Phytochemical Analysis of Bioactive Compounds of the Leaf Extracts of Ficus exasperata Vahl. (Moraceae)

Introduction: Ficus exasperata Vahl. (Moraceae) is a perennial herb with a long history of traditional medicinal use in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The present study was designed to screen the major groups of phytochemicals found in the leaf parts of the plant. Methods: The aqueous, hydroethanolic, infusion and decoction extracts of the leaves of Ficus exasperata was used for qualitative screening and quantitative analysis using specific standard methods. The identified classes of metabolites in the different extracts were then quantified using spectrophotometric methods. Results: Phytochemical analysis of Ficus exasperata extracts revealed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, steroids, phlobatannins, saponins, and coumarins. The quantitative analysis of these extracts showed that the infusion extract of Ficus exasperata leaves had the highest content of polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins, followed by the aqueous and decoction extracts, which exhibited similar concentrations. Ethanolic extracts had the lowest concentrations. Meanwhile, the total alkaloid content was highest in the ethanolic extract, followed by the aqueous and decoction extracts, with the infusion extract containing the least. Conclusion: The quantitative phytochemical analysis of Ficus exasperata extracts revealed that the infusion and aqueous maceration extracts of leaves contained the highest levels of most of the metabolites. This study also demonstrates that the extracts of Ficus exasperata are rich in secondary metabolites, which may explain the plant's traditional use in treating various ailments. The presence of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and alkaloids underscores the potential therapeutic value of this plant in addressing inflammatory and other health conditions. The high concentrations of these bioactive compounds further support its pharmacological importance and justify its continued use in traditional medicine.