Abstract

Effect of Ficus deltoidea leaves on glycolytic enzymes in liver of normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Author(s): S.Nurdiana, H.Harita,M.Y.Farida Zuraina

Ficus deltoidea fromtheMoraceae family is commonly called “mas cotek” by the Malays. The Malay folklore medicines believed that consuming a decoction of the vascular bundle of Ficus deltoidea led to a lowering of the blood glucose level of diabetic patients. To establish its antidiabetic activity, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Ficus deltoidea leaves on key glycolytic enzymes in the liver of streptozotocininduced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in 1 month old rats by single intravenous injection of STZ at a dose of 65mg/kg body weight. After a week, they were checked for fasting blood glucose concentrations to confirm the status of diabetes.The non-diabetic and streptozotocin (STZ)- induced diabetic rats were then treated with the aqueous and ethanolic extracts (200mg/kg) for 2 weeks. The blood glucose concentrations were measured for 2 weeks upon these administrations. A significant increase was observed in fasting blood glucose level in untreated diabetic rats. Diabetic rats also showed a significant decrease in the activities of hepatic hexokinase (HK), glucokinase (GK) and phosphofructokinase (PFK).However, after 14 days treatment with the plant extracts, the activities of hepatic HK, GK and PFK were found to significantly increase. Fromthese results, one may tentatively suggest that Ficus deltoidea may have beneficial effects in diabetes mellitus by increasing glycolysis and may be source for newgenerations of antidiabetic drugs.