Bioactive compounds from Ficus hirta Vahl extract: Molecular mechanisms underlying their anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities

Ficus hirta Vahl ( F. hirta ) is a traditional medicinal plant used for over 300 years in Chinese ethnic medical systems, including the Yao, Zhuang, and Dai. To provide a rigorous and balanced synthesis, this review conducted a systematic literature search across PubMed, Scopus, CNKI, and Web of Science, focusing on original research regarding the plant's phytochemistry and pharmacology. The extract contains diverse bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, polysaccharides, and phenylpropanoids, which exhibit significant antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. This review summarizes their mechanisms of action: antibacterial effects are achieved through cell wall disruption, metabolic inhibition, and biofilm suppression; while anti-inflammatory effects involve modulating inflammatory mediators, enhancing antioxidant capacity, and regulating immune cells. Furthermore, the synergistic network between these properties and clinical effects—such as digestion promotion and cough relief—is explored. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for the medicinal development of F. hirta and highlight its potential in novel drug discovery.