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Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Ficus religiosa: A review

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Title Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Ficus religiosa:
A review
 
Creator Singh , D
Singh , Bikram
Goel, R K
 
Subject Natural Product Chemistry
 
Description a b s t r a c t
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Ficus religiosa L. (Moraceae) has been extensively used in traditional
medicine for a wide range of ailments of the central nervous system, endocrine system, gastrointestinal
tract, reproductive system, respiratory system and infectious disorders.
Aim of the review: To comprehend the fragmented information available on the botany, traditional uses,
phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of F. religiosa to explore its therapeutic potential and future
research opportunities.
Materials and methods: All the available information on F. religiosa was collected via electronic search
(using Pubmed, SciFinder, Scirus, Google Scholar, Agricola and Web of Science) and a library search.
Results: Ethnomedical uses of F. religiosa are recorded throughout South Asia, where it has been used
for about 50 types of disorders. Phytochemical research had led to the isolation of phytosterols, amino
acids, furanocoumarins, phenolic components, hydrocarbons, aliphatic alcohols, volatile components
and few other classes of secondary metabolites from F. religiosa. Fresh plant materials, crude extracts and
isolated components of F. religiosa showed a wide spectrum of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities
like, antidiabetic, cognitive enhancer, wound healing, anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic,
antimicrobial, antiviral, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antiasthmatic, parasympathetic
modulatory, esterogenic, antitumor, antiulcer, antianxiety, antihelmintic, endotheilin receptor
antagonistic, apoptosis inducer and hypotensive.
Conclusions: F. religiosa emerged as a good source of traditional medicine for the treatment of asthma,
diabetes, diarrhea, epilepsy, gastric problems, inflammatory disorders, infectious disorders and sexual
disorders. Although many of the experimental studies validated its traditional medicinal uses, but
employed uncharacterized crude extracts. Thus, it is difficult to reproduce the results and pinpoint
the bioactive metabolite. Hence, there is a need of phytochemical standardization and bioactivityguided
identification of bioactive metabolites. The results of few pharmacological studies and bioactive
metabolites already reported in F. religiosa warrant detailed investigation for its potential against cancer,
cardiovascular disorders, neuroinflammatory disorders, neuropsychiatric disorders, oxidative stress
related disorders and parasitic infections. The outcome of these studies will further expand the existing
therapeutic potential of F. religiosa and provide a convincing support to its future clinical use in modern
medicine.
 
Date 2011
 
Type Article
PeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Identifier http://ihbt.csircentral.net/888/1/Traditional_uses%2C_phytochemistry_and_pharmacology_of.pdf
Singh , D and Singh , Bikram and Goel, R K (2011) Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Ficus religiosa: A review. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 134. pp. 565-583.
 
Relation http://ihbt.csircentral.net/888/