Evaluation of the anti-oxidant and anti-obesity effects of ethanolic extract of Ficus auriculata Lour. fruit

Year 2025, Volume: 29 Issue: 1, 287 - 294

Shebina Pareed Rasheed Pattilthodika Suhail Aleena Basheer Arun Rasheed Raihan Arikkattel Abdu Jibin Joy

Abstract

Ficus auriculata (F. auriculata), a deciduous tree in the Moraceae family, is a globally significant crop. Because
of its abundance of phytochemicals and antioxidants, which are essential to human health, the fig tree is revered as a
holy tree. The goal of this study was to determine if the ethanolic extract of F. auriculata fruit has any anti-oxidant or anti
obesity effects, both in vitro and in vivo. The DPPH free radical technique for the quantitative determination of free
radical scavenging activity and the inhibitory action against pancreatic lipase was measured using p-nitrophenyl
butyrate (p-NPB) as a substrate. Blood serum was collected for serum lipid profile determination, histopathological
analysis using hematoxylin and eosin stain, and results were viewed using a microscope at x400 magnification. From the
results obtained, F. auriculata fruit had a large number of phenolic compounds and possible antioxidant components. The
IC50 value of the sample was found to be 49.99 µg/mL. The extract exhibited the highest lipase inhibitory action, with an
IC50 value of 45.61 µg/mL. At a dosage of 300 mg/kg, the extract reduced serum lipid profile and body weight in a
manner similar to that of the standard drug orlistat and exhibited a reduction in the crown-like structure (CLS/mm3) to 4
CLS/mm3, while the control group had 34 CLS/mm3. Thus, the anti-obesity properties of F. auriculata fruit were
confirmed using an HCD-induced obesity rat model. It reduced sugar levels, improved lipid profiles, reduced hepatic
steatosis, slowed weight gain, and altered the histological marker of local inflammation.

Keywords

Ficus auriculata, anti-oxidant activity, anti-obesity activity, pancreatic lipase inhibition, hepatic steatosis

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