Therapeutic Potential of <i>Ficus benjamina</i>: Phytochemical Identification and Investigation of Antimicrobial, Anticancer, Pro-Wound-Healing, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties
<i>Ficus benjamina</i> is a common park tree, with previous reports of some medicinal properties. In this work, we identified and explored phytochemicals from <i>F. benjamina</i> for potential antimicrobial, pro-wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, and effect on cancer cell line...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Arik Dahan Ludmila Yarmolinsky Arie Budovsky Boris Khalfin Shimon Ben-Shabat |
| author_facet | Arik Dahan Ludmila Yarmolinsky Arie Budovsky Boris Khalfin Shimon Ben-Shabat |
| author_sort | Arik Dahan |
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| description | <i>Ficus benjamina</i> is a common park tree, with previous reports of some medicinal properties. In this work, we identified and explored phytochemicals from <i>F. benjamina</i> for potential antimicrobial, pro-wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, and effect on cancer cell lines’ proliferation, both experimentally and bioinformatically. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis was performed to identify the volatile compounds. The nonvolatile active components of the extract were identified by HPLC and LC-ESI-MS. We found that some drug-resistant microorganisms (<i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>, <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>, <i>Serratia marcescens</i>, and <i>Salmonella enteritidis</i>) were inhibited by the extract, the 80% fraction, and all the identified flavonoids except quercetin 3-<i>O</i>-rutinoside. Furthermore, the extract and above-mentioned compound also inhibited the growth of biofilm-producing bacterium. The extract and 80% fraction were very potent (<i>p</i> < 0.001) at inducing death of MCF7 and U87 cancer cell cultures and were more effective in that than the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin which served as a positive control. Additionally, the extract of <i>F. benjamina</i>, the 80% fraction, and selected phytochemicals had pronounced pro-wound-healing properties. Finally, the extracts, the 80% fraction, caffeic acid, kaempferol 3-<i>O</i>-rutinoside, and kaempferol 3-<i>O</i>-robinobioside significantly inhibited the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and IL-8 (<i>p</i> < 0.001). In conclusion, this comprehensive research revealed convincing and promising indications of significant therapeutic potential of a <i>F. benjamina</i> extract and its active phytochemicals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1efc5e528b2b448bb0ede81949086790 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-1efc5e528b2b448bb0ede819490867902025-08-20T02:30:46ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-04-01309196110.3390/molecules30091961Therapeutic Potential of <i>Ficus benjamina</i>: Phytochemical Identification and Investigation of Antimicrobial, Anticancer, Pro-Wound-Healing, and Anti-Inflammatory PropertiesArik Dahan0Ludmila Yarmolinsky1Arie Budovsky2Boris Khalfin3Shimon Ben-Shabat4Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, IsraelDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, IsraelResearch & Development Authority, Barzilai University Medical Center, Ashkelon 7830604, IsraelDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, IsraelDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel<i>Ficus benjamina</i> is a common park tree, with previous reports of some medicinal properties. In this work, we identified and explored phytochemicals from <i>F. benjamina</i> for potential antimicrobial, pro-wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, and effect on cancer cell lines’ proliferation, both experimentally and bioinformatically. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis was performed to identify the volatile compounds. The nonvolatile active components of the extract were identified by HPLC and LC-ESI-MS. We found that some drug-resistant microorganisms (<i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>, <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>, <i>Serratia marcescens</i>, and <i>Salmonella enteritidis</i>) were inhibited by the extract, the 80% fraction, and all the identified flavonoids except quercetin 3-<i>O</i>-rutinoside. Furthermore, the extract and above-mentioned compound also inhibited the growth of biofilm-producing bacterium. The extract and 80% fraction were very potent (<i>p</i> < 0.001) at inducing death of MCF7 and U87 cancer cell cultures and were more effective in that than the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin which served as a positive control. Additionally, the extract of <i>F. benjamina</i>, the 80% fraction, and selected phytochemicals had pronounced pro-wound-healing properties. Finally, the extracts, the 80% fraction, caffeic acid, kaempferol 3-<i>O</i>-rutinoside, and kaempferol 3-<i>O</i>-robinobioside significantly inhibited the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and IL-8 (<i>p</i> < 0.001). In conclusion, this comprehensive research revealed convincing and promising indications of significant therapeutic potential of a <i>F. benjamina</i> extract and its active phytochemicals.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/9/1961<i>Ficus benjamina</i>phytochemicalsantimicrobial activitybiofilmanticancerwound healing |
| spellingShingle | Arik Dahan Ludmila Yarmolinsky Arie Budovsky Boris Khalfin Shimon Ben-Shabat Therapeutic Potential of <i>Ficus benjamina</i>: Phytochemical Identification and Investigation of Antimicrobial, Anticancer, Pro-Wound-Healing, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties Molecules <i>Ficus benjamina</i> phytochemicals antimicrobial activity biofilm anticancer wound healing |
| title | Therapeutic Potential of <i>Ficus benjamina</i>: Phytochemical Identification and Investigation of Antimicrobial, Anticancer, Pro-Wound-Healing, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties |
| title_full | Therapeutic Potential of <i>Ficus benjamina</i>: Phytochemical Identification and Investigation of Antimicrobial, Anticancer, Pro-Wound-Healing, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties |
| title_fullStr | Therapeutic Potential of <i>Ficus benjamina</i>: Phytochemical Identification and Investigation of Antimicrobial, Anticancer, Pro-Wound-Healing, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties |
| title_full_unstemmed | Therapeutic Potential of <i>Ficus benjamina</i>: Phytochemical Identification and Investigation of Antimicrobial, Anticancer, Pro-Wound-Healing, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties |
| title_short | Therapeutic Potential of <i>Ficus benjamina</i>: Phytochemical Identification and Investigation of Antimicrobial, Anticancer, Pro-Wound-Healing, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties |
| title_sort | therapeutic potential of i ficus benjamina i phytochemical identification and investigation of antimicrobial anticancer pro wound healing and anti inflammatory properties |
| topic | <i>Ficus benjamina</i> phytochemicals antimicrobial activity biofilm anticancer wound healing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/9/1961 |
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