PHYTOCHEMICAL CONTENT, RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITY, AND THE SAFETY PROFILE OF THE STEM BARK OF FICUS SUR (FORSSK), MORACEAE

Abstract

Background: Ficus sur, a small tree belongs to the Moraceae family. In Nigeria, it is locally called

‘Uwar yara’ and ‘Ópoto’ in Hausa and Yoruba languages respectively. Its leaves, bark, and root

are used traditionally to treat diarrhoea, anaemia, threatened abortion, infertility, pains, etc.

Aim: This study focused on the phytochemical contents, the free radical scavenging activity, and

the safety profile of the stem bark of Ficus sur with the view to validate its ethnomedicinal uses.

Methods: The stem bark was extracted by maceration using methanol. Qualitative and quantitative

phytochemical constituents were evaluated using standard methods. The 2,2 -Diphenyl-1-

picryhydrazyl (DPPH) was used to assess the radical scavenging activity of the methanol extract

using Vitamin C as the standard. An acute toxicity test was carried out using OECD 425 method.

Parts of this study were conducted in the Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development,

Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kaduna State University, Kaduna-Kaduna state while the

other parts were conducted at ABU- Zaria animal house and the histology department between

May–August, 2023.

Results: The percentage yield of the stem bark was 12.01%. Phenols, tannins, saponins,

flavonoids, triterpenoids, anthocyanins, and alkaloids were present. Total phenolic and flavonoid

contents of the stem bark extract were 113.603 mg GA/g, and 62.001mg QE/g. The IC50 value of

the stem bark was 0.44mg/ml. The observed behavioural pattern and histology results suggested

the LD50 of methanol stem bark extract was greater than 5000 mg/kg body weight.

Conclusion: The study revealed that Ficus sur stem bark methanolic extract is rich in polyphenols,

has an antioxidant capacity, and its toxicity profile was found to be safe for human consumption.

Further research is needed to establish the aforementioned biological activities and isolate the

compound(s) responsible for these activities.