The antidiabetic effects of Ficus carica leaf extracts have been reported previously. From the aqueous decoction of fig leaves, after treatment with HCI, centrifuging, treatment with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and extraction with chloroform (CHCl3), the administration of the organic phase rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes led to a decline in the levels of total cholesterol and an decrease in the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio (with respect to the control group), together with a reduction of the hyperglycaemia.

A model of hypertriglyceridaemia in rats is described, which was used to investigate the hypolipidaemic effect of an intraperitoneal (i./p.) administration of a Ficus carica leaf decoction. Hypertriglyceridaemia was induced in rats following the protocol: a fasting period of 22 h, 2 h of oral (p.o.) administration of 20% emulsion of longchain triglycerides (LCT emulsion), both repeated once. The plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol levels obtained 2 h after the protocol were 5.7 ± 2.5 mmol/L (p < 0.0001 vs basal levels) and 1.7 ± 0.3 mmol/L, respectively, n = 10. The new model was used to test the hypotriglyceridaemic effect of a single dose of Ficus carica (fig tree) leaf decoction administered i./p. (50 g dry wt/kg body wt). After the i.p. injection of serum saline (control group, n = 10) or Ficus carica extract (group A, n = 10), plasma triglyceride levels in the control group and group A were 5.9 ± 2.9 mmol/L and 5.5 ± 2.9 mmol/L just after the LCT emulsion protocol; 4.7 ± 2.7 mmol/L and 0.9 ± 0.4 mmol/L, p < 0.005, 60 min after the LCT protocol; and 3.6 ± 2.9 mmol/L and 1.0 ± 0.4 mmol/L, p < 0.05, 90 min after the LCT protocol. The plasma total cholesterol levels, which were not modified in our experimental model, showed no significant differences in relation to baseline levels in the presence or absence of Ficus carica treatment either. The clearly positive results suggest the presence in the fig leaf decoction of a compound or compounds that influence lipid catabolism. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Introduction In bioprinting techniques, tissue engineering from 3D models to generate the desired geometry is as important as cell proliferation, as it will be key to the survival of the printed tissue and its functional success. Methods Alginate-based hydrogels were used because they are the most widely used by the scientific community for bioprinting. The alginate-based hydrogels used were characterised using a rheometer to obtain the boundary conditions to be applied in the computational software. A 2D axisymmetric model together with a two-phase flow level set interface of a bioprinting nozzle and a computational model of a human tooth were carried out to verify the results obtained. Results The data showed that droplet detachment occurs at lower pressures based on the higher the percentage of alginate. In addition, samples with a higher percentage of alginate were less sensitive to pressure during extrusion. Conclusions

Introduction In bioprinting, it is essential to correctly characterise the materials to be used in order to ensure the highest cell viability while maintaining the best structural properties of the hydrogels. Methods Alginate-based hydrogels with different concentrations have been characterised because they are currently the ones with the best printing properties according to the literature. The concentrations chosen were 3.5%, 4% and 5% alginate, and then a scaffold was bioprinted with the one with the best mechanical properties. Finally, a 3D model of a tooth was bioprinted to check the integrity of the hydrogel characterised as a somewhat more complex structure than a simple scaffold. Results It could be observed that, despite suffering a similar viscosity loss to the rest, the sample with the best viscosity properties when subjected to shear stresses was the one containing 5% alginate concentration. When a simple scaffold was bioprinted, it was observed that the result was positive, as the visual analysis corresponded to the parameters programmed in 3D design software. Likewise, the subsequent bioprinting of the dental model showed good results. Conclusions The hydrogels characterised by rheometry showed similar behaviour with respect to viscosity. Furthermore, it was found that the hydrogel with higher viscosity allowed for higher quality bioprints.