Traditional Herbal Medicines for Modern Times Figs The Genus Ficus © 2011 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC Traditional Herbal Medicines for Modern Times Each volume in this series provides academia, health sciences, and the herbal medicines industry with in-depth coverage of the herbal remedies for infectious diseases, certain medical conditions, or the plant medicines of a particular country. Series Editor: Dr. Roland Hardman Volume 1 Shengmai Sanedited by Kam-Ming Ko Volume 2 Rasayana: Ayurvedic Herbs for Rejuvenation and Longevity,by H.S. Puri Volume 3 Sho-Saiko-To: (Xiao-Chai-Hu-Tang) Scientific Evaluation and Clinical Applications, by Yukio Ogihara and Masaki Aburada Volume 4 Traditional Medicinal Plants and Malaria,edited by Merlin Willcox, Gerard Bodeker, and Philippe Rasoanaivo Volume 5 Juzen-taiho-to (Shi-Quan-Da-Bu-Tang): Scientific Evaluation and Clinical Applications, edited by Haruki Yamada and Ikuo Saiki Volume 6 Traditional Medicines for Modern Times: Antidiabetic Plants, edited by Amala Soumyanath Volume 7 Bupleurum Species: Scientific Evaluation and Clinical Applications, edited by Sheng-Li Pan Volume 8 Herbal Principles in Cosmetics: Properties and Mechanisms of Action, by Bruno Burlando, Luisella Verotta, Laura Cornara, and Elisa Bottini-Massa © 2011 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC Traditional Herbal Medicines for Modern Times Figs The Genus Ficus Ephraim Philip Lansky Helena Maaria Paavilainen © 2011 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group 6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300 Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742 © 2011 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business No claim to original U.S. Government works Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 International Standard Book Number: 978-1-4200-8966-0 (Hardback) This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. 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Title. III. Series: Traditional herbal medicines for modern times ; v. 9. RM666.F47L36 2010 615’.321--dc22 2010017142 Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at http://www.taylorandfrancis.com and the CRC Press Web site at http://www.crcpress.com © 2011 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC For my father and my mother, for Rainbow, and for Rob E.P.L. In memory of Raquel Garcia, a true scholar and a true friend H.M.P. © 2011 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC Contents List of Figures ...........................................................................................................ix List of Tables ..........................................................................................................xvii Fig Phylogeny ..........................................................................................................xix Foreword .................................................................................................................xxi Acknowledgments ................................................................................................ xxiii Chapter 1 Introduction ..........................................................................................1 References .......................................................................................... 10 Chapter 2 Overview of Ficus genus .................................................................... 13 References ........................................................................................100 Chapter 3 Fruits ................................................................................................ 117 Summary .......................................................................................... 161 References ........................................................................................ 161 Chapter 4 Leaves ............................................................................................... 167 Alkaloids .......................................................................................... 168 Coumarins ........................................................................................ 174 Flavonoids ........................................................................................ 178 Terpenoids, Sterols ........................................................................... 185 Peptides and Proteins ....................................................................... 187 Nociception ...................................................................................... 188 Inflammation .................................................................................... 196 Osteoporosis, Viruses, Parasites ...................................................... 198 Toxicology ........................................................................................ 198 Historical Uses .................................................................................203 Summary ..........................................................................................204 References ........................................................................................207 Chapter 5 Latex ................................................................................................. 211 Historical Uses of Ficus Latex ......................................................... 212 Chemistry and Pharmacology of Fig Latex ..................................... 212 Hypertension ....................................................................................223 Signal Transduction Modulation ......................................................230 Blood Coagulation ............................................................................ 231 Chitinase-Related Activities ............................................................. 231 vii © 2011 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC viii Contents Warts ................................................................................................ 232 Cancer .............................................................................................. 233 Psoriasis ............................................................................................237 Hepatotoxicity ..................................................................................237 Allergy ..............................................................................................238 For the Plant ..................................................................................... 253 References ........................................................................................254 Chapter 6 Bark, Wood, and Stems ....................................................................263 Chemistry .........................................................................................267 References ........................................................................................289 Chapter 7 Roots (Including Aerial Roots and Root Bark) ................................293 Historical Uses .................................................................................303 References ........................................................................................ 313 Chapter 8 Fig Wasps ......................................................................................... 315 References ........................................................................................ 329 Chapter 9 Figs and Humans .............................................................................. 333 Terradiagnostics ............................................................................... 334 Terratherapeutics .............................................................................