EVALUATION OF PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE AND ANTIDIABETIC ACTIVITY OF FICUS RACEMOSA (LINN.) STEM BARK IN RATS

Abstract

Herbal plants are true bio-resources in traditional systems of medicine. Ficus racemosa (FR) Linn is a herb mentioned in ancient scriptures of Ayurveda having great medicinal importance. The present study aims to investigate phytochemical & antidiabetic activity of FR. Aqueous (AE) and ethanolic (EE) extracts of powdered shade dried bark of FR was used in the study. Phytochemical profile of extracts were evaluated by standard chemical tests & TLC analysis. The antidiabetic activity of AE and EE of FR was evaluated through STZ induced diabetes model by analyzing the blood glucose level before and after the study & mean blood glucose level through an HPLC method in Wistar rats. Prelimianry phytochemical analysis of EE showed presence of major phytoconstituents like alkaloid, glycoside, sterols, flavanoid, phenol, tannins while AE contains carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, phytosterol, saponin, phenols, and protein. TLC analysis showed higher Rf value in EE in a different set of mobile phase. In acute toxicity study, a single oral dose (2000 mg/kg) did not produce any mortality in rats. 28 days treatment with AE (500 mg/kg) & EE (400 mg/kg) of FR showed a significant reduction (P<0.05) in blood glucose level compared to diabetic control rats (562.4±14.4), while the mean blood glucose level in treated diabetic rats was found significantly 92.69 mg/dl (AE) & 97.6 mg/dl (EE) (P<0.05) low as compared to diabetic rats (171.4 mg/dl). Our study concluded that presence of varieties of phytochemicals in FR provided strong antidiabetes potential.