**3. Phytochemicals of** *Ficus* **species**

Phytochemicals are the bioactive components of plants having great importance in pharmaceutical and medicinal field. The genus *Ficus* consist of a variety

**135**

*Ficus auriculata* Leaves and fruits

Ether, chloroform and ethanol

*Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant Potential, and Medicinal Significance of* Ficus

**Class Phytochemical components References**

[24, 25]

[26, 27]

[28]

β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol-d-glucoside (Phytosterolin)

Polysterols Bergapten, bergaptol, lanosterol,

β-glucopyranosid, leucopelargonidin-3-Oβ-d-glucopyranoside, leucopelargonidin-3-O-α-lrhamnopyranoside, lupeol, cetyl behenate, acetate and α-amyrin acetate

leucoanthocyanidin, leucoanthocyanin

Undecane, tridecane, tetradecane, (e)-β-ocimene β-bourbonene, β-caryophyllene, α-trans bergamotene, α-thujene, α-pinene, β-pinene, α-terpinene, limonene, dendrolasine, dendrolasine α-ylangene, α-copaene, aromadendrene, α-humulene, alloaromadendrene, germacrene, bicycle-germacrene, γ-cadinene

and δ-cadinene

and benzyl alcohol, hexenol, n-hexanol, phytol, benzyl alcohol

Phenol, salicylaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, allyl caproate, linalool, n-nonanal, adipoin, methylcyclopentane, 2-dione, itaconic anhydride, 2-phenylethyl alcohol, benzeneacetonitrile, nonadienal, nonen-1-ol, nonadienol, linalool oxide, catechol, coumaran, cinnamyl alcohol, vinylguaiacol, hexenyl tiglate, eugenol, hexenyl hexenoate, β-ionone, dihydroactinidiolide, α-copaene, hexenyl benzoate, eudesmol, eudesmol, epi-α-cadinol, β-eudesmol, α-eudesmol, α-cadinol, pentadecanal, palmitic acid and itaconic anhydride, 3-methylcyclopentane-1, 2-dione

Flavonols Kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin [29]

glucopyranoside

scopoletin, β-sitosterol-3-O-β-d-

Phenolic acids Betulinic acid, lupeol Sterols Stigmasterol, bergapten,

Flavonoids Leucocyanidin-3-O-

Polyphenols Tannin, wax, saponin,

myricetin

Fruit Water Flavonols Kaempferol, quercetin, and

Leaves Ethanol Polyphenols Eugenol, 2-phenylethyl alcohol,

Miscellaneous compounds

Miscellaneous compounds

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86562*

**Extracting solvent**

methanol, organic solvents, helium

**parts**

*Ficus religiosa* Barks Water,

**Ficus species Plant** 


*Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant Potential, and Medicinal Significance of* Ficus *DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86562*

*Modern Fruit Industry*

wound healing from physical assaults [17]. The genus *Ficus* is classified as:

Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Plantae Subkingdom Viridaeplantae Phylum Tracheophyta Subphylum Euphyllopsidia Infra phylum Radiatopses Division Magnoliophyte Class Magnoliopsida Subclass Dilleniidae Superorder Urticaneae Order Urticales Family *Moraceae* Genus *Ficus*

**2. Biochemical and nutritional composition**

**3. Phytochemicals of** *Ficus* **species**

potassium and calcium according to human needs [15, 20–22].

Since ancient times, *Ficus* species has been used as a source of food to improve the health of mankind [17]. Most of the species of *Ficus* are used in industrial products as nourishing foods. These are composed mainly of water, lipids, essential amino acids, minerals and vitamins [18]. *Ficus* genus worked as food additives that use frequently as health-promoting Mediterranean diet. It has great importance as nutraceutical and in biopharmaceutical industries [19]. They are known as rich sources of amino acids that are totally free from cholesterol and fat contents. *Ficus carica* is an excellent source of minerals containing copper, manganese, magnesium,

Phytochemicals are the bioactive components of plants having great importance in pharmaceutical and medicinal field. The genus *Ficus* consist of a variety

ailments, infectious diseases and cancer [6, 7]. Various parts of *Ficus religiosa*, have been reported to be used to treat high fever, chronic asthma and cancer and regulate menstrual cycle [8–11]. *Ficus carica* also known as edible fig, its fruit had been used from ancient times due to its activity against cancer, hepatomegaly, ulcer, platelets and inflammatory disorders. Leaves of *Ficus carica* used to treat dermatitis. It can activate potassium ATP channels and, hence, is used effectively in gut motility [12]. *Ficus racemosa* traditionally named as sacred fig is popular as its latex is used in treatment of ulcer, tumor, gout and aphrodisiac and fruits are used as laxative and digestive due to antitumor and antibacterial activity [13]. *Ficus benghalensis* commonly called Indian banyan has been reported to possess anti-insulinase, anthelmintic, and antitumor activity [14, 15]. Different species of *Ficus* shows different colors due to the presence of various pigments like polyphenols, flavonoids and anthocyanins. The skin of *Ficus* fruits contains comparatively higher content of phytochemicals and antioxidants than fruit pulp [16]. The wood of the *Ficus* plants contains latex like material within their vasculatures that provide protection and

**134**


**137**

**Table 1.**

*Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant Potential, and Medicinal Significance of* Ficus

*Ficus retusa* Leaves Methanol Polyphenols 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic

**Class Phytochemical components References**

[38]

[39]

[40]

[41]

[42]

[43–45]

[47]

acid-dibutyl ester, phenol, 4-(2aminopropyl), butyrolactone

vitexin, β-sitosterol acetate, β-amyrin acetate, moretenone,

tritepene-glaunol acetate

acetate, lupeol, β-amyrin, α-amyrin, rhoiptelenol, 3α-hydroxyisohop-22(29)-en-24 oic acid, lupenyl acetate

8,26-cyclo-urs-21-en3β, 20β-diol and 3β-acetoxy-8, 26-cyclo-ursan-20β-ol and also

β amyrine, 3,5,7,4′-tetra hydroxyl

6β-hydroxystigmasta-4,22-dien-3-one, 8-prenylapigenin

saponins, resins, fat, flavonoids, tannins, and phenolic compounds. Alkaloids and steroid were absent

epigallocatechin, orientin

3-friedelanone

Phenolic acids Oleanolic acid, betulinic acid Anthocyanins Lupeol acetate, α and

flavones

Flavonols Triterpene, conrauidienol,

Phenolic acid Betulinic acid, ursolic acid Flavonoids Luteolin, catechin,

Sterol β-Sitosterol glucoside

Water Phenolic acid Gallic acid [46] Anthocyanin 3, β-hydroksilup-20(29)-en, (lupeol) Polyphenols Carbohydrates, glycosides,

Anthocyanin β-amyrin acetate,

and dihydroflavonol, conrauiflavonol, 3,4',5-trihydroxy-6'',6'' dimethylpyrano[2,3-g]flavone

Ethanol Flavonols Luteolin, afzelechin, catechin,

β-amyrin

Sterols β-Sitosterol, friedelenol

Phenolic acids Ursolic acid, betulinic acid

Water Anthocyanins Cetyl behenate, lupeol, α-amyrin acetate

Water Sterols β-Sitosterol and a new tetracyclic

Methanol Anthocyanins Amyrin acetate, α-amyrin

Water Terpenes Pentacyclic triterpenes

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86562*

**Extracting solvent**

**parts**

Aerial parts

bark

Leaves and bark

Fresh leaves and stem

bark

Leaves Hot and

cold water

*Phytochemical quality of various parts of commonly used species of Ficus.*

**Ficus species Plant** 

*Ficus palmata* Stem

*Ficus cordata* Stem

*Ficus tsiela* Whole

plant

*Ficus thunbergii*

*Ficus deltoidea*


*Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant Potential, and Medicinal Significance of* Ficus *DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86562*

#### **Table 1.**

*Modern Fruit Industry*

**Ficus species Plant** 

*Ficus carica* Dried

fruit

Aerial roots

bark

Aerial roots

*Ficus sycomorus*

*Ficus benghalensis*

*Ficus capensis* Stem

**parts**

Whole plant

**Extracting solvent**

N-butanol, ethanol and methanol

**Class Phytochemical components References**

rhamnopyranosyl (1-6)-β-dglucopyranoside, quercetin 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (isoquercitrin), quercetin 3,7-O-αl-dirhamnoside, quercetin, 3-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl(1-6)-

coumarins, saponins, rennin, caoutchouc, resin, albumin, cerin, sugar and terpenes

esterase, lipase, catalase, and

bergapten (5-methoxypsoralen)

Quercitin-3-O-rutinoside, psoralen

carbohydrates, flavonoids, free anthraquinones, tannins, glycosides, terpenes, resins, sterols and saponins, glycosides

Carvacrol, α-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, linalool, 3-tetradecanone, geranylacetone,

3,7,11-trimethyl-3-hydroxy-6;10-dodecadiene-1-yl acetate, hexahydrofarnesyl acetone, α-caryophyllene, 2-methyl-3 hexyne and scytalone

d-diglucopyranoside, euphol-3 ocinnamate, lupeol, taraxar-14-ene [30]

[31]

[32]

[14]

[34]

[35]

[37]

Flavonoids Quercetin, quercetin 3-O-l-

glucopyranoside

glucopyranoside

peroxidase

Flavonoids Rutin, quercetin, and luteolin

Phytosterols Taraxasterol, psoralen and

Polyphenols Saponins, tannins, glucoside and flavonoids

Sterol β-Sitosterol-α-d-glucose and meso-inositol

Sterol β-Sitosterol-3-β-d-

Phenolic acids Gallic acid

Water Flavonoids Alkaloids, flavonoids,

Latex Water Enzymes Proteolytic enzymes, diastase,

Phenolic acids Malic acid Leaves Water Coumarins Psoralen and bergapten [33]

Phenolic acids Ferulic acid

Water Polyphenols Alkaloids, balsams,

Roots Water Phenolic acids Betulinic acid and ursolic acid [36]

Leaves Flavoinoids Catechin, epicatechin and

Anthocyanins Trihydroxy-stilbene-3, 5-O-β-

Triterpenoids Friedelin, lupeol, oleanolic acid, ursolic acids

isovitexin

compounds

Pulp Water Phenolic acids Chlorgenic acid

sterol

Peel Water Coumarins and

Water and methanol

Leaves Water Volatile

**136**

*Ficus polita Vahl*

*Ficus microcarpa*

*Phytochemical quality of various parts of commonly used species of Ficus.*

