This study further confirms the traditional role of Ficus benjamina plant in the treatment of malaria which may be attributed to ursolic acid and lupeol. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Investigation of antiplasmodial efficacy of lupeol and ursolic acid isolated from Ficus benjamina leaves extract.
Nat Prod Res. 2019 Jan 2:1-4. Epub 2019 Jan 2. PMID: 30600705
Amandeep Singh
This study emphasizes on the investigation of antiplasmodial activity of triterpenoids isolated from Ficus benjamina leaves. An unsaponified fraction of petroleum ether extract of plant leaves was subjected to silica gel column chromatography which led to the isolation of two known triterpenoids; namely ursolic acid and lupeol. These compounds were evaluated for antiplasmodial activity by schizont maturation inhibition assay using 3D7 Plasmodium strains. Both, ursolic acid and lupeol were found to exhibit significant antiplasmodial effect with an ICvalue of 18 µg/ml and 3.8 µg/ml, respectively. This study further confirms the traditional role of Ficus benjamina plant in the treatment of malaria which may be attributed to ursolic acid and lupeol.