In vitro antimycobacterial activity and HPLC–DAD screening of phenolics from Ficus benjamina L. and Ficus luschnathiana (Miq.) Miq. leaves

Abstract

The total phenolic content (Folin-Ciocalteu) of the leaves of Ficus benjamina and Ficus luschnathiana was evaluated and screened by HPLC–DAD. Ficus luschnathiana crude extract (CE) presented phenolic content higher than that of F. benjamina (149.92 ± 3.65 versus 122.63 ± 2.79 mg of GAE). Kaempferol (1.63 ± 0.16 mg g−1 dry weight of CE) and chlorogenic acid (17.77 ± 0.57 mg g−1 of butanolic fraction) were identified and quantified in F. benjamina, whereas rutin (1.39 ± 0.20 mg g−1), caffeic (1.14 ± 0.13 mg g−1) and chlorogenic (3.73 ± 0.29 mg g−1) acids were quantified in the CE of F. luschnathiana. Additionaly, rutin (15.55 ± 1.92 mg g−1) and quercetin (3.53 ± 0.12 mg g−1) were quantified in ethyl acetate and butanolic fractions, respectively. Antimycobacterial activity of CEs and fractions was evaluated against Mycobacterium smegmatis by broth microdilution method. Ethyl acetate fraction from F. benjamina and n-butanol fraction from F. luschnathiana displayed the highest inhibitory activity (MIC = 312.50 µg mL−1 and 156.25 µg mL−1, respectively). Further studies are required to identify the compounds directly related to antimycobacterial activity.