CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF FICUS RACEMOSA FRUIT METHANOLIC EXTRACT

Abstract

Background

Ficus racemosa Linn is a well-known medicinal plant in various traditional systems of medicine and is used to treat kidney stones, biliary disorders, jaundice, diarrhea, inflammatory conditions, liver disorders, hemorrhoids, respiratory and urinary diseases. We investigated the in vitro and in vivo antidiabetic activity, antimicrobial activity, and nutritional profile of the fruit methanolic extract of F. racemosa.

Methods

Applying the alpha (α)-amylase and alpha (α)-glucosidase enzymes and disc diffusion methods. Strong antidiabetic effects were seen in vitro and in vivo in the methanolic extract of the fruit portion of F. racemosa.

Results

The methanolic extract reduced blood glucose levels to the greatest extent (31.20% in vivo and 68.10% in vitro). The methanolic extract demonstrated potent activity at 16 mm and 15 mm against Staphylococcus and Bacillus ceresus with the disc diffusion method.

Conclusions

The methanolic crude extracts exhibit strong antidiabetic and antimicrobial activity, especially against Staphylococcus and Bacillus ceresus. Nutrients represent their potent pharmacological applications. The presence of secondary metabolites (flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolics, saponins, and terpenoids) in the crude methanolic extract may cause its antidiabetic and antimicrobial properties.