View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Discovery Phytomedicine Journal ORIGINAL ARTICLE Discovery Phytomedicine 2018, Volume 5, Number 4: 64-71 Ficus Sycomorus L (Moraceae): A review on its Original Article Phytopharmacology and toxicity profile CrossMark Doi: Discovery Phytomedicine.2018.75 Earnest Oghenesuvwe,* Erhirhie, Emmanuel Emeka Ilodigwe Chibueze Peter Ihekwereme Volume No.: 5 ABSTRACT Ficus Sycomorus (F. sycomorus), belonging to the family of pharmacological and toxicological effects. From this evaluation, moraceae, is an evergreen tree found in Nigeria and other parts of bioactivity guided isolation and purification of its promising extracts Issue: 4 the world. It has several medicinal and culinary uses. This present is recommended to facilitate the discovery and development of its review evaluated its traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, lead molecules as alternative therapies. First page No.: 64 Key words: Ficus sycomorus, Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological properties, Toxicity. *Correspondence to: INTRODUCTION GENERAL DISTRIBUTION RH_Author: XXX Earnest Oghenesuvwe ERHIRHIE, Department of Pharmacology Ficus sycomorus (F. sycomorus), also known as Naturally, F. sycomorus originates from the Middle and Toxicology, Nnamdi Azikiwe fig-mulberry belonging to the family of moraceae is East west to Cape Verde Islands and to South Africa, University, Agulu, Anambra State, a semi-deciduous tree that grows up to 20 -21 m tall, Namibia and the Comoro Islands.8 Nigeria. 1-2 [email protected] not exceeding 46 m. It can be found in the following countries; Zambia The name Ficus is the Latin word for fig, which and Zimbabwe, Syrian Arab Republic, Cote d'Ivo- originates from the Persian ‘fica’. The species, syco- ire, South Africa, Uganda, Swaziland, Djibouti, Cite This Article: morus, originates from the Greek name sykamorea Egypt, Tanzania, Nigeria, Namibia, Angola, Sudan, Oghenesuvwe, E., Erhirhie, (i.e, sycamore). It connotes the fruit of the century Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Ilodigwe, E.E., Ihekwereme, C.P. 2018. Ficus Sycomorus L (sykaomorom) in the Old Testament of the Bible, until Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, (Moraceae): A review on its Jesus cursed it to be barren, according to the gospel of Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Israel, Kenya, Lesotho, Phytopharmacology and toxicity Luke.3 It has about 40 genera and 1400 species.4 Madagascar, Mozambique, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, profile. Discovery Phytomedicine Its leaves resemble the shape of a heart. It has Senegal and Somalia.7,9 5(4): 64-71. DOI:10.15562/ a dense round crown of spreading branches whose It is very common in the Northern regions of phytomedicine.2018.75 leaves are deep green.2 It’s flowering and fruiting Nigeria, Maiduguri, Sahel, Sudan, and Guinea occurs all the time, but mostly between July and savanna.10 It grows favorably in regions having well December. Its fruits are between 2.5 to 5 cm in drained loamy, clay and sandy soils.5 diameter. The color of its bark ranges from green, yellow to orange.1 Within a year, it can produce Scientific classification several fruits.5 Its picture is depicted in figure 1. Taxonomically, F. sycomorus can be classified It is a widespread savannah tree which thrives under the following categories; Kingdom (Plantae), in high water table areas, although it can also be subkingdom (Tracheobionata), superdivision found along rivers and streams.6 It is sacred in (spermatophyta), division (magnoliophyta), class some localities such as Boran (Kenya), Luo (South (magnoliopsida), subclass (hamamelididae), order Sudan and Ethiopia, Northern Uganda and east- (urticales), family (moraceae), genus (ficus), species ern Congo (DRC), Western Kenya, and the Mara (Ficus sycomorus).11-12 Region of Tanzania), Kikuyu (Kenya), Kamba (Uganda, Tanzania and South American country of Common/local names Paraguay), Mbeere (Kenya), Tharaka (Kenya), and Its common names in English include: Stranglerfig, Meru (Kenya). Its wood is light and pale.7 Figure 1 Sycamore, sycamore fig, and bush fig. Locally, illustrates its physical features. it is called Baure in Hausa, Tarmur in Kanuri.9 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agulu, Anambra State, Nigeria. 64 Discovery Phytomedicine 2018; 5(4): 64-71. doi: 10.15562/phytomedicine.2018.75 www.phytomedicine.ejournals.ca Ficus Sycomorus L (Moraceae): ... Earnest Oghenesuvwe, et al. Other local names include; Boran (Oda); Embu PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS (Mukuyu), Swahili (mukuyu, mkuyu, chivuzi), Luhya (Omukhuyu), Luo (Olam), Nandi (Sebetuet), Phytochemicals are responsible for the ther- Pokot (Mangang), Teso (Eborborei, Eduro).7 apeutic and toxicological effects of several medicinal plants.23 Studies on the phytochemical composition of various parts of F. Sycomorus had Ethno-medcinal and Culinary uses been documented. The ethno-medicinal uses of F. sycomorus are According to Osama and coworkers, phyto- summarized in table 1. chemical screening of F. Sycomorus bark extract From folkloric claim, the white latex is applied revealed the presence of phenols, tannins, flavo- topically on ulcers, burns, inflammation, and warts noids, coumarins, quninous, alkaloids, triterpenes, to prevent infections and promote healing among steroids, saponins, except diterpenes.2 the Africans and South Americans. These inhabi- Study by Al-matani and collaborators on the tants also use the boiled bark of F. Sycomorus in the flavonoid contents of the leaf extracts of various treatment of sore throat, scrofula, respiratory and solvent extracts, hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate chest diseases and infections.14 The milky latex and and butanol using aluminium chloride method its bark are useful against ringworm.3 The powdered revealed that chloroform extract had the highest stem bark is soaked in water for a period of 5 days total flavonoid content followed by hexane, butanol, and it is administered 3 times daily for treatment ethyl acetate, and water extracts.3 of pains, diarrhea, epilepsy, insomnia, and other Bello and coworkers had also reported the pres- mental disorders.8,13,15 It is one of the medicinal ence of flavonoids, glycosides, reducing sugars, plants used in the treatment of animal diarrhea in resins, saponins and tannins in stem bark extract Plateau State, Nigeria.20 of F. Sycomorus.4 The leaves are used in the treatment of jaun- A study on the nutritional and phytochemi- dice and as an antidote for snakebite. The root is also cal composition of F. Sycomorus seed revealed useful as laxative and antihelmintic.7-9,19 Its stem a moisture content of 9.65 ± 0.10% and crude bark is used in Diabetes mellitus and other infec- fat value of 31.34%. Copper, sodium and zinc tious diseases in the Northern Nigeria.4 In Kenya, have the least value of mineral composition its stem bark is used by herbalists to ameliorate while phosphorus, magnesium and calcium diabetic complications.16 Its stem bark decoction is contents were 380.24 ± 0.031, 300.67 ± 0.021 and also useful in the treatment of infertility, low sperm 390.77 ± 0.012 mg/100g respectively. Its tannin count, and sterility in humans in various parts of and alkaloid contents were 4.03 ± 0.015% and Nigeria, including Borno State. 5.65 ± 0.021% respectively.1 Eating the leaves and fruits of F. sycomorous Braide and collaborators also carried out a stimulates lactation.17 Decoction of its leaf and stem phytochemical study on the various parts, leaf, bark aids in breast milk production in lactating stem, root, seed and fruit of F. Sycomorus. Their mothers in Gurara Local Government area of Niger results revealed the presence of tannin, hydrogen State.21 The bark decoction is used for the treatment cyanide, flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, oxalate of excessive menstrual flow.18 It is used in the treat- and vitamin C in various proportions.24 ment of cancer in the Northern part of Nigeria.22 Phytochemical screening done on its aqueous Its root had also been claimed to possess laxa- leaves and fruit extracts revealed the presence tive properties. Eating the seed of F. Sycomorus of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavanoids and helps in the prevention of microbial infections. The steroids.19 non-digestible nature of the seed helps to prevent Its fruit and leaf extracts also revealed the constipation. It contains anti-nutritional constit- presence of flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and uents such as oxalate and phytates which prevent glycosides.13 vitamins and mineral absorption. However, the Phytochemical screening of its methanolic anti-nutritional constituents can be minimized by stem bark extract showed the presence of tannins, cooking the seed.19 Its mature fruits can be cooked, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids, phenols, steroids, eaten fresh or preserved for future use. The fruit is except glycosides and proteins.25 also useful for the preparation of alcoholic bever- As part of antimicrobial studies on the etheric ages. The cooked leaves can be mixed with ground- and acetonic leaf and stem-bark of F sycomorus nut cakes and eaten as food. The wood ash is used extracts, phytochemical screening test carried out as an alternative to salt in Ghana.7 It is also useful as revealed the presence of more phenolic compounds source of protein for ruminant animals and birds.5 in stem bark extract.26 www.phytomedicine.ejournals.ca Discovery Phytomedicine 2018; 5(4): 64-71. doi: 10.15562/phytomedicine.2018.75 65 Ficus Sycomorus L (Moraceae): ... Earnest Oghenesuvwe, et al. High resolution mass spectral (LC-MS) analy- S. aureus was more susceptible than E. coli and ses on the hydromethanolic stem bark extract was P. aeruginosa in the assay.11 also investigated as part of a study on the ability of According to Wakil and colleagues, the aque- F. Sycomorus to reverse behavioral impairment and ous stem bark extract of F. Sycomorus revealed brain oxidative stress in rats. The positive mode anti-trypanocidal activity in in-vitro assay using (ES+) of the high-resolution mass spectral LC-MS Trypanosome parasite. Its activity was similar to the revealed a polar glycosidic flavonoid with a peak of standard drug, Berenil.