Parameters related to oxidative stress were studied in rats divided into 4 groups: streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (n=10), diabetic rats who received a single dose of a basic fraction of Ficus carica extract (n=14), diabetic rats who received a single dose of a chloroform fraction of the extract (n=10), and normal rats (n=10). Compared to normal animals, the diabetic animals presented significantly higher values for erythrocyte catalase normalized to haemoglobin levels (1.5+/-0.15 vs. 0.96+/-0.18 microg/mg) and for plasma vitamin E (73.4+/-43.9 vs. 12.0+/-1.6 mg/l), monounsaturated fatty acids (0.219+/-0.118 vs. 0.067+/-0.014 mg/ml), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA, 0.567+/-0.293 vs. 0.175+/-0.040 mg/ml), saturated fatty acids (0.779+/-0.262 vs. 0.401+/-0.055 mg/ml), and linoleic acid (0.202+/-0.086 vs. 0.106 +/-0.014 mg/ml). Both Ficus carica fractions tended to normalize the values of the diabetic animals' fatty acids and plasma vitamin E values. On studying the ratios of vitamins E and A to PUFA (129.4+/-77.5 diabetic and 68.8+/-9.1 microg/mg normal; 37.5+/-20.8 vs. 108.0+/-43.6 microg/mg) and to C18:2 (259.9+/-65.8 vs. 161.0+/-21.3 microg/mg; 68.3+/-37.9 vs. 252.7+/-102.1 microg/mg), we found statistically significant differences as a function of diabetes, with the vitamin E/C18:2 ratio being normalized by the administration of the chloroform fraction (to 152.1+/-80.3 microg/mg) and the vitamin A/C18:2 ratio being raised relative to the untreated diabetic rats by the administration of the basic fraction (91.9+/-14.5 microg/mg). Our work confirms that antioxidant status is affected in the diabetes syndrome, and that Ficus carica extracts tend to normalize it.

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.

SummaryIndividual housing has been reported to modify animal behaviour. The present study compares the plasma levels of glucose, triglycerides and total cholesterol, weight, and food and water intake in two groups of female rats. Group A: 10 rats who remained grouped in two cages for 21 days; and Group B: 10 rats housed in two cages for 7 days, then isolated in individual cages from day 8 to day 15, and finally grouped together again for the last 7 days of the study.The results showed that the plasma values of glucose declined (P

To investigate the hypoglycaemic activity of Ficus carica leaf aqueous extract, a decoction was administred to rats in lieu of drinking water for three weeks. The groups were: untreated non-diabetic (n = 13), untreated diabetic (n = 13), treated non-diabetic (n =13) and treated diabetic (n = 13) animals. The extract decreased (p < 0.025) plasma glucose in diabetic (27.9 ± 4.5 mmol/L to 19.6 ± 9.9 mmol/L) while not in normal rats. Plasma insulin levels were decreased by treatment (p < 0.05) in non-diabetic rats from 4.9± 1.6 ng/mL to 3.3 ± 1.2 ng/mL. Glucose uptake (µmol/min) by rat hindquarters perfused was: 5.9 ± 2.2 (untreated non-diabetic rats), 4.8 ± 2.3 (treated non-diabetic rats, p < 0.05 vs. untreated non-diabetic rats), 2.0 ± 2.0 (untreated diabetic rats, p < 0.01 vs. untreated non-diabetic rats) and 4.1 ± 3.6 (treated diabetic rats) in absence of insulin; 7.0 ± 1.7 (untreated non-diabetic rats), 8.3 ± 0.8 (treated non-diabetic rats, p < 0.05 vs. untreated non-diabetic rats), 5.0 ± 1.6 (untreated diabetic rats, p < 0.05 vs. untreated non-diabetic rats) and 6.4 ± 2.4 (treated diabetic rats) in presence of insulin. Lactate released was lower in untreated diabetic vs. untreated non-diabetic rats. Thus, Ficus carica extract showed a clear hypoglycaemic effect in diabetic rats. Such an effect cannot be mediated by an enhanced insulin secretion, so an as yet undefined insulin-like peripheral effect, may be suggested.