Ficus spp. (fig): ethnobotany and potential as anticancer and anti-inflammatory agents.
This review explores medieval, ancient and modern sources for ethnopharmacological uses of Ficus (fig) species, specifically for employment against malignant disease and inflammation. The close connection between inflammatory/infectious and cancerous diseases is apparent both from the medieval/ancient merging of these concepts and the modern pharmacological recognition of the initiating and promoting importance of inflammation for cancer growth. Also considered are chemical groups and compounds underlying the anticancer and anti-inflammatory actions, the relationship of fig wasps and fig botany, extraction and storage of fig latex, and traditional methods of preparing fig medicaments including fig lye, fig wine and medicinal poultices.
Lansky
Ephraim Philip
EP
Punisyn Pharmaceuticals, POB 9945, Haifa, Israel. punisyn@gmail.com
Paavilainen
Helena M
HM
Pawlus
Alison D
AD
Newman
Robert A
RA
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D030681:Ficus / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic