Effect of Ficus lacor Buch. Ham. Fruit Extract on Dexamethasone Induced Insulin Resistant Rats

Abstract

Fruits of plant Ficus lacor Buch. Ham. were evaluated for its antidiabetic efficacy in dexamethasone induced insulin resistant rats. Extraction of fruits was done by soxhlation method to get fruit extract. Acute toxicity study of fruit extract was performed as per OECD 425 guidelines using wistar rats. Rats weighing between 200 to 250 g were selected for experimental work and divided randomly in to five groups normal control, diabetic Control, standard control (metformin, 2mg/kg), fruit extract (200mg/kg), fruit extract (400mg/kg) with five animals in each group. Dexamethasone (10mg/kg s.c) was used to induce insulin resistance in wistar rats weighing between 200 to 250g for 11 days. Animals in treatment group were treated with metformin (40mg/kg), fruit extract (200 and 400mg/kg) for 11 days daily. At the end of 11 days study, different parameters like body weight, food intake, water intake, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, LDL, VLDL, urea, uric acid, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were determined. Liver and muscle was isolated for estimation of glycogen level. The result indicates significant (P ˂ 0.05) improvement in different biochemical parameters when compared with diabetic control group. The liver glycogen level was increased significantly (P ˂ 0.001) when compared with diabetic control group. The antidiabetic effect of fruit extract of plant Ficus Lacor Buch. Ham. was found to be dose dependent.