Phytochemical and pharmacological study of Ficus palmata growing in Saudi Arabia

Genetic diversity and population structure of Bael [Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa] genotypes using molecular markers in the North-Western plains of India

Bael is a fruit crop that is extensively distributed throughout South-East Asia and is underutilized in medicine. The potential applications of bael's therapeutic and nutritional qualities in diverse ethnic communities are enormous. This study focuses on evaluating the morpho-pomological and molecular characteristics, utilizing SSR markers, of 80 wild bael genotypes alongside the NB-5 and NB-9 cultivars, derived from the North Western plains of India. Based on the evaluated morpho-pomological features, substantial variations were found between all genotypes. The fruit's inner diameter and pulp weight varied from 4.41 to 11.54 cm and 34.63 to 786.41 g, respectively. Numerous variations in the genotypes were observed in the shell weight/fruit, fruit skull thickness and fruit yield/plant. The bael fruit mucilage's total soluble solids (TSS) and total sugar content varied from 40.10 to 49.60 obrix and 8.11 to 21.17%, respectively. Using ward cluster analysis, the genotypes were divided into two primary clusters. Among the bael genotypes, the population structure analysis identified three subpopulations. SSR markers are used to measure genetic variety; of the 27 polymorphic markers, 17 show allelic diversity between genotypes. Molecular genetic diversity analysis, on the other hand, highlighted the genotypes genetic distinctiveness by classifying them into three major clusters. These findings offer valuable insights into the rich diversity and intricate interactions among the bael genotypes under investigation, paving the way for more strategic future breeding and selection efforts to elevate the quality of this remarkable fruit.

Micropropagation and Genetic Fidelity of Fegra Fig (Ficus palmata Forssk.) and Grafting Compatibility of the Regenerated Plants with Ficus carica

Ficus palmata is an important fig species that produces edible and nutritious fruit and possesses several therapeutic uses. This study reports an effective method for the micropropagation of F. palmata using nodal explants. In vitro shoots were cultured for 7 weeks onto MS medium fortified with different concentrations of cytokinins, light intensities, sucrose concentrations, and light/dark incubation treatments. Optimal axillary shoot proliferation (10.9 shoots per explant) was obtained on a medium containing 30 g/L sucrose and supplemented with 2 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) under 35 μmol/m2/s light intensity. Dark incubation limited the foliage growth but favored shoot elongation and rooting compared with light incubation. Elongated shoots, under dark conditions, were rooted (100%; 6.67 roots per explant) onto MS medium containing 1 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 1.5 g/L activated charcoal. The micropropagated plantlets were acclimatized with a 95% survival rate. In this study, the genetic fidelity of micropropagated F. palmata clones along with their mother plant was tested using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR), and start codon targeted (SCoT) molecular markers. The genetic similarity between the micropropagated plantlets and the mother plant of F. palmata was nearly 95.9%, assuring high uniformity and true-to-type regenerated plants. Using micropropagated F. palmata plantlets as a rootstock proved appropriate for the grafting F. carica 'Brown Turkey'. These findings contribute to the commercial propagation and production of the fig crop.

Neuro-amelioration of Ficus lyrata (fiddle-leaf fig) extract conjugated with selenium nanoparticles against aluminium toxicity in rat brain: relevance to neurotransmitters, oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptotic events

Aluminium is a non-essential metal, and its accumulation in the brain is linked with potent neurotoxic action and the development of many neurological diseases. This investigation, therefore, intended to examine the antagonistic efficacy of Ficus lyrata (fiddle-leaf fig) extract (FLE) conjugated with selenium nanoparticles (FLE-SeNPs) against aluminium chloride (AlCl₃)-induced hippocampal injury in rats. Rats were allocated to five groups: control, FLE, AlCl₃ (100 mg/kg), AlCl₃ + FLE (100 mg/kg), and AlCl₃ + FLE-SeNPs (0.5 mg/kg). All agents were administered orally every day for 42 days. The result revealed that pre-treated rats with FLE-SeNPs showed markedly lower acetylcholinesterase and Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activities in the hippocampus than those in AlCl₃ group. Additionally, FLE-SeNPs counteracted the oxidant stress-mediated by AlCl₃ by increasing superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione contents in rat hippocampus. Besides, the formulated nanoparticles decreased the hippocampal malondialdehyde, carbonyl protein, and nitric oxide levels of AlCl₃-exposed animals. Furthermore, FLE-SeNPs attenuated neural tissue inflammation, as demonstrated by decreased interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, nuclear factor kappa B, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Remarkable anti-apoptotic action was exerted by FLE-SeNPs by increasing B cell lymphoma 2 and decreasing caspase-3 and Bcl-2-associated-X protein in AlCl₃-exposed rats. The abovementioned results correlated well with the hippocampal histopathological findings. Given these results, SeNPs synthesized with FLE imparted a remarkable neuroprotective action against AlCl₃-induced neurotoxicity by reversing oxidative damage, neuronal inflammation, and apoptosis in exposed rats.

Medicinal Plants Used for Dermatological Disorders among the People of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Narrative Review

Historically, skin disorders have received less attention in health management than other life-threatening diseases that occur on a global scale. However, numerous skin problems are reported to primary health care systems worldwide, particularly in tropical locations. While modern physicians often address most skin conditions, it is estimated that over 70% of individuals with skin illnesses do not seek treatment. Traditional medicine dates all the way back to human civilization's inception. Numerous materials are utilized in traditional medicinal remedies, but the use of plants is particularly critical. Saudi Arabia is one of the world's most botanically varied countries, having an extensive folk medicine heritage. While several reviews on the use of plants to cure skin disorders has been published worldwide, very few have been undertaken in Saudi Arabia, much alone a comprehensive one. Thus, the present review identified the most significant and medicinally relevant herbs used in the treatment of various dermatological conditions in Saudi Arabia. A total of 43 plants were identified and described in this study. This investigation omitted publications that lacked detailed data and had only fragmented information regarding the herb's traditional use in topical applications.

Himalayan Ficus palmata L. Fruit Extract Showed In Vivo Central and Peripheral Analgesic Activity Involving COX-2 and Mu Opioid Receptors

Analgesic drugs like morphine and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs exhibit several harmful effects. Here, we show for the first time the analgesic activity of Ficus palmata L. fruit extract (FPFE) on different analgesic rat models along with the in silico studies of some of the main phytochemicals of this plant. We performed in vivo pain models, along with in silico docking studies against the active site of COX-2 protein and mu-opioid receptors. A significant (p < 0.05) analgesic effect of FPFE was observed, and it was found that rutin has good pose and score as compared to diclofenac and morphinan antagonist (X-ligand), and psoralen has binding affinity almost equal to diclofenac, but a lower binding affinity as compared to rutin. The results proved that F. palmata fruits have the potential to ameliorate painful conditions.

Proteomic Analysis and In Vivo Studies Reveal the Potential Gastroprotective Effects of CHCl3 and Aqueous Extracts of Ficus palmata

Ficus palmata is rich in several phytochemicals such as chromone, isoflavones, terpenes, lignans, coumarins, glycosides, and furanocoumarins and have been traditionally used for the management of different gastrointestinal disorders. This research reveals the effects of Ficus palmata fruit extracts-Ficus palmata chloroform (Fp.CHCl₃) and Ficus palmata aqueous (Fp.Aq)-on gut activity through in vivo and in vitro analyses. Antidiarrheal and enteropooling assays were analyzed with castor oil-induced diarrhea and intestinal fluid accumulation. Jejunum tissues of rabbits were isolated (antispasmodic) for in vitro experiments. Antimotility was carried out by charcoal meal for determining transient time, and ethanol-induced ulcer assay was used to measure the ulceration of stomach; molecular pathways were assessed through proteomic approach. Fp.CHCl₃ and Fp.Aq extracts attributed dose-dependently protection against diarrhea, and intestinal fluid secretions were inhibited dose dependently. Extracts of Fp.CHCl₃ and Fp.Aq produced reduction in spontaneous and K⁺ (at 80 Mm)-induced contractions in isolated jejunum tissues, along with the decreased length covered by charcoal in charcoal meal transient time activity. The extract exhibited gastroprotective outcome in rats and reduced tumor necrotic factor (TNF-α) levels and IL-18, measured by proteomic approach. Morphological studies' results showed that ethanol induced significant gastritis, apoptosis, swelling of mucosa, and hydropic degeneration leading to cellular degeneration and necrosis, observed through staining techniques. Furthermore, ethanol activated the inflammation pathway in all gastric zones by elevating the levels of cyclooxygenase-2, TNF-α, and nuclear factor kappa light-chain enhancer of activated B-cells. Overall results expressed the antidiarrheal, antispasmodic, enteropooling, antimotility, and antiulcer activities of Ficus palmata fruit extract.

Potential of Ficus microcarpa metabolites against SARS-CoV-2 main protease supported by docking studies

COVID 19; an infectious disease; firstly identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China and has since spread globally, resulting in an ongoing pandemic. Searching for protease inhibitors is a challenging task in controlling COVID 19. Genus Ficus is known to be a rich source of phenolic compounds. Metabolic profiling of leaves methanolic extract of Ficus microcarpa (Moraceae) revealed nine compounds (1-9) mainly phenolics. Docking studies concerning these compounds against SARS-CoV-2 main protease showed that quercetin 3,7-O-α-L-dirhamnoside (1) and rutin (3) possessed significant binding stability at the N3 binding site in different activity degrees, which is comparable with COVID-19 main protease inhibitor, darunavir. Our study suggests that compounds quercetin 3,7-O-α-L-dirhamnoside and rutin might be potential candidates for the development of therapies against SARS-CoV-2.

Phytochemical and pharmacological appraisal of the aerial parts of Lotus corniculatus L. growing in Egypt

Lotus corniculatus L. (Fabaceae) is widely grown in Egypt. It has a great history of folkloric medicinal uses. All fractions of aerial parts of L. corniculatus L. showed significant antioxidant and immunostimulant activities and could strongly induce lymphoproliferation. However, the light petrol fraction had antifungal activity against C. neoformans with IC₅₀ value (<8 µg/mL) and exhibited strongest in-vitro antiprotozoal activity against protozoan parasites belonging to the genera Trypanosoma with IC₅₀ value (0.98 µg/mL) and Plasmodium (with 100% inhibition using a sample concentration of 15866.7 ng/mL). This is the first study of the immunostimulant and antiprotozoal activities of genus Lotus. By this approach, it was possible to isolate eight compounds (-)-7,2'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavan (vestitol) (1), kaempferol (2), kaempferol 3-O-α-L-rhamnoside (afzelin) (3), kaempferol 3, 7-O-α-L-dirhamnoside (kaempferitin) (4), kaempferol-3-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl (1″'→2″)-β-D-galactopyranoside] (5), 3-O-[β-D-glucuronopyranosyl] soyasapogenol B (6), kaempferol-3-O-[β-D-xylopyranosyl (1″'→2″)-β-D-galactopyranoside]-7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (7) and 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1″'→2″)-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1″→2')-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl] soyasapogenol B (soyasaponin І) (8).

Impact of date palm pollen (Phoenix dactylifera) treatment on paracetamol-induced hepatorenal toxicity in rats

Background

Consumption of plant-derived nutraceuticals and crude drugs in Arab traditional medicine is widely believed to confer beneficial effects in liver and kidney diseases. Fruits from the date palm Phoenix dactylifera L. are a rich source of nutrients and bioactive phytochemicals which possess a myriad of pharmacological effects. Herein, we examined the impact of Date Palm Pollen (DPP) aqueous suspension treatment on paracetamol (APAP) [Acetaminophen (APAP)] triggered hepatorenal damage in rats and further explored the underlying putative mechanism.

Methods

Thirty Wistar rats were assigned to five groups (n = 6/group). Group I was control group; animals in group II were administered APAP 1000 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) intraperitonealy (i.p.); Group III and IV administered APAP plus date palm pollen with doses of 50, 100 mg/kg b.w and group V were administered APAP plus Silymarin (SIL) 10 mg/kg b.w. (i.p) respectively. Various biochemical parameters and histological assessment were evaluated in serum and tissue homogenate.

Results

Pretreatment with DPP aqueous suspensions (50 and 100 mg/kg b.w.) significantly (p < 0.05) thwarted APAP triggered alterations in serum biomarkers of liver damage [aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)], serum albumin as well as bilirubin. DPP treatment further mitigated APAP triggered dyslipidemia associated with hepatic damage by influencing APAP elicited changes in serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL and VLDL. DPP treatment significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated extrahepatic manifestations of APAP toxicity by influencing alterations in parameters of renal function (creatinine, urea and uric acid) as well serum electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium and Calcium). DPP treatment further influenced APAP-induced histological lesions by curtailing necrosis and inflammatory changes in the hepatic and renal architecture, respectively. Furthermore, DPP treatment modulated APAP-induced redox imbalance in the hepatic and renal tissue by blunting the increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as decrease of nonprotein sulfhydryls (NP-SH) significantly (p < 0.05) when compared with control. The protective effect of DPP was further confirmed histologically.

Conclusions

The present observations point to an hepatorenal protective effects of acute DPP treatment in APAP-intoxicated rats which is underpinned by its robust antioxidant properties.

Pharmacological and computational evaluation of fig for therapeutic potential in hyperactive gastrointestinal disorders

BACKGROUND

Ficus palmata (Fig), are distributed in different parts of the world, and are used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments including inflammation, tumor, epilepsy, jaundice, influenza and bacillary dysentery. The present study aimed to evaluate the antidiarrheal, antisecretary, antispasmodic, antiulcer and anti motility properties of Ficus palmata.

METHODS

In-vivo, in-vitro and in-silico techniques were used to investigate various gastrointestinal effects of Ficus palmata. Antidiarrheal, antisecretary, antispasmodic, antiulcer, anti motility and molecular docking were performed using castor oil induced diarrhea and fluid accumulation, isolated tissue preparations, ethanol-HCl induced ulcer assay, charcoal meal transit time and Auto Doc Vina.

RESULTS

Ficus palmata crude extract (Fp.Cr) exhibited protection against castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice and dose-dependently inhibited intestinal fluid secretions. Fp.Cr caused relaxation of spontaneous and K⁺ (80 Mm)-induced contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum preparations. It showed protective effect against gastric ulcers induced by ethanol-hydrochloric acid in rats. Fp.Cr reduced distance travelled by charcoal meal in the gastrointestinal transit model in mice. The plant constituents: psoralenoside and bergapten showed high binding affinities (E-value ≥ - 6.5 Kcal/mol) against histaminergic H₁, calmodulin and voltage gated L-type calcium channels, while showed moderate affinities (E-value ≥7 Kcal/mol) against dopaminergic D₂, adrenergic α_1, muscranic M₃, mu-opioid, whereas revealed lower affinities (E-value ≥9.5 Kcal/mol) vs. muscranic M₁, histaminergic H₂ and H⁺/K⁺ ATPase pump. Germanicol acetate and psoralene exhibited weak affinities against aforementioned targets.

CONCLUSION

This study reveals that Ficus palmata possesses anti-diarrheal, anti-secretory, anti-spasmodic, anti-motility and anti-ulcer activities. The various constituents reveal different binding affinities against target proteins, which mediate the gastrointestinal functions.

The genus Ficus (Moraceae) used in diet: Its plant diversity, distribution, traditional uses and ethnopharmacological importance

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

A new field of enthnopharmacology has opened, where pharmacological studies draw their attention from the conventional only-medicine approach towards the dietary dimension. The uses of Ficus species in the human diet have been extensively documented by ethnobotanical field surveyors. Overlap commonly exist between the dietary and medicinal selection of Ficus species but not for choices of the plant parts and development stages, which leave a large space for ethnopharmacological study.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

1) To review published works on the dietary uses of Ficus species and their food-medicine overlap based on traditional uses, and 2) to spark interest in ethnopharmacological studies on the dietary uses of Ficus species.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data was collected and analyzed from many sources, including published and unpublished ethnobotanical field surveys, taxonomic and distribution information, international journals, books, thesis, floras, reports and professional databases. The possible biases arising from data sources are assessed to make sure that the dataset are global representative.

RESULTS

A total of 132 Ficus species are reported for dietary uses, including one subspecies and four varieties. Those species are found across all of the six subgenera of the genus Ficus. For distribution, 98 species from the Indo-Australasian region, 27 species from the African tropics (with one species, F. palmata, from both the two regions) and 8 from the Neotropics. The parts most commonly used are the figs (i.e. syconium or fruits) (110 species) and leaves (67 species), in various growth stages. It is also found that the certain plant parts of 78 species are used both for dietary and medicinal purpose. Among which the figs are frequently cited in the treatment of diarrhea and oligogalactia, the leaves in the treatment of diarrhea, stomach complaintsas, antidote and diabetes, the latex in the treatment of intestinal worms and wounds, and the barks in the treatment of diarrhea.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrate that throughout its area of distribution, the genus Ficus is generally used as a dietary plant, although use of a individual species seems uncommon. Furthermore, we highlight the diet-medicine overlap of the uses of this genus, which should enable further understanding of the potential for broader health benefits, rather than limiting studies in this genus to its only-medicinal properties.

Ethnobotany of Anti-hypertensive Plants Used in Northern Pakistan

Hypertension is one of the most important factors responsible for cardiovascular ailments worldwide. It has been observed that herbal products and alternative herbal therapies played a significant role in decreasing hypertension. The aim of the current study is to provide significant ethnopharmacological information, both qualitative and quantitative on medicinal plants related to hypertension from Northern Pakistan. The documented data were quantitatively analyzed for the first time in this area. A total of 250 participants were interviewed through semi-structured discussions and questionnaires. Quantitative indices including FC (Frequency citation), FIV (Family importance value), RFC (Relative frequency of citation) and DCI (Disease Consensus index) were calculated. A total of 192 plant species, belonging to 77 families were reported to be used in treatment of hypertension in Northern Pakistan. The most dominant life form reported was herbs (54%), with decoction (72 reports) and leaves (55.1%) were commonly utilized plant part. Highest FIV was recorded in Lamiaceae (327 FIV). RFC ranged from 0.08 to 1.08% while DCI varied from 0.233 to 0.000. In this study original data was compared with thirty one previous national and international published papers from neighboring region to compare the medicinal uses and obtain some novel plant species. About 42% of the medicinal plant species were reported for the first time in treatment of hypertension in comparison to these 31 published papers. Different phytochemical activities of antihypertensive plants were also reported from literature. This research work documents the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants usage and provides baseline in designing clinical trials and pharmacological analysis for treatment of hypertension.

Phenolic profile and biological properties of the leaves of Ficus vasta Forssk. (Moraceae) growing in Egypt

BACKGROUND

Ficus vasta Forssk. (Moraceae) is traditionally used for the treatment of various ailments; nonetheless, this species has been poorly studied to date. This work aimed to characterize the phenolic profile and to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of a hydroalcoholic extract obtained from F. vasta leaves collected in Egypt.

METHODS

The phenolic profile of the extract was characterized by HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS. The antioxidant properties were examined by different in vitro systems: DPPH test, reducing power and metal chelating activity assays. Moreover, the ability of the extract to protect Escherichia coli growth and survival from H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress was evaluated. The potential toxicity was investigated using Artemia salina lethality bioassay. Finally, the antimicrobial properties against a representative set of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains and the yeast C. albicans were assayed by standard methods.

RESULTS

By HPLC-PDA/ESI-MS analysis 12 compounds belonging to the groups of phenolic acids and flavonoids were identified. The extract exhibited strong radical scavenging activity in DPPH test (IC₅₀ = 0.0672 ± 0.0038 mg/mL), reducing power (3.65 ± 0.48 ASE/mL) and chelating activity (IC₅₀ = 0.801 ± 0.007 mg/mL). A total protection against H₂O₂-induced damage on E. coli was observed. No toxicity against A. salina was found (LC₅₀ > 1000 μg/mL). The extract exhibited bacteriostatic activity against almost all the bacteria tested (MICs: 250-62.5 μg/mL).

CONCLUSIONS

The obtained results demonstrate the potential of F. vasta leaves as safe sources of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds.

A role of Ficus species in the management of diabetes mellitus: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common global health concerns, with a rapidly increasing incidence. A variety of medicinal plants, particularly those belonging to the genus Ficus (Moraceae), and their active compounds have been used to treat diabetes and related chronic disorders since ancient times.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this review is to provide information regarding traditional and scientific knowledge of Ficus species with antidiabetic activity to researchers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature search was conducted to obtain information about the antidiabetic properties of Ficus from the electronic databases. Common and scientific names of various Ficus species were used as keywords for the search, along with the terms antidiabetic, hypoglycemic and diabetes.

RESULTS

Among the assorted species of Ficus that were included in our search, F. benghalensis, F. carica, F. glomerata, F. glumosa, F. racemosa, and F. religiosa exhibited remarkable antidiabetic properties with various mechanisms of action. Moreover, Ficus species are versatile sources of bioactive metabolites such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, coumarins, triterpenoids, sterols and vitamin E. These extracts and isolated compounds significantly have enhanced insulin secretion and subsequently reduced blood glucose level in various in vivo studies.

CONCLUSION

This review summarizes the antidiabetic potentials of the genus Ficus, including pharmacological studies with mechanisms of action as well as ethnobotanical uses. This review can help inform future scientific research towards the development of novel antidiabetic drugs.

Chemotaxonomic Diversity of Three Ficus Species: Their Discrimination Using Chemometric Analysis and Their Role in Combating Oxidative Stress

BACKGROUND

Genus Ficus (Moraceae) constitutes more than 850 species and about 2000 varieties and it acts as a golden mine that could afford effective and safe remedies combating many health disorders.

OBJECTIVES

Discrimination of Ficus cordata, Ficus ingens, and Ficus palmata using chemometric analysis and assessment of their role in combating oxidative stress.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Phytochemical profiling of the methanol extracts of the three Ficus species and their successive fractions was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Their discrimination was carried out using the obtained spectral data applying chemometric unsupervised pattern-recognition techniques, namely, principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis. In vitro hepatoprotective and antioxidant evaluation of the samples was performed using human hepatocellular carcinoma cells challenged by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).

RESULTS

Altogether, 22 compounds belonging to polyphenolics, flavonoids, and furanocoumarins were identified in the three Ficus species. Aviprin is the most abundant compound in F. cordata while chlorogenic acid and psoralen were present in high percentages in F. ingens and F. palmata, respectively. Chemometric analyses showed that F. palmata and F. cordata are more closely related chemically to each other rather than F. ingens. The ethyl acetate fractions of all the examined species showed a marked hepatoprotective efficacy accounting for 54.78%, 55.46%, and 56.42% reduction in serum level of alanine transaminase and 56.82%, 54.16%, and 57.06% suppression in serum level of aspartate transaminase, respectively, at 100 μg/mL comparable to CCl4-treated cells.

CONCLUSION

Ficus species exhibited a no table antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity owing to their richness in polyphenolics and furanocoumarins.

SUMMARY

Ficus cordata, Ficus ingens, and Ficus palmata were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry that revealed their richness with polyphenolics and furanocoumarinsDiscrimination of the three species was performed using spectral data coupled with chemometrics that showed that F. palmata and F. cordata are chemically related to each other rather than F. ingensIn vitro hepatoprotective and antioxidant evaluation was performed using human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The ethyl acetate fractions of all the examined species showed a marked hepatoprotective efficacyFicus species exhibited notable activities due to polyphenolics and furanocoumarins. Abbreviations used: ALT: Alanine transaminase, AST: Aspartate transaminase, CCl4: Carbon tetrachloride, DMEM: Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's medium, DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide, EDTA: Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, FBS: Fetal bovine serum, FCA: Ficus cordata remaining aqueous fraction, FCB: Ficus cordata n-butanol fraction, FCE: Ficus cordata ethyl acetate fraction, FCP: Ficus cordata petroleum ether fraction, FCT: Ficus cordata total methanol extract, FIA: Ficus ingens remaining aqueous fraction, FIB: Ficus ingens n-butanol fraction, FIE: Ficus ingens ethyl acetate fraction, FIP: Ficus ingens petroleum ether fraction, FIT: Ficus ingens total methanol extract, FPA: Ficus palmata remaining aqueous fraction, FPB: Ficus palmata n-butanol fraction, FPE: Ficus palmata ethyl acetate fraction, FPP: Ficus palmata petroleum ether fraction, FPT: Ficus palmata total methanol extract, GSH: Reduced glutathione, HepG2 cells: Human hepatocellular carcinoma, HPLC-ESI-MS: High-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and SOD: Superoxide dismutase.

In vitro screening for β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitory and antioxidant activity of sequentially extracted fractions of Ficus palmata Forsk

Hypercholesterolemia-induced oxidative stress has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, which is one of the major causes of mortality worldwide. The current work, for the first time, accounts the antioxidant, genoprotective, antilipoperoxidative, and HMG-CoA reductase (EC 1.1.1.34) inhibitory properties of traditional medicinal plant, Ficus palmata Forsk. Our result showed that among sequentially extracted fractions of Ficus palmata Forsk, FPBA (F. palmata bark aqueous extract) and FPLM (F. palmata leaves methanolic extract) extracts have higher phenolic content and also exhibited significantly more radical scavenging (DPPH and Superoxide) and antioxidant (FRAP) capacity. Moreover, FPBA extract also exhibited significantly higher inhibition of lipid peroxidation assay. Additionally, results showed almost complete and partial protection of oxidatively damaged DNA by these plant extracts when compared to mannitol. Furthermore, our results showed that FPBA extract (IC₅₀ = 9.1 ± 0.61 µg/mL) exhibited noteworthy inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase activity as compared to other extracts, which might suggest its role as cardioprotective agent. In conclusion, results showed that FPBA extract not only possess significant antioxidant and genoprotective property but also is able to attenuate the enzymatic activity of HMG-CoA reductase, which might suggest its role in combating various oxidative stress-related diseases, including atherosclerosis.