Ficus capensis Thumb. (Moraceae): Review of Its Ethnomedicinal Uses, Pharmacological Activities and Phytochemical Constituents
Kevwe Benefit Esievo *
Department of Medicinal Plant Research and Traditional Medicine, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Idu Industrial Area, PMB, 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
Samuel Onuche Anthony
Department of Plant Science, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria.
Omolola Temitope Fatokun
Department of Medicinal Plant Research and Traditional Medicine, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Idu Industrial Area, PMB, 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
Oluyemisi Folashade Kunle
Department of Medicinal Plant Research and Traditional Medicine, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Idu Industrial Area, PMB, 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Ficus capensis Thumb (Moraceae) also known as the Cape fig plant belongs to the mulberry family and is a native of tropical Africa and the Cape Islands. Pharmacological studies have validated significant actions of different extracts as antimicrobial, relaxation of gastrointestinal tract, antioxidant and immune-booster agents, thus supporting some of its folkloric uses.
This study was done to document the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical constituents, as well as the pharmacological activities of the plant Ficus capensis.
Keywords: Ficus capensis, moraceae, ethnomedicinal uses, pharmacological activities, phytochemical constituents.