Librado A. Santiago, Sweyn B. Balidoy
It is a pioneering study providing referential pharmaco-botanical, phytochemical information and potential medicinal use of Ficus fiskei Elmer, one of the 150 endemic Ficus species to the Philippines which to this day remains largely unutilized. This study aimed to assess its phytoconstituents profile, total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and prooxidant/antioxidant capacity using: phytochemical screening, fast blue BB method, AlCl3 method, DPPH assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, and specific antioxidant assays against superoxide (O2-), hydroxyl radical (·OH), and nitric oxide (NO·). The ethanolic leaf extract was positive for alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins and phenolics. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid (TFC) were estimated at 0.019 mg gallic acid equivalent / mL sample and 0.635 mg quercetin equivalent / mL sample, respectively. TLC on silica gel G exposed seven spots, whereas one corresponded to that of standard quercetin with an Rf value of 0.63 in solvent system comprising toluene: ethyl acetate::methanol (6:3:2). Based on FRAP assay, the extract has high reducing capacity on iron ranging from 44-86%. Meanwhile, the crude extract is inhibitory on DPPH radical (IC50 = 2.2 mg/mL) and nitric oxide radical (IC50 > 10 mg/mL). Conversely, the extract is stimulatory on producing superoxide (SC50=0.786 mg/mL), and hydroxyl (SC50=0.056 mg/mL) radicals. The findings suggest that F. fiskei acts as an antioxidant and prooxidant by modulating the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species which are important in neutralizing oxidative stress and maintaining human health..
