Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate for the first time the lipoidal matter of Ficuscraterostoma Mildbr. & Burret family (Moraceae) growing in Egypt. Methods: The identification of saponifiable and unsaponifiable matter of Ficuscraterostomaleaves were carried out by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). Results: Saponification of n-hexane extract of F. craterostoma leaves yielded 55% and 11% for unsaponifiable matter and fatty acids, respectively. The content of saturated fatty acids (66.09%) identified is higher than unsaturated fatty acids (22.23%); where palmitic acid (59.71%) and linolenic acid (11.59%) are the main saturated and unsaturated fatty acids identified, respectively. Hexacosane (29.36%) is the main hydrocarbon, while a cholesterol derivative (0.3%) is the only sterol identified.
Highlights
The Moraceae, often called the mulberry family or fig family, is a family of flowering plants comprising about 38 genera and over 2000 species. Most of these plants are widespread in tropical, subtropical regions and few in temperate climates[1]
The plant was kindly identified by Dr Ibrahim Ahmed El-Garf, Associate Professor of Plant Taxonomy, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
The investigation of lipoidal matter of Ficus craterostoma leaves was carried out by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) analysis that revealed the presence of bioactive lipoidal compounds that make the plant have great potential as a source for natural health product
Summary
The Moraceae, often called the mulberry family or fig family, is a family of flowering plants comprising about 38 genera and over 2000 species. Ficus constitutes one of the most illustrious genus in mulberry family (Moraceae), with more than 1000 species of trees and shrubs in the tropical and subtropical regions worldwide[2]. It is one of the most diverse plant genera in regard to its growth habit with both deciduous and evergreen free-standing trees, stranglers, climbers, creepers and small shrubs[3]. Ficus species were traditionally used in African folk medicine in the treatment of many illnesses such as convulsions and respiratory disorders 5 They were reported to have hypotensive, antidiabetic, mild laxative, antirheumatic and digestive activities[6]. A variety of chemical constituents, such as triterpenes of different types, sterols, flavonoids, coumarins, alkaloids and other miscellaneous compounds have been reported in the genus Ficus[9,10]
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