Assessment of Ficus Spp. in Improving the Metabolic Syndrome Secondary to Hypercholesterolemia in Rats Fed with High-Fat Diet

Abstract

The ethanolic extract of Ficus religiosa and F. microcarpa (Fam. Moraceae) as well as the hexane extract of F. microcarpa and F. mysorensis leaves have been examined for improving the metabolic syndrome secondary to hypercholesterolemia in rats. The evaluation was done through measuring hepatic glucose, glycogen, protein and vitamin C and E levels. The more pronounced extract will be phytochemically screened and identified for the most abundant compounds using PC, TLC, MS, IR and 1HNMR techniques. Rats fed with high-fat-diet and orally administered with cholesterol (30 mg/0.3ml 0.7% tween/animal) five times/week for nine consecutive weeks. It has been recorded a significant decrease (p less than 0.001) in hepatic glucose, glycogen, total protein, and vitamin E and C levels. Orally treatment with leaves extract (500mg/kg body weight) at the same time of cholesterol induction and with the same duration revealed an improvement of the selected parameters by variable degree. F. religiosa recorded the most potent effect. The screening of this plant revealed the presence of carbohydrate, amino acids, carotenoids, triterpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, coumarins, tannins and saponins. In conclusion, the ethanol extract of F. religiosa leaves succeeded to improve the metabolic disturbance associated with hypercholesterolemia and recorded antioxidant effect.