Triglycerides and Serum Urea

Serum obtained after centrifugation was used for estimation of total cholesterol, triglycerides, serum urea. These biochemical parameters were determined in laboratory. Results were given in table no 1, 2, 3 and 4.

 

Statistical Analysis

The blood glucose level was measured in all the groups by using glucose estimation kit and other biochemical parameters tested in biochemical laboratory.  Statical analysis was done by ANOVA followed by Dunnet’s‘t’ test.

 


Table No. 1 :Effect of Ficus Glomerata Fruit Extract on Serum Cholesterol Level of Alloxan in alloxan induced diabetic rats.

Animal No.

Control

 

Positive  Control

Glibenclamide

 

Petroleum Ether Extract

Benzene Extract

Chloroform Extract

Alcohol Extract

Aqueous Extract

1

2

3

4

5

6

50

54

59

52

61

58

170

109

154

149

161

150

54

56

55

61

59

57

58

61

64

63

59

58

108

112

116

121

103

99

140

135

136

151

160

140

59

72

74

69

67

79

70

81

74

69

73

69

Mean ±SEM

55.67 ±1.764

148.8 ±8.585

57.00     ±1.065*

60.50 ±1.057*

109.8 ±3.341*

145.2 ±4.012

70.00 ±2.781*

72.67 ±1.874*

* P < 0.01   SEM- Standard error mean

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table No.2: Effect of Ficus glomerata Fruit Extract on Serum Triglycerides Level of Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats after Prolonged Treatment

Animal No.

Control

 

Positive Control

Glibenclamide

 

Petroleum Ether Extract

Benzene Extract

Chloroform Extract

Alcohol Extract

Aqueous Extract

1

2

3

4

5

6

10

7.8

11.1

8.4

8.9

10.3

25

19

21

23

18

19

13

14.1

12.8

15.9

16.1

13.4

14.4

13.8

11.4

12.9

15.4

12.2

24

23.6

21.8

23.1

19.8

18.4

16.4

14.1

13.9

14.8

16.4

15.9

17.8

19.1

21.4

19.3

18.9

16.9

24.3

21.8

25.6

26.1

20.7

19.8

Mean ±SEM

9.417 ±0.5121

20.83 ±1.108

14.22    ±0.593*

13.35 ±0.601*

21.78 ±0.9188

15.25 ±0.4624*

18.90 ±0.6234

23.05 ±1.080

* P < 0.01 SEM- Standard error mean

 

Table no.3: Effect of Ficus glomerata fruit extract on serum urea level of alloxan induced diabetic rats after prolonged treatment.

Animal No.

Control

 

Positive Control

Glibenclamide

 

Petroleum Ether Extract

Benzene Extract

Chloroform Extract

Alcohol Extract

Aqueous Extract

1

2

3

4

5

6

16

18

25

17

19

21

90

112

150

94

96

85

29

32

38

26

31

35

36

42

39

38

46

49

70

82

102

90

75

89

39

48

32

51

56

54

28

39

36

34

41

45

63

59

68

65

74

71

Mean ±SEM

19.33 ±1.333

104.5 ±9.831

31.83    ±1.740*

41.67 ±2.044*

84.67 ±4.702

46.67 ±3.809*

37.17 ±2.414*

66.67 ±2.231*

* P < 0.01 SEM- Standard error mean


 

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

Diabetes is disorder of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism attributed to the diminished production of insulin or mounting resistance to the action. Chronic hyperglycemia leads to secondary complications like affecting eyes, kidneys, nerves and arteries. Hyderlipidemia and atherosclerosis is one of the complications arise due to diabetes. The result of this study indicated that petroleum ether, benzene, alcohol and aqueous extract showed highly significant activity in decrease of blood cholesterol, petroleum ether and chloroform extract showed highly significant activity in decrease of serum triglyceride in alloxan induced diabetic rats.

 

Figure no. 3. Effect of ficus glomerata fruit extract on serum urea level of alloxan induced diabetic rats after prolonged treatment

REFERENCES:

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3.        Victor K, Frederic N, Bathelemy N, Armelle TM, Felix K, Bonaventure TN. Antimicrobial activity of the crude extract, fractions and compounds from stem bark of Ficus ovata (Moraceae). Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2009;124:556-61.

4.        Chatterjee A, Parkashi S. The Treatise on Indian Medicinal Plants. New Delhi. Publication and Information Directorate. 1994;1: p. 41-42.

5.        Ram PR, Mehrotra BN. Compendium of Indian Medicinal Plants: CDRI Lucknow, Publication and Information Directorate, New Delhi. 1993;3: p. 295.

6.        Baslas RK, Agha R. Isolation of a hypoglycaemic principle from the bark of ficus glomerata Roxb. Himalayan Chem. Pharm. Bull 1985;2(1):13.

7.        Deraniyagala SA, Wijesundera RLC., Weerasena OVDSJ. Antifungal activity of Ficus racemosa leaf extract and isolation of the active compound. Journal of National Science Council of Srilanka 1998;26(1):19-26.

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Received on 28.02.2009

Accepted on 24.04.2009   

© A&V Publication all right reserved

Research Journal of Pharmacognosy  and Phytochemistry. 2(1): Jan.-Feb. 2010, 82-84