Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of Ficus exasperata

The present work describes the investigation of extracts of the leaves and stem bark of F. exasperata for anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and antimicrobial activities as suggested by folklore medicine. It also describes the isolation and characterisation of the bioactive principles from F. exasperata. Anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts and isolates were investigated using the carrageenan-induced foot pad oedema model in the seven-day old chicks. Antioxidant protocols used included the DPPH scavenging,linoleic acid lipid peroxidation and ferric reducing power assays. The agar well diffusion and micro-dilution assays were used in the antimicrobial studies. The active principles were isolated by using column and thin layer chromatographic techniques and characterised by their NMR spectra data. The stem bark extract showed considerable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Bergapten and oxypeucedanin hydrate, isolated from the stem bark, sitosterol and sitosterol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, isolated from the leaves contributed to the bioactivities of F. exasperata. The compounds were being isolated for the first time in the plant.