Antiviral Activity and Chemical Characterization of Ficus citrifolia Leaf Extract Against Emerging Arboviruses

Abstract Arboviruses represent a serious public health problem, especially in tropical regions, where environmental conditions favor the proliferation of mosquito vectors, facilitating viral transmission and leading to debilitating clinical manifestations ranging from fever and joint pain to severe neurological complications. This study evaluated the in vitro antiviral activity and chemical characterization of the ethanolic extract of Ficus citrifolia Mill. leaves, Moraceae. Using high-resolution LC–MS/MS analysis, 20 compounds were annotated, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, lignans, terpenes, and steroids—many of which are known for their antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. The crude ethanolic extract exhibited significant antiviral activity against Mayaro virus (EC 50 61.24 μg/ml, SI 12.96), Chikungunya virus (EC 50 117.92 μg/ml, SI 6.73), and Zika virus (EC 50 117.29 μg/ml, SI 6.77), with no observed activity against Oropouche virus. The findings demonstrate in vitro antiviral activity of a crude plant extract and support its traditional use in treating inflammatory and infectious diseases. Further studies, including bioassay-guided fractionation and mechanistic evaluations, are recommended to identify the active constituents and validate these findings. Graphical Abstract