Abstract and References
Transactions on Science and Technology Vol. 4, No. 3-3, 360 - 365, 2017

Phytochemical Analysis and Antioxidant Activity of Ficus lepicarpa Leaves from Sabah, Malaysia

Senty Vun-Sang, Teoh Peik-Lin, Kenneth Francis Rodriques, Mohammad Iqbal
ABSTRACT
 Ficus lepicarpa belongs to family Moraceae and commonly known as ‘Saraca fig’. It has been used by local people as vegetable dish, as a tonic and to treat aliments such as fever and ringworm. The present study was aimed at evaluating the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activity of methanol extract of F. lepicarpa leaves. The antioxidant activity of F. lepicarpa leaves extracts were estimated using FRAP assay (ferric reducing antioxidant potential) method. The test of phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, steroids, phytosterols, and absence of alkaloids, tannins, phenols, anthraquinones and triterpenoids. The result obtained from this study provides information that F. lepicarpa has antioxidant activity and possesses the potential to be used to treat or prevent degenerative diseases where oxidative stress is implicated. Further studies are in progress to evaluate the in vivo potential of F. lepicarpa in animal model of carbon tetrachloride mediated oxidative tissue injury.
KEYWORDS: Phytochemical constituents, Antioxidant activity, Ficus lepicarpa, Moraceae, Leaves Extract
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