Ethnopharmacological studies on antispasmodic and antiplatelet activities of Ficus carica.
BACKGROUND
The ripe dried fruit of Ficus carica Linn. (Moraceae) commonly known as "Fig" has medicinal value in traditional system of medicine for its use in gastrointestinal and inflammatory disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To rationalize the medicinal use of Fig (Ficus carica) in gastrointestinal and inflammatory disorders.


METHODS
The aqueous-ethanolic extract of Ficus carica (Fc.Cr) was studied for antispasmodic effect on the isolated rabbit jejunum preparations and for antiplatelet effect using ex vivo model of human platelets.


RESULTS
Fc.Cr tested positive for alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, saponins, sterols and terpenes. When tested in isolated rabbit jejunum, Fc.Cr (0.1-3.0mg/mL) produced relaxation of spontaneous and low K(+) (25 mM)-induced contractions with negligible effect on high K(+) (80 mM) similar to that caused by cromakalim. Pretreatment of the tissue with glibenclamide caused rightward shift in the curves of low K(+)-induced contractions. Similarly, cromakalim inhibited the contractions induced by low K(+), but not of high K(+), while verapamil equally inhibited the contractions of K(+) at both concentrations. Fc.Cr (0.6 and 0.12 mg/mL) inhibited the adenosine 5'-diphosphate and adrenaline-induced human platelet aggregation.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed the presence of spasmolytic activity in the ripe dried fruit of Ficus carica possibly mediated through the activation of K(+)(ATP) channels along with antiplatelet activity which provides sound pharmacological basis for its medicinal use in the gut motility and inflammatory disorders.
Gilani
Anwarul Hassan
AH
Natural Product Research Division, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, The Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi 74800, Pakistan. anwar.gilani@aku.edu
Mehmood
Malik Hassan
MH
Janbaz
Khalid Hussain
KH
Khan
Arif-Ullah
AU
Saeed
Sheikh Arshad
SA
D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004837:Epinephrine; D005260:Female; D030681:Ficus / Q000737:chemistry*; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D054086:KATP Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits
D054086:KATP Channels; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D011188:Potassium; D004837:Epinephrine