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Ficus asperifolia Linn. known as "Eepin" in Yoruba language, or sand paper tree, is a monoecious fig tree whose leaves, bark, seeds, and roots have been used locally in treating many infectious and noninfectious diseases. The study is aimed at investigating the bacteriological and phytochemical potential of Ficus asperifolia Linn. The roots of the plant were harvested and washed, and phytochemical analysis was carried out using standard analytical techniques. Infusion was aseptically prepared, and incubation for 24 hours and microbiological analysis were carried out using the pour plate method on Plate Count Agar (PCA) and Nutrient Agar (NA). Microorganisms were subcultured and identified using morphological and biochemical tests according to "Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology." Phytochemical analysis of the fresh and dry roots revealed the presence of alkaloids, cardenolides, and saponins, while anthraquinones and tannins were absent. Total heterotrophic bacteria count on PCA was 5.6 × 10 5  CFU/ml, while on NA, it was 2.3 × 10 5  CFU/ml, and four classes of bacteria were isolated including Klebsiella sp., Escherichia coli , Proteus sp., and Bacillus sp. Although the presence of medicinal phytochemicals in F. asperifolia Linn. indicates strong potentials for its use in infusions, the presence of potential pathogens found in the infusions makes it unsafe for consumption., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no clash of interest in this article., (Copyright © 2020 Kolapo Ayoola Fasina et al.)

Objective: Several pathologies arise from the inappropriate opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT) pore. In this regard, inhibition of mPT pore represents a cytoprotective approach to preserve mitochondrial function for treatment of diseases characterized by excessive tissue wastage such as diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study, therefore, was to study the effects of fractions of Ficus mucoso, a medicinal plant used in the traditional treatment of diabetes, on mPT pore in normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat liver., Methods: Different solvent fractions of the crude methanol extract of F. mucoso were obtained by vacuum liquid chromatography and were tested on the mPT pore. Of all the fractions tested, methanol fraction of F. mucoso (MFFM) was the most potent and was used for in vivo studies. Diabetes mellitus was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg STZ, while treatment lasted for 14 d. In vivo, 30 male Wistar rats were divided into five groups: A, normo-glycemic control (distilled water); B, STZ (65 mg/kg; diabetic control); C, STZ + MFFM (25 mg/kg); D, STZ + MFFM (50 mg/kg); E, STZ + glibenclamide (5 mg/kg). The mPT, mitochondrial ATPase activity, lipid peroxidation and cytochrome c release were assessed spectrophotometrically while blood glucose levels were monitored using glucometer., Results: In vitro, the solvent fractions of F. mucoso, at all concentrations tested, had no effect on the mPT pore, in the absence of calcium, with no significant release of cytochrome c. Interestingly, calcium-dependent pore opening was inhibited by all solvent fractions of F. mucoso, with the MFFM having the highest inhibitory effect of 83% at 3 mg/mL. Induction of opening of the mPT pore, significant (P < 0.001) enhancement of mitochondrial ATPase activity and elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in STZ-induced diabetes were significantly (P < 0.001) reversed by MFFM and were comparable with the effects of glibenclamide, a standard antidiabetic drug. Also, treatment with MFFM at different doses significantly (P < 0.001) reduced high serum blood glucose compared to the diabetic control., Conclusion: F. mucoso could be useful in therapeutic management of diabetes mellitus given its ability to prevent excessive tissue wastage via inhibition of pore opening, and reduction in levels of MDA and serum blood glucose., (Copyright © 2019 Shanghai Changhai Hospital. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Decoctions of Ficus platyphylla Del.-Holl (Family: Moraceae) are used in Nigeria׳s folk medicine for the management of epilepsy and their efficacies are widely acclaimed among the rural communities of northern Nigeria. The aim of the study is to examine the behavioral and anticonvulsant properties of the standardized methanol extract of Ficus platyphylla (FP) stem bark, in order to scientifically describe its potential values in the management of convulsive disorders., Materials and Methods: High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and preliminary phytochemical analysis of the methanol extract were utilized and the intraperitoneal median lethal dose (LD50) determined in mice. The effects of FP were investigated on some murine models of behavior and its anticonvulsant effects studied on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-, strychnine (STN)-, picrotoxin (PCT)-, isoniazid (INH)-, aminophylline (AMI)- and maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizures in mice., Results: The intraperitoneal oral LD50 of FP was estimated to be 5000mg/kg. FP significantly reduced the locomotor activities including the total distance covered, speed, active time and rearing counts. It shortened the onset and prolonged the duration of diazepam-induced sleep, but had no effect on motor coordination on the rota-rod treadmill or beam-walking assay in mice at the doses tested. The extract protected the mice against PTZ- and STN-induced seizures and significantly delayed the latencies of myoclonic jerks and tonic seizures induced by all the standard convulsant agents (PTZ, PCT, INH, STN and AMI) used in this study, but failed to protect the mice against MES seizures at the doses tested. The HPLC fingerprint of the extract shows a spectrum profile characteristic of Ficus platyphylla, while the preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids and tannins., Conclusion: Our study provides scientific evidence that FP may contain psychoactive principles with potential anticonvulsant properties, thus supporting further development of the psychoactive components of this plant as anticonvulsant agents., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Context: The leaves of Irvingia gabonensis Baill. Ex Lanen (Irvingiaceae), Ficus exasperata Vahl (Moraceae), and Vernonia amygdalina Delile (Asteraceae) are folklorically used in treating worm infestation in Eastern Nigeria. The anthelmintic potential of the ethanol extracts of the leaves of I. gabonensis, F. exasperata, and V. amygdalina was investigated., Materials: Acute toxicity tests were done in mice using 10, 100, and 1000 mg/kg/bw of extracts. In vitro larval assays of Heligmosomoides bakeri larvae at various extract concentrations (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) were done. Mice experimentally infected with H. bakeri were treated with F. exasperata extract (200, 400, 800 mg/kg)., Results: At concentrations of 500, 250, and 125 mg/ml F. exasperata caused 100% larval mortality. V. amygdalina extract caused 71.43, 57.14, and 57.14% larval deaths while I. gabonensis extract caused 71.43, 57.14, and 42.9% larval deaths at the same concentrations. There was no significant difference in the fecal egg output, packed cell volumes and body weights of the F. exasperata treated mice when compared with the infected untreated group., Discussion and Conclusion: Leaf extracts of F. exasperata, V. amygdalina, and I. gabonensis exhibited varying degrees of larvicidal activities on the infective stage larvae of H. bakeri in vitro whereas F. exasperata showed no activity on the parasites in vivo.

Introduction: The plant, Ficus exasperata is popularly used in Nigeria and in several parts of Africa for a variety of ailments., Aim of Study: This study was thus mapped out to investigate the toxicity profile of the aqueous leaf extract (AET) on haematological parameters, body weight and body temperature in mice., Methodology: In the present study, AET was evaluated for acute toxicity over 24 h and 14-day periods. The LD(50) was assessed via oral and intraperitoneal administration., Results: The LD(50) was indeterminable via the oral route but was determined to be 0.54 g/kg i.p. In the 24h and 14 days single dose study, oral administration of 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 g/kg of AET produced neither mortality nor changes in behavior or any other physiological activity in mice. Body weights and body temperatures were not significantly altered. Haematological analysis showed no marked differences in any of the parameters examined (WBC count, platelet and haemoglobin estimation) in either the control or treated groups. However, the 14 days daily dose study showed significant increase in body temperature (p<0.05) and a significant decrease in the red blood cell count, haemoglobin count and haematocrit values (p<0.05), while other parameters remained unchanged., Conclusion: In summary, AET was found to be relatively safe on short-term oral administration. However, chronic toxicity studies are required for the support of the safe use of this plant.

There is already a literature report on the anti-ulcer effect of water extract of Ficus exasperata. Some communities in Edo and Delta States of Nigeria use the decoction of the leaf as hypotensive crude drug. Verification of this claim and also the microscopy and other pharmacognostic parameters which can be used to establish the identity of the leaf were carried out. The microscopy of the leaf powder revealed the presence of straight walled epidermal cells, cone or nail shaped trichomes or epidermal hairs, clustered or prismatic calcium oxalate crystals of varying dimensions. The percentage weight loss on drying was 9.84 +/- 0.08 whereas water and alcohol extractive values were 5.29 +/- 0.07 and 2.21 +/- 0.11, respectively. The ash value was 30.68 +/- 0.44 whereas the acid insoluble ash and water soluble ash values were 17.87 +/- 0.37 and 16.73 +/- 0.13, respectively. Preliminary phytochemistry of leaf showed that it contains tannins, flavonoids and saponins with no traces of alkaloids or anthraquinones. The water extract showed a dose related reduction in mean arterial blood pressure. At 10 mg/kg, a reduction of 16.6 +/- 1.1 mmHg was observed, whereas at 30 mg/kg, a fall in mean arterial pressure of 38.3 +/- 0.6 mmHg was obtained. The hypotensive effect of the extract was significantly reduced with a prior administration of 2.5 mg of either atropine or chlorpheniramine. This suggests the probable stimulation of muscarinic receptors in the heart or release of histamine into the circulatory system thereby causing the initial fall in blood pressure.