FICUS CARICA L.: A PANACEA OF NUTRITIONAL AND MEDICINAL BENEFITS

• Published in: Tang Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 1.1 - 1.6
• Main Authors: Salma, Salma, Shamsi, Yasmeen, Ansari, Saba, Nikhat, Sadia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Flavonoids; anthocyanins; tannins; laxative; saponins
• ISSN: 2233-8985

Since times immemorial, people have been dependant on plants for the various nutritional and pharamacological properties. Folk and traditional medicine recognizes thousands of plant species having miraculous benefits. Fig (Ficus carica Linn.) has been part of folk-lore since centuries. Ficus carica Linn. (Moraceae) is a huge deciduous tree, with more than 800 species. Different parts of Ficus carica like bark, root, leaves, fruit and latex have their own valuable importance and are frequently used for the treatment of various illnesses. Fruit of Ficus carica is commonly called as fig (anjeer) has various medicinal properties used in Unani, Ayurvedic and Chinese traditional system of medicines. Fig fruit is mostly used in gastro intestinal and respiratory disorders. In Unani medicine, fig is used as a diuretic, mild laxative and expectorant. Phytochemical studies on the leaves and fruits of the plant have shown that they are rich in Phenolics, Flavonoids, Vitamin C, Alkaloids, Saponins, Coumarins, tannins, organic acids, and volatile compounds due to which it is having great antioxidant property. Most interesting therapeutic effects include hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antimicrobial and hypolipidemic activities.