Hypoglycaemic and antioxidant activities of Ficus racemosa Linn. fruits

Nat Prod Res. 2009;23(4):399-408. doi: 10.1080/14786410802230757.

Abstract

The effects of Ficus racemosa Linn. fruit extract and fraction on fasting serum glucose levels of normal, type 1 and type 2 diabetic model rats are presented. The aqueous 80% EtOH extract and its water soluble fraction of F. racemosa fruit did not show any serum glucose lowering effect on non-diabetic and type 2 diabetic rats at the fasting condition, whereas the extract showed significant hypoglycaemic effect on the type 1 diabetic model rats. Both the extract and fraction were consistently active in both non-diabetic and types 1 and 2 diabetic model rats when fed simultaneously with glucose load. On the contrary, they were ineffective in lowering blood glucose levels when fed 30 min prior to glucose load. The 1-BuOH soluble part of the ethanol extract exhibited significant antioxidant activity in DPPH free radical scavenging assay. 3-O-(E)-Caffeoyl quinate (1) was isolated for the first time from this plant, which also showed significant antioxidant activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / chemistry*
  • Antioxidants / isolation & purification
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Ficus / chemistry*
  • Fruit / chemistry*
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / chemistry*
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / isolation & purification
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Male
  • Molecular Structure
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Long-Evans

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Blood Glucose
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Plant Extracts