Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is a multifactor complication of diabetes. It is a late finding in type 1 diabetes, but can be an early finding in type 2 diabetes. The cause of DN is still unclear and, like other complications of diabetes, it may be the result of various pathological conditions. Animal models and biomarkers of DN have been extensively used in neuropathic research. The most useful model of DN should exhibit the key feature present in human pathology. Diabetic rodents show behavioral, functional, structural and molecular biomarkers and they are widely used as models to investigate the etiology of DN as well as to screen the efficacy of the potential therapeutic interventions. We have reviewed the different animal models and biomarkers of neuropathy in diabetic rodents of either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Introduction:Ficus religiosa, Ficus benghalensis and Ficus glomerata are plants from Ficus species used traditionally for the treatment of various ailments. This study aimed to investigate in vitro antidiabetic and antioxidant activity of three plants from Ficus species and effect of extracting solvents, total flavonoids and phenolics content on its in vitro activity. Methods: Dried leaf powder was extracted successively by using solvents with increasing order of polarity index (PI). In vitro antioxidant (RP: reducing power assay, DPPH: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay and HP: Hydrogen peroxide assay) and antidiabetic (αA: α-amylase assay and αG: α-glucosidase assay) activities as well as total flavonoid (TF) and total phenolic (TP) contents of extracts were evaluated. The correlation between in vitro activities and solvent polarity index, total flavonoid and phenolic content were established by using pearson's correlation coefficient (R).

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