Modulatory Effects of Leave and Fruit Extracts of Ficus sycomorus on Cytostatic and Inflammatory Mediators in Monocultures and Co-cultures of Human Keratinocyte (HaCat) and Human Monocyte (THP-1) Cell Lines

Abstract

Background: Ficus sycomorus is one of the recommended antipsoriatic medicinal plants in the traditional Greco-Arab herbal medicine. However, the knowledge on its action mechanisms is limited. Aims: Cytotoxic, cytostatic, and anti-inflammatory effects of water/ethanolic extracts of Ficus sycomorus leaves and fruits were evaluated to test their role in the traditionally known antipsoriatic properties. Place and Duration of Study: All the experiments were done in the Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Arab American University-Palestine in 2020. Plants were collected from the Northern region of the West Bank/Palestine during the fall months in 2019 and given (Voucher code: Pharm-PCT-1030) at An-Najah National University. Methodology: MTT assay was used to evaluate cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of Ficus sycomorus extracts in human skin keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT), human monocytic cell line (THP-1)-derived macrophages, and their co-cultures. Commercial ELISA kits were applied to measure the cytokine levels. Results: Both extracts exhibited cytostatic effects with IC 50 of 656 μg/mL and 886 μg/mL for HaCat and co-culture, respectively. Leaves and fruits extracts significantly reduced dose-dependently the LPS-induced NO production by THP-1-derived macrophages from 65 μM to 19 μM and 16 μM, respectively. The fruit extracts showed higher effects than the leaf extracts and reduced the TNF-α levels from 709 pg/mL to 208 pg/mL. The fruit extracts increased the production levels of IL-10 from 74 pg/mL to 90 pg/mL. Conclusion: Ficus sycomorus extracts probably exert their antipsoriatic effects through cytostatic effects and modulation of the production levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.