Phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of Ficus elastica Roxb. (Moraceae) leaves

The aim of this study is to analyze the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of Ficus elastica (F. elastica). Antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of Ficus elastica leaves was evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, total antioxidant activity test, iron chelating activity test and reducing power assay. Antimicrobial activity and Cytotoxicity of F. elastica was determined by agar well diffusion method and brine shrimp lethality test respectively, while total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extract were measured by Folin-Ciocalteau reagent method and aluminum chloride method respectively. The extract showed significant (p<0.05) dose dependent antioxidant activity in various in vitro antioxidant methods. F. elastica also showed broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aerugenosa. Brine shrimp lethality activity of F. elastica unveiled significant dose dependent and time dependent cytotoxic activity against brine shrimp nauplii. Phytochemical screening of F. elastica showed the presence of carbohydrates, phenolic, flavonoids, proteins and tannins, which might be responsible for the above reported medicinal properties of the extract. These findings establish F. elastica as a potential source of natural antioxidants, antimicrobial and cytotoxic compounds and in future studies can be established to obtain the lead molecules for drug development.