Phytochemical analysis of trunk bark with branch bark, wood and stored bark of Ficus racemosa and comparison with other Ficus barks

The phytochemistry of F. racemosa bark was compared with other Ficus species available in South India (F. religiosa, F. benghalensis and F. hispida barks). Further, fresh bark was compared with stored bark of F. racemosa; wood with the trunk bark of F. racemosa; branch bark with the trunk bark of F. racemosa. Also the protective potential of active fraction was evaluated against oxidative stress in ex vivo skin model. Qualitative and quantitative estimation of phytochemicals were done for Ficus species bark samples and also subjected to UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis. It was found that methanolic extract of F. racemosa has a high number of phytochemicals (Flavonoids: 4.10 mg/mL; phytosterols: 3.28 mg/mL; total phenols: 29.93 mg/mL and tannins: 8.98 mg/mL). Kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucoside was noted as the major compound in F. racemosa bark. Trunk bark of F. racemosa was quantified to have high amount of phytochemicals than branch bark. Also, bark was found to contain higher concentration of different phytochemicals than F. racemosa wood. Stored bark of F. racemosa was found to exhibit lesser amount of phytochemicals than fresh bark. F. racemosa bark also exhibits moderate superoxide and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities, high inhibition of lipid peroxidation and moderate inhibition of protein oxidation.