Pharmacognostic, Phytochemical Evaluation & DPPH Scavenging Activity of Ficus Racemosa Leaves

Within the Moraceae family, the genus Ficus comprises around 900 species of trees, shrubs, and vines, many of which are generally referred to as figs. They are found in all of the world's tropical regions; however they are mainly native to East Asian tropical regions. Some are planted as ornamentals, but many are towering forest trees supported by massive spreading roots. In nontropical regions, a small number of Ficus species are deciduous, although the majority is evergreen. When damaged, the majority of the simple, waxy leaves release white or yellow latex. Numerous species are epiphytic, and many have aerial roots. A hollow fruit structure called a syconium surrounds an inflorescence that has tiny male and female flowers along the inside.¹ Ficus racemosa is an evergreen or deciduous tree that can reach heights of 20 to 30 meters. It frequently has an uneven crown. Southeast Asia, Australia, and India are home to the significant medicinal plant Ficus racemosa. It is commonly referred to as "gular." Antidiabetic, antioxidant, antidiarrheal, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antifungal, antibacterial, hypolipidemic, and hepatoprotective properties are among the many pharmacological activity of this plant.^{2, 3}

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Plant collection:

Fresh Plants of F. racemosa were collected from local area of Prayagraj, U.P., India. The plant material identified and authenticated by Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Prayagraj, Authentication No.11/81/2025-26/Tech/849 on dated 11/03/2026.

Macroscopic studies:  In these studies, properties like color, taste, texture, shape, and size have been used for organoleptic evaluation^{4, 5, 6}.

Microscopic studies: ^{4, 5, 6}

Transverse section of the midrib of leaf was cut using potato pith. T.S. was submerged in glycerine -water solution for further observations and the detection of specific microscopic diagnostic characteristics. Fluorescence analysis and powder properties were also carried out in these studies.

Physicochemical parameters ^{7, 8}

Various physicochemical parameters of powdered F. racemosa leaves were analyzed such as total ash, foreign matter, loss on drying, and extractive value.

Phytochemical screening ^{9, 10, 11}

Ethanolic extract were obtained by soxhlation of 100g of F. racemosa leaf powder and many qualitative chemical analysis were performed.

Thin layer chromatography ^{12, 13}

Thin layer chromatography studies were performed by using an activated silica gel G plate as the stationary phase, n-Hexane: Ethyl acetate: Glacial Acetic acid (5:4:1) used as the mobile phase, and an iodine solution or chamber as the detecting reagent.

Total Flavonoids Content

First, take 50 ml of the extract in a graduated test tube, add 1ml of methanol, and mix well: then, add 4 ml of distilled water and 5% sodium nitrite, and let it incubate for 5 minutes. Now, add the 10% w/v aluminum chloride solution and let it stand for 10 minutes. Then, add 2 ml of 1M sodium hydroxide and adjust the volume to 10 ml using distilled water. Absorbance is measured at 765 nm using a UV visible spectrophotometer. Same method is applied for the determination of standard quercetin absorbance. Total flavonoid content was determined by calibration curve.¹⁴

Total Phenolic Content

The quantity of Total phenolic content has been determined using the FC method. 1mg/ml of the extract was placed in a test tube, and 3ml of water was added to it; then, 0.5 ml of FC reagent (Folin- Ciocalteu) was thoroughly mixed in. Subsequently, 20% sodium carbonate was added, and the mixture was kept in the dark for approximately 10 minutes, Finally, the absorbance was measured at 650 nm using a UV – Visible spectrophotometer. The absorbance of gallic acid was also determined using the same method. The total phenolic content was determined relative to mg of GAE using a calibration curve.¹⁴

DPPH scavenging activity

In a 96 well plate, mix 5µL of test solution for 10, 50, 100, 250, 500, and 1000 µg/ml and 5µL of standard stock solution for 0.78, 1.56, 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 µg/ml with 0.1ml of DPPH solution. Duplicate blanks were prepared with 0.2 ml methanol and 10µL of different concentrations of test/ standards. The untreated well was used as the control and the DPPPH untreated well was used as the blank. After incubation of the well plates for 30 minutes, at 517 NM decolorization was determined using a microreader. Scavenging activity was determined as % inhibition relative to the control.¹⁵

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Macroscopic study: The organoleptic and macroscopic characters of the fruits as colour, odour, taste, shape, size, and surface were evaluated botanically.

Figure 1: F. racemosa plant

Figure 2: Transverse Section of F. racemosa

Solvent system	No. of spots	Rf value
n-hexane: Ethyl acetate: Glacial Acetic acid (5:4:1)   Spraying agent/Detection : Iodine chamber	3	0.20, 0.70, 0.90

Table 7: Total Phenolic Content and Total Flavonoid content

Sample	IC50 µg/ml
Ascorbic acid	19.34
F. racemosa	90.36

Fig. 3: DPPH assay of ascorbic acid and F. racemosa leaf extract

DISCUSSION:

T.S. of F. racemosa shows single layered epidermis with thin cuticle, mesocarp have 1-2 layers of palisade cells. Vascular bundles have xylem followed by phloem. Powder microscopy reveals the presence of parenchymal cells, trichomes, & calcium oxalate crystals. Qualitative phytochemical screening indicates presence of alkaloids, tannins, tritepenes, steroids and flavonoids, carbohydrates, thin layer chromatography of Ethanolic extracts indicates presence of many compounds. Total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were found to be 16.60 mg GAE/g and 8.24 mg quercetin equivalent/g respectively. In the DPPH scavenging assay IC₅₀ were determined to be 90.36µg/ml.

CONCLUSION:

The plant F. racemosa is a common species that has been used traditionally. The above pharmacognostic, physicochemical, phytochemical, and chromatographic, and antioxidants assay studies will give approaches for identification, safety & quality parameters as well as new incentive to natural system of medicine in the research & in the treatment of other diseases.

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