Abstract
The economic value of fig trees has been globally acknowledged due to their utilization in the food industry, being also frequently used in traditional medicine. While ubiquitously distributed in Southeast Asia, Ficus curtipes Corner remains uninvestigated concerning its biological properties and chemical profile. HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn characterization of methanol extracts obtained from the stem bark and leaves allowed the identification and quantitation of 21 phenolic compounds for the first time; the stem bark was predominantly rich in flavan-3-ols and apigenin derivatives, while solely apigenin-di-glycosides have been identified and quantitated on the leaf extract. Both extracts inhibited 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) activity in a concentration-dependent manner, the one obtained from the stem bark being significantly more active (IC50 = 10.75 μg/mL). The effect of both extracts on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages was evaluated, and while the stem bark extract did not lead to a noticeable interference on nitric oxide (NO) levels, the extract obtained from the leaves notably decreased NO and L-citrulline levels at concentrations ranging from 250 to 500 μg/mL. Herein, F. curtipes is valorized due to its modulatory effects on inflammatory mediators and also as a source of bioactive phenols, which may fuel further studies on the development of nutraceuticals.
Highlights
Over the past few years, research on multi-target molecules, those obtained from natural sources, has been gaining ground on the treatment and/or prevention of several multi-factorial diseases [1]
HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn analysis of the methanol extracts obtained from the leaves and stem bark of
We have recently identified a series of mono-C-glycosides, vitexin (16) and isovitexin (18), and di-C-glycosides in aqueous extracts obtained from the leaves and such as vitexin (16) and isovitexin (18), and di-C-glycosides in aqueous extracts obtained from the stem bark of F. exasperata [25], additional studies being available on their occurrence in other Ficus leaves and stem bark of F. exasperata [25], additional studies being available on their occurrence in spp. [23,27]
Summary
Over the past few years, research on multi-target molecules, those obtained from natural sources, has been gaining ground on the treatment and/or prevention of several multi-factorial diseases [1]. Approximately 50% of the approved drugs in the past 30 years were derived either directly or indirectly from natural products, predominantly from medicinal plants, playing a unique role as sources of both simple and complex bioactives [2]. Despite the multiple reports on the use of plants in traditional medicine, most species still lack scientific data on their biological properties and chemical profiles. With a global distribution of approximately 800 species [4], the therapeutic and economic value of Ficus genus has been gaining increased attention, scientific evidence frequently supporting its therapeutic potential and allowing the isolation of biologically active compounds [5].
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