Effects of Fig tree (Ficus carica) leaf extracts on serum and liver cholesterol levels in hyperlipidemic rats

The effects of three Ficus carica leaf extracts on the total cholesterol levels (TC) of serum and liver were investigated in experimentally-induced nutritional hyperlipidemic rats. In nine treatment groups (n=5 each group), hyperlipidemic rats were treated daily with hydromethanolic (total) extract (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg, intraperitoneal [ip]) and its aqueous fractions, namely fraction A (10, 50, 250 mg/kg, ip) and fraction B (10, 50, 250 mg/kg, ip) for eight days. In negative and positive control groups, animals received normal and hyperlipidemic diets with ip injections of normal saline, respectively. The lipid-lowering effect of total extract on liver cholesterol was more pronounced than that of serum. Fraction A caused a significant dose-dependent decrease in cholesterol levels in both the serum and the liver (p<0.05). Fraction A at dosages of 10, 50 and 250 mg/kg lowered the TC in serum from 1.40±0.26 mmol/L (mean ± standard deviation; untreated hyperlipidemic group) to 1.06±0.14, 1.04±0.07 and 0.90±0.08 mmol/L, respectively. At 50 and 250 mg/kg, it lowered the TC in liver significantly from 59.86±10.35 mg/g (untreated) to 42.61±12.08 and 37.16±5.59 mg/g, respectively. Fraction B lowered the level of TC in the serum and liver, but the results of this treatment were conflicting. Phytochemical screening showed that total extract had moderate levels of flavonoids and a large amount of tannins, which may account for the observed effects on decreasing TC levels. In conclusion, Ficus carica leaf extracts have been shown to decrease liver and serum TC levels in hyperlipidemic rats.