PHARMACOGNOSTICAL INVESTIGATION AND EVALUATION OF FICUS CARICA FRUIT EXTRACT FOR ADAPTOGENIC ACTIVITY

Ficus carica is the common fig fruit belonging to the family Moraceae, The Pharmacognostical studies of the half ripened fruits were carried out using the various micro-chemical tests. The dried fruits were subjected to extraction using 90 % ethanol and this extract was further evaluated for the adaptogenic activity. Swim Endurance test in mice and Cold Stress model in rats was used to screen the antistress potential. Biochemical parameters such as Blood Glucose level, Total Leukocyte count, Total Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Triglyceride levels were estimated. The microscopic studies confirmed that the fruit of Ficus is a modified receptacle of the inflorescence; this contains the male and the female flowers which are situated in the interior of the receptacle. The ethanolic extract was found to increase the swim endurance time significantly. In case of cold stress model the ethanolic extract increased the depleted blood glucose and lowered the elevated total cholesterol as well as triglyceride levels. It was able to maintain the normal homeostasis as well as act as an anti-hyperlipidemic agent. It was also observed that the Leukocyte count too was lowered in case of the extract treated group. The results clearly indicate the potential of Ficus carica as an adaptogenic agent