Phytopharmacology of Ficus bengalensis - A Review

Ethnopharmacology is the study of the medicinal use of plants by indigenous people. Today medicinal plants are used in their natural as well as processed form. The plant derived medicinal substances are secondary metabolites. Most of these chemicals are harmless, many possess medicinal properties and still many are toxic. Ficus (Family: Moraceae), commonly known as Banyan tree or Vata or Vada tree in Ayurveda, is a tree considered to be sacred in India. Traditionally, Ficus benghalensis is used as astringent, haemostat, as anti-inflammatory and anti-septic agent and in other ailments. The present review aims to update the information on the phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of Ficus.