Antidiabetic effect of Ficus racemosa Linn. stem bark in high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats: A mechanistic study

► Bergenin, a biomarker was quantified in Ficus racemosa (FRE) by HPLC. ► We are the first to report the use of FRE in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. ► The influence of FRE on multiple targets operating in diabetes was evaluated. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of the ethanol extract of Ficus racemosa (FRE) on biochemical parameters in type 2-like diabetes, induced by a combination of standardised high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin (25mgkg−1, i.p.) in rats. To elucidate the mode of action of FRE, its effects on a battery of targets involved in glucose homeostasis was evaluated. FRE (200 and 400mgkg−1, p.o.), in a dose-dependent manner, altered the biochemical parameters and significantly improved glucose tolerance and HDL-c levels. In different bioassays, FRE showed inhibition of PTP-1B (IC50 12.1μg/mL) and DPP-IV (42.5%). FRE exhibited 82.6% binding to PPAR-γ. Furthermore FRE exhibited stimulation of glucose uptake by skeletal muscles (hemi-diaphragm). Bergenin was quantified in bioactive-FRE by high-performance liquid chromatography (0.15%w/w). This is the first report demonstrating the effectiveness of F. racemosa stem bark in type 2 diabetes and targets involved in it.