Abstract
The antioxidant and antiglycation activities of the Ficus leaf extracts were evaluated using in vitro assays. The antioxidant activity was determined using the alpha, alpha-diphenyl-beta-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2 '-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging assays. In vitro ferric reducing activity was evaluated using the ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. The antiglycation potential of the extract was evaluated using dinitrophenylhydrazine, thiobarbituric acid and protein thiol assays. The inhibition of the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) was detected using AGE-specific fluorescence with a fluorescence spectrophotometer. This study was aimed at investigating the potential of Ficus palmata Forssk. leaf extracts, which have abundant bioactive constituents, including polyphenols and flavonoids, in inhibiting glycation and cancer. The results show that the aqueous and methanolic Ficus leaf extracts are rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Both extracts showed potent antioxidant activities. Furthermore, the methanolic extract showed antiglycation activities, as assessed using an in vitro model of bovine serum albumin glycation with D-ribose. The polyphenol- and flavonoid-rich Ficus leaf extracts exhibit antiglycation, chemopreventive and antioxidant activities and have potential for use in the treatment of diseases, such as cancer, which involve oxidative and glycative impairment of cellular proteins.