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Ficus umbellata Vahl (Moraceae), is a plant with health benefits involved in the management of menopause physiological disorders and cancers. This study aimed at investigating the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous (FUAq) and methanolic (FUMeOH) extracts of Ficus umbellata. Their antioxidant activities were assayed by free radical scavenging using DPPH and ABTS assays, total antioxidant capacity, and ferrous reducing power (FRAP). Further, the effects of FUAq and FUMeOH on murine erythrocyte membrane hemolysis and protein denaturation were investigated. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was determined in Wistar rats with carrageenan-induced paw oedema. At tested concentrations, FUAq and FUMeOH demonstrated strong radical scavenging that was dose- and time-dependent, as well as total antioxidant capacity and ferrous ions reducing power. Moreover, they were able to stabilize murine red blood cell membranes against heat induced hemolysis and inhibit the denaturation of egg albumin at concentrations ranging from 0.125–2 mg/mL. Ficus umbellata methanolic extract at doses of 50 and 200 mg/kg endow antiedematous properties with edema inhibition percentages of 71.16 ± 1.72% and 72.98 ± 7.51%, respectively. Our findings shed light on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Ficus umbellata that could be used in novel and safe strategies to overwhelm oxidative and inflammatory related diseases.

A Ficus umbellata is used to treat cancer. The present work was therefore designed to assess antitumor potentials of F. umbellata extracts in nine different cell lines. Cell cycle, apoptosis, cell migration/invasion, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), caspases activities as well as Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL protein content were assessed in MDA-MB-231 cells. The 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced carcinogenesis in rats were also used to investigate antitumor potential of F. umbellata extracts. The F. umbellata methanol extract exhibited a CC50 of 180 μg/mL in MDA-MB-231 cells after 24 h. It induced apoptosis in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, while it did not alter their cell cycle phases. Further, it induced a decrease in MMP, an increase in ROS levels and caspases activities as well as a downregulation in Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL protein contents in MDA-MB-231 cells. In vivo, F. umbellata aqueous (200 mg/kg) and methanol (50 mg/kg) extracts significantly (p < 0.001) reduced ovarian tumor incidence (10%), total tumor burden (58% and 46%, respectively), average tumor weight (57.8% and 45.6%, respectively) as compared to DMBA control group. These results suggest antitumor potential of F. umbellata constituents possibly due to apoptosis induction mediated through ROS-dependent mitochondrial pathway.