A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON FICUS CARICA L. - AN UNEXPLORED MEDICINAL PLANT

Fig is one of the earliest cultivated fruit in human history and an important crop worldwide which can be consumed in both fresh and dry form. The genus Ficus belongs to the Moraceae family and there are thousands of species in the genus Ficus. They are mostly found in tropical and subtropical regions. Figs are extremely nutritious and contain a large amount of minerals, vitamins, dietary fibre, carbohydrates, amino acids and other phytochemicals. F.carica was used as a cure-all in systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy. Studies revealed that F.carica has antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-mutagenic, anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, antiplatelet, antipyretic, immunological, dermatological, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, nootropic, antispasmodic, antidiarrheal, nephroprotective and laxative effects. Fruit juice of F. carica mixed with honey is used to treat haemorrhage.Thus the review attempts to shed light on all the available literature on the Ficus carica L. with reference to its traditional uses, chemical and phytoconstituents,physicochemical properties, and summing up of its various nutritional and therapeutic benefits.