Bioactive Compounds, Pharmacological Activity and Food Application of<i>Ficus racemosa</i>: A Critical Review
Gitesh Kishor Chaware, Vikas Kumar, Satish Kumar, Pankaj Kumar
Abstract
Ficus racemosa Linn. (Moraceae) is a popular medicinal plant found throughout India, which has long been used in Ayurveda as a source of medicine for curing various diseases/disorders including diabetes, liver disorders, diarrhea, inflammatory conditions, hemorrhoids, respiratory and urinary diseases. It is commonly known as “Gular” in India and widely distributed throughout the world. The different parts of the plant have numerous phytochemical compounds (alkaloids, tannins, saponins, β-sitosterol, lupeol and other compounds) and it possesses numerous therapeutic properties. Despite various pharmacological properties possessed by the plant, it remains underutilized because of its limited availability, i.e., found at limited places and for a limited time period. However, to date, no scientific report has witnessed its effective utilization in the food and feed industry. Therefore, an attempt has been made to explore F. racemosa in terms of its composition, health benefits, value addition and future perspective so that its future can be enlightened.