Anti-Syncytium (MC99+1A2) and Anti-Bacterial Activities from Twigs and Stems of Ficus dubia

Aims: To study the anti-HIVs and anti-bacterial activity and investigate the chemical compositions of the crude extracts and isolated compounds from stems and twig of Ficus dubia.

Methodology: Twigs and stems of Ficus dubia were collected from Si Sawat District, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. Bioactivity assay and phytochemical analysis of ficus dubia were processed under standard method including, anti-HIV1-RT, antibacterial activities, and CC chromatography procedures. Structures of the compound were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques.

Results: Bioactivities assay exposed that, the hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of Ficus dubia were verified for anti-HIV and anti-bacterial activities. The ethyl acetate and methanol extract showed evidence of anti-HIVs-1RT inhibition at 69.02 % and 69.24 %, respectively. Anti-syncytium (MC99+1A2) among evaluated all three extracts: it afforded the lowest EC50; hexane 9.65 (TI 4.39), ethyl acetate 11.15 (TI 3.84), and methanol 43.61 (TI 3.04). Moreover, an antibacterial study on extract was also performed. The antibacterial study was evaluated using nine strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli 0157: H7, Escherichia coli (ETEC), Escherichia coli (EPEC), Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella flexneri, and Vibrio cholera) by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) method. The MeOH extract was the most effective antibacterial with a MIC in the range >0.1 mg/mL and MBC in the range >0.2 mg/mL. However, the isolated compounds from this plant had not been studied in all bioassay. Phytochemical examination of stems and twigs from Ficus dubia had directed to the isolation of four known compounds, epifriedelanol, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and bergapten.

Conclusion: The crude extract of twigs and stems of Ficus fubia were specifically active toward MC99+1A2. With these results, it could be concluded that Ficus dubia may be an accomplished candidate in pill and future medicine.