The present study was aimed to investigate the role of Ficus carica L. (fig) aerial parts on antioxidant, antidiabetic and anti-obesogenic effects in vitro.

Fruit, leaves and stembark of Ficus carica plant were sequentially extracted by using organic and inorganic solvents and their total polyphenolics and flavonoids contents were estimated. The effects of the extracts on antioxidative, antidiabetic (inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes) and anti-obesogenic (anti-lipase) activities were measured by using several experimental models.

The fruit ethanolic extract contained a high amount of polyphenols and flavonoids (104.67±5.51μg·mL⁻¹ and 81.67±4.00μg·mL⁻¹). The ethanolic extract of Ficus carica fruit was significantly (P<0.05) more active than all other extracts and parts of the plant in terms of antioxidative, antidiabetic and anti-obesogenic activities. The IC50 values of the fruit ethanolic extract in terms of antioxidant (134.44±18.43μg·mL⁻¹), α-glucosidase (255.57±36.46μg·mL⁻¹) α-amylase (315.89±3.83μg·mL⁻¹) and pancreatic lipase (230.475±9.65μg·mL⁻¹) assays indicate that fruit extracts were more active than other parts of the plant. The GC-MS analysis of the fruit extract shown the presence of sugars and polyphenolic compounds such as butyl butyrate, 5-hydroxy-methyl furfural, 1-butoxy-1-isobutoxy butane, malic acid, tetradecanoic acid, phytol acetate, trans phytol, n-hexadecanoic acid, 9Z,12Z-octadecadienoic acid, stearic acid, sitosterol, 3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-pyran-4-one, 2,4,5-trimethyl-2,4-dihydro-3H-pyrazol-3-one.

The results of this study suggest that the ethanolic extract of the fruit of Ficus carica may have potential antidiabetic and anti-obesogenic agents.