Antioxidant activities and flavonoid content in leaf extract of the fig (Ficus carica L.)

Abstract Title: Antioxidant activities and flavonoid content in leaf extract of the fig (Ficus carica L.)
Authors: Svetlana Trifunschi, Dorina Ardelean, Corina Toderescu
Affiliation: “Vasile Goldis” Western University Arad, Romania
Abstract text: The therapeutic benefit of plants was often attributed to their antioxidant properties. Some plant extracts are believed to have strong antioxidant effects. Ficus carica L. (Moraceae) are commonly used herbal remedies in traditional medicine. Traditionally, fig has been used to treat constipation, bronchitis, hyperlipidemia, eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo and diabetes. The leaf decoction a fig is taken as a remedy for diabetes and calcification in the kidney and liver. However, the antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines reported in fig are potentially promising in its future therapeutic uses. The aim of this study was to examine the antioxidant activity of ethanol and water extracts from fig leaf. Water extracts and ethanol extracts were prepared according to traditional medicine. The flavonoid content and antioxidant activity effects of the extracts were determined by spectrophotometry. The major flavonoids presents in the ethanol extracts are quercetin and luteolin, respectively rutin in the water extracts. Using the potassium permanganate colorimetric method is was found that the ethanol extract had higher antioxidant activity than the water extracts. These results demonstrated that the antioxidative activities observed can be ascribed both to the different mechanisms exerted by different phenolic compound and also to the synergistic effects of different phytocompounds.
Keywords: antioxidant activity, flavonoids, ethanol extract, water extract, Ficus carica L.
Presentation type: Poster
Correspondence: no. 1 Feleacului St., Arad, Romania
Email: svetlana_cacig@yahoo.com