Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by high blood glucose levels due to an absolute or relative deficiency of circulating insulin levels. Fiscus bengalensis leaf has several biological properties, including anti-diabetic and antioxidant activity. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-diabetic effect of Fiscus bengalensis leaf extract against streptozotocin (STZ) induced alterations in blood glucose, body weights and oxidative enzymes in muscle tissues of albino rats. Adult male albino Wister rats, weighing 180 ± 20 g was made diabetic by injecting STZ (40mg/kg body weight) intraperitoneally. Diabetic rats were supplemented with ethanolic extract of Fiscus bengalensis leaf extract (250 mg/kg body weight) for a period of three weeks. After this period, rats were decapitated and blood was collected. Fresh muscle tissue was also isolated for the assay of oxidative enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and glucose-6-Phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) status in control and experimental rats. Blood glucose and LDH activity levels were significantly elevated in diabetic rats with decreased body weight, SDH, MDH and G-6-PDH activity levels when compared with control. The above mentioned parameters were significantly restored to near normal by oral administration of Fiscus bengalensis leaf extract once daily for three weeks as compared to untreated rats. The results obtained indicated that ethanolic extract has more potent protective action against hyperglycemic condition.
