EFFECT OF FICUS DELTOIDEA ON RAT’S SWIMMING PERFORMANCE AND ITS MUSCLE ANABOLIC PROPERTIES

Abstract

Ficus deltoidea (FD) is herbal plant that been used traditionally in Malaysia to treat various illness such as cold, regain energy in post-partum women and improve libido. Scientific studies also proved that FD possess medicinal properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, anti-diabetic and wound healing properties. Currently, FD has been claimed to possess energy booster effect and a commercialized energy drink has been formulated using FD, but there was no scientific study on the effect of FD on physical performance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of FD aqueous extract on swimming time, muscle fiber size and blood testosterone level. Male Wistar rats (n=24) were used in this in vivo model of study. They were divided equally into 4 groups according to FD treatment dosage (0, 50, 200 and 800 mg/kg). FD treatments were given via oral gavage for 6 weeks. Physical fitness of rats treated with FD were evaluated using weight-loaded force swimming test (WLFST) while muscle fiber cross section area was measured to determine muscle fiber size. Data from WLFST suggested that FD supplementation did not improve swimming time in treated rats. FD was found to effectively induce muscle hypertrophy by increasing muscle fiber cross section area. In this study, FD was shown to exhibit ergogenic effect on rats by increasing lean muscle mass, without affecting testosterone level and swimming time.