Chromatographic profile and anti-sickling, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of Ficus exasperata Leaves

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze and assess the phytochemical effects of the leaves of Ficus exasperata on anti-stress, inflammation, radiation and cytotoxicity. The results of this study showed that the leaf powder of this drug plant contains characteristic histological elements such as parenchymal fragments, calcium oxide crystals, fibers, starch particles and fragments of vessels. It also contains tannins, saponins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, iridoids, anthocyanines, anthrones, anthraquinones, and terpenes. The total contents of polyphenols are 442 mg GAE/g extract, and the total contents of flavonoids are 7.0 mg EQ/g extract. It was also shown that the permeated antiradical activity was higher than the dissolved activity and that F. exasperata leaves were not cytotoxic (% hemolysis 50 g/mL). These leaves have anti-inflammatory properties, but this activity is weak for distillation (%I=35.8) and moderate for percolation (%I=50.3). The decoction and permeation of F. exasperata bark exhibit anti-inflammatory properties in vitro. The three compounds previously isolated from the leaves of this plant form a thermodynamically stable complex with deoxyhaemoglobin S (?G<0).  Isoquercitrin-6-O-4-hydroxybenzoate forms five hydrogen bonds with the receptor (Thr 137, Thr 134, Arg 141, Ser 131, Ser 138) while Quercetin-3-O-?-rhamnoside and Apigenin-7-glucoside form three (Arg 141, Asp 94, Glu 101) and two hydrogen bonds (Ser 131, Ser 138) respectively with this pathological haemoglobin. Therefore, it is desirable to conduct more in-depth phytochemical research on F. exasperata leaves to identify cytotoxic compounds.

Keywords: Ficus exasperata, Sickle cell disease, Alternative medicine, Pharmacopoeia, Toxicity