The Antidiabetic Activity of Ficus

Extracts of banyan tree (Ficus bengalensis), fig leaf (Ficus carica) and other Ficus species have been used in folk medicine to treat diabetes. Typically, the bark or leaves are extracted in water or ethanol and the extract is given orally to the affected person. Ficus extract appears to be effective in lowering blood glucose levels in diabetes sufferers.

Background

Extracts of Ficus species have been used in folk medicine for centuries.

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by an inability to control blood glucose levels. Excess blood glucose and insulin resistance lead to a variety of health problems, including reduced peripheral blood circulation, heart disease, kidney disease and more. In type 2 diabetes, the sufferer may produce insulin in response to increased blood glucose, but cells are resistant to the effects and do not absorb the glucose.

Considerations

Regular exercise and a careful diet reduce the consequences of diabetes.

Diabetes is caused by damage to the pancreatic cells that produce insulin or by cellular resistance to insulin--the insulin is produced but does not have the effect of allowing glucose to be absorbed by the body's cells and tissues. Several classes of drugs have been developed to help reduce blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetics. Metformin (Glucophage) is commonly prescribed, and it works by lowering glucose production in the liver. Other drugs work by stimulating the cells of the pancreas to produce more insulin. For more severe cases, insulin therapy is required.

Research

Most Ficus extract research has been carried out on rabbits and rats.

Laboratory animals such as rats can be induced to have diabetes by dosing them with the drug alloxan. This provides a population of diabetic animals that can then be dosed with different extracts of Ficus to determine if the Ficus extracts can reverse the diabetic effects caused by alloxan. Animals are fed carefully controlled diets and blood glucose levels are monitored. Extracts of Ficus are administered orally, and the effect on reducing blood glucose levels is periodically monitored. Hypoglycemic effects (lowering blood glucose) indicate that the extract is effective in helping to control diabetes.

Effect of Ficus Extracts

Insulin injections are necessary to control severe diabetes.

Researchers have used hot water extracts as well as ethanol extracts of different parts of Ficus plants to investigate the effects of controlling blood glucose levels. Ficus extracts appear to lower blood glucose levels in laboratory animals that are pre-diabetic as well as diabetic. Ficus extracts appear to stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin. In addition, Ficus extracts may stimulate the utilization of glucose by cells and peripheral tissues even in the absence of insulin. Ficus extract given to normal laboratory animals did not produce hypoglycemia.

Mechanisms

Naturally occurring glycosides in Ficus extracts may be the active components in helping control diabetes. Ethanol-soluble extracts may not be as effective in controlling severe diabetes as hot water extracts. This implies that the glycosides responsible for controlling severe diabetes are water soluble. The results for using Ficus extracts for controlling diabetes in laboratory animals is promising, but there are no substantial clinical studies to verify that Ficus extracts can control diabetes in humans. Nonetheless, Ficus extracts have been used in folk medicine for countless years. While few side effects of taking Ficus extracts have been reported, some people may be allergic and experience eye irritation, respiratory distress or even anaphylactic shock.