effect officus carica [Fig] fruit on some biochemical parameters in a sample of healthy young male Yemenis

ABSTRACT

Fig is the Ficus carica, family Moraceae. It is widely produced in the Mediterranean countries particularly Turkey, Greece and Spain. It is mentioned in the traditional Islamic medicine as a remedy for gout and haemorrhoids. This article is performed to study the effect of Figs on the fasting blood sugar, serum cholesterol and serum uric acid in a sample of 14 healthy young male Yemenis. Two clinical trials were performed, in the first trial each volunteer received two placebo tablets daily for 14 days, and in the second trial each volunteer received 100 g of figs daily for 14 days. A washout period of two weeks was kept between the two successive trials. The results showed that figs significantly lowered the fasting blood sugar by 16% and increases serum cholesterol by 22%, while insignificantly increases serum uric acid by 5%. Finally placebo tablets did not change these parameters in the volunteers. The blood sugar lowering-effect of fig may be attributed mainly to its laxative action, and the serum lipid increasing-effect may be attributed to its high content of fixed oil. Fig fruit may have a beneficial effect in patients with diabetes