The Anti-proliferative Effects of Ficus carica Latex on cancer and normal cell

Abstract

The stems of unripe fig fruits or leaves contain a white liquid called fig latex. Fig latex contains compounds that are effective against cancer cells. It is used for various purposes in folk medicine and has been proven to have superior pharmacological properties in modern studies. The industrial value of latex from a cosmetic perspective is increasing as well. In the current study, the cytotoxic effect of fig latex obtained from Ficus carica was evaluated by MTT analysis on lung cancer (A549), breast cancer (MCF-7), triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231), and non-tumorogenic lung (MRC-5) cell lines. All cell lines were treated with various dilutions of fig latex ranging from 1/1500 to 1/12 for 48 hours. In cancer cells, it induced cell death in a concentration-dependent manner, and high doses caused a more serious cytotoxic effect. On the other hand, it showed less cytotoxicity on healthy cells compared to cancer cells. Fig latex IC50 values were found to be 1/26, 1/40, 1/45, and 1/7 for A549, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and MRC-5 cells, respectively. Based on our findings, fig latex showed selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells, making it a possible target for future cancer drug development. However, further research is needed to fully understand the potential use of fig latex and its bioactive compounds in cancer treatment in terms of their functional properties.