Evaluation of antioxidant activity and phytochemical profiling of Ficus sur (Moraceae) leaf extracts

The present study focused on the phytochemical composition and antioxidant potential of the leaves of Ficus sur , a medicinal plant used in Nigeria for the treatment of anemia and skin disorders. The objective of this work was to determine the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethanolic extracts of this plant. Three different methods were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethanol leaf extracts: the FRAP assay (ferric reducing antioxidant potential), the DPPH radical scavenging assay (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl) and the LPO assay (inhibition of lipid peroxidation). Qualitative phytochemical screening was also performed. The results showed that the Ficus sur ethanol extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity compared to the ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts. The IC ₅₀ values for the chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts were as follows: FRAP assay – 84.39, 39.41 and 33.25 µg/mL; DPPH assay – 117.97, 58.93 and 44.56 µg/mL; and LPO assay – 122.51, 68.76 and 49.36 µg/mL, respectively. The findings clearly suggest that the ethanol extract has higher antioxidant activity, likely due to its richer phytochemical profile. The results suggest that Ficus sur could be exploited in the management of oxidative stress-related diseases and infections, though direct antimicrobial studies are needed.