Phytopharmacological evaluation of Ficus glomerata, Roxb. fruit for hypoglycaemic activity in normal and diabetic rabbits.

The investigation was designed to study effects of powdered Ficus glomerata fruits on blood glucose levels in groups of normal and alloxan-diabetic rabbits. In normal groups, administration of 1, 2, 3 and 4 g/kg body weight of F. glomerata pulv lowered the blood glucose levels significantly. The methanolic extract of the drug also produced significant hypoglycaemia but the aqueous extract could not produce this effect. In alloxan diabetic rabbits the treatment with 2, 3 and 4 g/kg body weight of the plant drug produced a significant fall in blood glucose levels. The methanolic extract of the pulv also produced a significant decrease in the diabetics hut the aqueous extract could produce a slight fall in glucose levels in these rabbits. Acetohexamide in 500 mg/kg dose produced a significant decrease in blood glucose levels of the normal rabbits only. Therefore, it is conceivable that the indigenous plant contains more than one type of hypoglycaemic principles which seem to act by producing an organotropic effect on the B-cells resulting in an increased secretion of insulin. In addition, it is also possible that the drug acts by providing certain necessary elements to the beta cells, especially in the alloxan-diabetic rabbits. Furthermore, it may be assumed that the indigenous plant pulv would also help the diabetics by providing certain essential minerals like calcium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, manganese, copper and others.