title: Ficus spp. (fig): ethnobotany and potential as anticancer and anti-inflammatory agents.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Punisyn Pharmaceuticals, POB 9945, Haifa, Israel. punisyn@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ephraim Philip
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Lansky
authors.forename: Helena M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Paavilainen
authors.forename: Alison D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Pawlus
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Newman
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic