Recent Antimicrobial and Pharmacological Studies in Ficus Religiosa Linn
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Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014) 3(1): 461-475 ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 3 Number 1 (2014) pp. 461-475 http://www.ijcmas.com Review Article Recent Antimicrobial and Pharmacological studies in Ficus religiosa Linn Varsha A. Parasharami*, Vindya Vati, Bhakti Rabade and Urmil J. Mehta Plant Tissue Culture Division, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, 411008, India *Corresponding author A B S T R A C T Ficus religiosa L., commonly known as Peepal tree is a medicinally important tree species belonging to the Moraceae family. It is considered a sacred tree in India and is respected by followers of many religions. It is extremely popular in K e y w o r d s indigenous system of medicine like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy. Studies have been carried out in the past that validate the antimicrobial property of Ficus religiosa; Ficus religiosa and have been documented. Recent pharmacological reports show antimicrobial; the potential of this tree as a source of many bio medicinally active pharmacological; compounds/molecules that could be used for future drug synthesis. These reports Disc Diffusion; have focused on investigating the antidiabetic, anticancer, antiulcer, anticonvulsant, Well Diffusion; antioxidant, nootropic and wound healing properties of different parts of Ficus MIC; religiosa. While working on antimicrobial property studies with different solvent MBC; extracts of various parts of this tree, recent research articles have been surveyed. antibacterial; Most of the recent reports have used Disc Diffusion, Well Diffusion, MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) and MBC (Minimum Bacterial antifungal. Concentration) methods for determination of antimicrobial potential. The present review compiles findings of all recent studies dealing with both, antibacterial and antifungal properties of Ficus religiosa. Introduction Ficus religiosa L. is an important the religious significance attached to this medicinal tree species belonging to the tree. The prince Siddhartha is believed family Moraceae. It is commonly known to have sat and meditated under the Peepal as the Peepal tree and is one of the most tree and found enlightenment from which revered trees in Asia due to its time he became Buddha . This is mythological and traditional background. probably why many people use its It is also known as, the sacred fig tree or decoction as a brain tonic (Devi et al., Bo tree and is the most planted tree 2011).The tree is therefore sacred to species near religious or spiritual places in Buddhists not just in India, but also in Indian cities and villages. It grows up to other East Asian countries like China, elevations of 5,000 feet (Starr et al., 2003). Japan and even Sri Lanka. Scientifically, The specific term religiosa is related to the enlightenment can be due to the effect 461 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014) 3(1): 461-475 of this tree on the central nervous system Ficus religiosa L. is the most popular (CNS). It is said that the Peepal Tree s member of the genus Ficus, and is known infrared sauna produces radiant energy, by more than 150 names (Figure. 1). Even which is the same as the sun, but without in one language, the tree is referred to in the harmful ultraviolet rays. Unlike multiple ways across the world. Consider traditional saunas which heat the body the examples of Sanskrit where it is known indirectly via air or steam, the infrared by 33 names namely Achyutavas, sauna of the Peepal tree is absorbed Ashvatha, Bodhidru, Bodhidruma, directly into the human body and provides Chaityadru, Chaityavriksha, Chaladala, a large number of benefits including better Chalapatra, Devatma, Dhanurvriksha, circulation and increased energy as the Gajabhakshaka, Gajapatra, Gajashana, sauna s radiant energy penetrates deeply Guhyapushpa, Kapitana, Kesavalaya, into joints, muscles and tissues, speeding Krishnavass, Kshiradruma, Kunjarashana, oxygen flow, increasing circulation and Mahadruma, Mangalya, Nagabandhu, improving metabolism. Pavitraka, Pippala, Sevya, Shrimana, (http://www.bodhitreeyogacentre.ca/Bodhi Shubhada, Shuchidruma, Shymala, Vipra, %20Tree%20Yoga%20Kemptville.swf). Vishala, Vriksharaja, Yajnika. In Tamil, people call it Aswartham, Achuvattam, The effect on the CNS is also scientifically Arasu, Atti, Arayal, Asuvattam, Attiru, studied and is reported as the nootropic Attugamani, Ilanai, Kanavam, (Vinutha et al., 2007; Kaur et al., 2010; Kunjarasanam, Magadurumam, Mare, Devi et al., 2011), anti-convulsant Narayanam, Padaroganam, Panai, (Vyawahare et al., 2007; Patil et al., 2011; Pittalam,Saladalam, Saranam, Suvalai, Singh et al., 2012, 2013) and memory Tanavam, Tiru or Vanagandi. And even in enhancing properties (Devi et al., 2011; French, it has around 6 names that are Rao et al., 2011) of various parts of the Allemaron, Aoa, Arbre des conseils, Arbre tree.The botanical classification of Ficus du diable, Arbre des pagodes, Figuier des religiosa (modified from Chandrasekar et pagodes (Kirtikar and Basu, 1993; Panda, al., 2010) is as follows: 2005; Kunwar and Bussmann, 2006; Pullaiah, 2006; Khare, 2007; Singh et al., 2011). Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Plantae The present review has been undertaken Phylum Tracheophyta during the antimicrobial activity studies Subphylum Euphyllophytina conducted and the literature survey carried Infraphylum Radiotopses out with different solvent extracts of Ficus Class Magnoliopsida religiosa using both in vivo plant parts and Subclass Dilleniidae in vitro regenerated tissues. There are Superorder Urticanae numerous pharmacological, phytochemical Order Urticales and ethnomedicinal studies carried out on Family Moraceae this tree and many recent reviews have Tribe Ficeae mentioned these studies (Chandrasekar et Genus Ficus (FY-kus) al., 2010; Makhija et al., 2010; Singh et Linnaeus al., 2011; Panchavat, 2012). Recently Specific epithet religiosa L. many reports have been published on the antimicrobial activity of this medicinally 462 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014) 3(1): 461-475 important tree species (Ramakrishnaiah out on the isolation of other bioactive and Hariprasad, 2013; Supriya and molecules active against different diseases, Harshita, 2013; Tambekar et al., 2013; which can, in future, be used as Salem et al., 2013; Manimozhi et al., constituents of drugs. Different parts of the 2012; Rajiv and Sivaraj, 2012). We have tree also are known to promote wound done a thorough literature survey of these healing (Bairy et al., 2011; Murthi et al., studies that have been published till date. 2011; Charde et al., 2010; Jain et al., There is a noticeable change in the area of 2009; Roy et al., 2009; Nayeem et al., research in this field since last two to three 2009; Choudhary et al., 2006). Ficus years. More attention is being drawn to the religiosa was also found to have various antimicrobial properties of the anticancer (Gulecha et al., 2011; Lansky tree, compared with pharmacological et al., 2008; Mousa et al., 1994) , antiulcer studies using animal models that used to (Gregory et al., 2013; Thorat et al., 2013; be the main focus till then. Bairy et al., 2011; Khan et al., 2011; Saha et al., 2010), anti-asthmatic (Kapoor et al., Pharmacological studies for different 2011), dermatoprotective (Waheed et al., diseases 2013), hepatoprotective (Chourasia et al., 2013), antihelmenthic (Iqbal et al., 2001) Since time immemorial, different parts of and antioxidant properties (Yadav et al., this tree like bark, leaves, fruits etc. have 2011; Gupta et al., 2011; Pandit et al., been used as medicine by human and 2010; Preethi et al., 2010; Kirana et al., animals alike. It has proven to be a cure 2009; Sultana et al., 2009; Sreelekshmi et for over more than 50 diseases and more al., 2007; Sharma and Gupta., 2007). than 65 pharmacological studies have been reported. The therapeutic utilities of Presently, there is an increasing interest F.religiosa have been indicated in worldwide in herbal medicines traditional systems of medicine like accompanied by increased laboratory Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, etc. (Singh et investigation into the pharmacological al., 2011). A large number of reports have properties of the bioactive ingredients and been published till date dealing with the their ability to treat various diseases pharmacological studies done on animal (Makhija et al., 2010). Preliminary models using different extracts of various phytochemical analysis of various parts of parts of the medicinally important tree Ficus religiosa have shown the presence species. These include Ficus religiosa as a of a large number of phytochemicals source of bioactive molecules that have including tannins, saponins, flavonoids, antidiabetic properties (Elavarasi et al., steroids, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides 2013; Khan et al., 2012; Shukla et al., (Babu et al., 2010; Jiwala et al., 2008). Its 2012; Verma et al., 2012; Choudhary et bark showed the presence of bergapten, al., 2011; Pandit et al., 2010; Kirana et al., bergaptol, lanosterol, ß-sitosterol, 2009; Deshmukh et al., 2007; Ambika and stigmasterol, leucoanthocyanin, Rao, 1967; Brahmachari and Augusti, leucoanthocyanidin etc. (Swami and Bisht, 1962). Also for the first time an 1996; Swami et al., 1989; Ambike and antidiabetic biomolecule named Rao, 1967; Hussain et al., 1992). Leaves stigmasterol was isolated from Ficus were found to yield campesterol, religiosa leaves (Vedulla et al., 2013). In stigmasterol, isofucosterol etc (Panda et the similar way, research is being carried al., 1976; Verma and Bhatia, 1986; Behari 463 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014)