**2.2 Fig (***Ficus carica***) fruit**

One of the largest angiosperm genus, Ficus belonging to the family of Moraceae (Mulberry) are perennial plants comprising of over 800 different species including climbers, trailers, and epiphytes distributed around the tropical and sub-tropical regions worldwide [31, 32]. *Ficus carica* (*F. carica*), a deciduous dicotyledonous tree is the most important member of the genus commonly referred to as 'fig'. Indigenous to Egypt (East Mediterranean region), *F. carica* was initially introduced to different civilizations throughout the world including England, United States (US), East and West South Central, South Atlantic and Pacific [33]. Despite, its origins in the Sub-Himalayan regions of the Bengal and Central Indian subcontinents, it has been widely cultivated all around the globe. However, some of the world's major producers of figs for their dry and consumption were US, Turkey and Greece [33].

Bush/small tree-like appearance with single, alternating and large foliage, deep lobes with three or seven lobes; rough and hairy on the top surface; soft and hairy underneath along with smooth and gray bark. In addition to being cultivated from ancient times, they were found growing in the wild in dry and sunny places with rich and fresh soil, as well as in rocky locations. A reasonably permeable and easy draining soil is ideal for the plant's growth; nevertheless, it can also grow in nutritionally poor soil [34]. The edible part of *F. carica*, the fruit is seed-bearing, fleshy, hollow, and receptacle-shaped. Figs do indeed have a long history of medicinal, mythological, and ecclesiastical applications [35–38]. They are bad cholesterol-free, low in sodium and an excellent source of minerals (K, Zn, Mg, Fe, N, Ca, and P), dietary fibers, carbohydrates, sugars, vitamins (water-soluble—B1, B2, B3 and C; fat-soluble—A), good cholesterol and essential amino acids.

#### *Traditional Islamic Herbal Medicine and Complementary Therapies DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.101927*

Figs have acquired a considerable amount of folkloric importance and still invite the attention of researchers globally for their pharmaceutical properties to be used as complementary medicine. Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha are the classical medicine systems of Ayurveda that have acknowledged the medicinal benefits of fig [39]. Therefore, it promises to treat and cure disorders of endocrine (diabetes), ventilatory, cardiovascular, digestive (ulcers and vomiting), urinary, reproductive (menstrual discomfort), and immune systems, as well as infectious diseases of the skin, scabies, and gonorrhea [40].

Phytochemical analysis results revealed a number of secondary metabolites being isolated from different parts of *F. carica* which are phytosterols, anthocyanin pigments, essential amino acids, phenols (proanthocyanidins), essential fatty acids, triterpenoids, coumarins, alcohols, and other volatile counterparts [41, 42].

Linolenic acid (53.1%) was found to be the most prominent fatty acid present in dried figs followed by linoleic acid (21.1%), palmitic acid (13.8%), and oleic acid (9.8%) [41]. Phenolic compounds; 3-O- and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acids, ferulic acid, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, psoralen, and bergapten isolated from the fruit pulp [43]. However, numerous volatile components namely 3-methylbutanal, 2-methyl-butanal, (E)-2-pentanal, hexanal, heptanal, octanal, and nonanal, 1-penten-3-ol, 3-methylbutanol, benzyl alcohol, (E)-2-nonenol, and phenylethyl alcohol, ketone: 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, esters: methyl hexanoate, methyl salicylate, and ethyl salicylate, limonene, menthol, α-pinene, β-pinene, linalool, eucalyptol, α-cubenene, copaene, β-caryophyllene, τ-muurolene, τ-cadinene, and germacrene D and β-cyclocitral were found in the *F. carica* fruits (**Figure 2**) [44].

The fruits have emerged as an outstanding complementary medicine that could be used in treating leprosy, nasal hemorrhage, and deficiency disorders as well as are used in various drug preparations [45].
