¹Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Al Shifa College of Pharmacy, Affiliated to Kerala University of Health Sciences, Perinthalmanna, Kerala, India
²Department of Pharmacology, Al Shifa College of Pharmacy, Affiliated to Kerala University of Health Sciences, Perinthalmanna, Kerala, India DOI : 10.29228/jrp.2022.00 Ficus auriculata (F. auriculata), a deciduous tree in the Moraceae family, is a globally significant crop. Because of its abundance of phytochemicals and antioxidants, which are essential to human health, the fig tree is revered as a holy tree. The goal of this study was to determine if the ethanolic extract of F. auriculata fruit has any anti-oxidant or antiobesity effects, both in vitro and in vivo. The DPPH free radical technique for the quantitative determination of free radical scavenging activity and the inhibitory action against pancreatic lipase was measured using p-nitrophenyl butyrate (p-NPB) as a substrate. Blood serum was collected for serum lipid profile determination, histopathological analysis using hematoxylin and eosin stain, and results were viewed using a microscope at x400 magnification. From the results obtained, F. auriculata fruit had a large number of phenolic compounds and possible antioxidant components. The IC50 value of the sample was found to be 49.99 μg/mL. The extract exhibited the highest lipase inhibitory action, with an IC50 value of 45.61 μg/mL. At a dosage of 300 mg/kg, the extract reduced serum lipid profile and body weight in a manner similar to that of the standard drug orlistat and exhibited a reduction in the crown-like structure (CLS/mm3) to 4 CLS/mm3, while the control group had 34 CLS/mm3. Thus, the anti-obesity properties of F. auriculata fruit were confirmed using an HCD-induced obesity rat model. It reduced sugar levels, improved lipid profiles, reduced hepatic steatosis, slowed weight gain, and altered the histological marker of local inflammation. Keywords : Ficus auriculata; anti-oxidant activity; anti-obesity activity; pancreatic lipase inhibition; hepatic steatosis