Ethnopharmacological and Therapeutic Potential of Fig (Ficus carica L.)

Ficus carica L. (fig) has been valued since antiquity for its nutritional and medicinal properties. This comprehensive review synthesizes current knowledge on the ethnopharmacological uses, bioactive compounds, and therapeutic potential of different fig plant parts. The fruit, leaves, and latex exhibit remarkable antioxidant activity, with dark-colored cultivars showing 3-4 times higher antioxidant capacity than light-colored ones due to greater phenolic content. Fig extracts demonstrate significant anticancer effects against breast, liver, cervical, and colon cancers by modulating cell cycle regulators (CDKs) and apoptotic genes (BAX, TP53). The plant shows promising antidiabetic activity, with leaf extracts enhancing glucose uptake and insulin secretion. Additionally, fig exhibits anti-angiogenic, hepatoprotective, hypocholesterolemic, and immunomodulatory properties. Its antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as antiviral potential against COVID-19 and HSV-1, highlights its broad pharmacological spectrum. The laxative effects of figs are well-documented in both animal models and clinical studies, improving constipation symptoms. Economically, figs are globally significant, with Turkey, Egypt, and Algeria being top producers, though post-harvest losses remain a challenge. Despite these benefits, key limitations persist, including variability in bioactive compounds, undefined safety profiles and dosages, understudied latex components, and climate vulnerability in cultivation. Addressing these challenges through standardization, clinical trials, processing innovations, and sustainable cultivation could unlock the full potential of fig. This review underscores F. carica as a multifunctional therapeutic agent with applications in modern medicine, functional foods, and nutraceuticals, while emphasizing the need for sustainable utilization and value-added processing to enhance its economic potential.