Suppressive effect of the hot-water extract of Ficus pseudopalma Blanco leaves on the postprandial increase in blood glucose level in mice.

The use of medicinal plants with anti-diabetic properties continues because of the high cost of diabetes mellitus treatment. In the Bicol region of the Philippines, one local source is the leaves of Ficus pseudopalma Blanco (Philippine fig), which is utilized as an ingredient of their cuisine, and the decoction of its leaves is believed to have a blood-glucose lowering effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the blood-glucose lowering effect of F. pseudoplama using sugar/carbohydrate-loaded and normoglycemic mice. The results showed that the hot-water extract of the leaves significantly suppressed the increase of blood glucose levels after glucose, maltose and starch loading. On the other hand, the extract did not show any hypoglycemic activity in either fasted or non-fasted mice as compared to the positive control drugs. These results suggest that F. pseudopalma is potentially useful for the management of blood glucose levels in the postprandial condition, as believed in the Bicol region of the Philippines.