Ficus palmata is rich in several
phytochemicals such as
chromone,
isoflavones,
terpenes,
lignans,
coumarins,
glycosides, and
furanocoumarins and have been traditionally used for the management of different
gastrointestinal disorders. This research reveals the effects of Ficus palmata fruit extracts-Ficus palmata
chloroform (Fp.CHCl3) and Ficus palmata aqueous (Fp.Aq)-on gut activity through in vivo and in vitro analyses.
Antidiarrheal and enteropooling assays were analyzed with
castor oil-induced
diarrhea and intestinal fluid accumulation. Jejunum tissues of rabbits were isolated (
antispasmodic) for in vitro experiments. Antimotility was carried out by
charcoal meal for determining transient time, and
ethanol-induced
ulcer assay was used to measure the ulceration of stomach; molecular pathways were assessed through proteomic approach. Fp.CHCl3 and Fp.Aq extracts attributed dose-dependently protection against
diarrhea, and intestinal fluid secretions were inhibited dose dependently. Extracts of Fp.CHCl3 and Fp.Aq produced reduction in spontaneous and K+ (at 80 Mm)-induced contractions in isolated jejunum tissues, along with the decreased length covered by
charcoal in
charcoal meal transient time activity. The extract exhibited gastroprotective outcome in rats and reduced
tumor necrotic factor (TNF-α) levels and
IL-18, measured by proteomic approach. Morphological studies' results showed that
ethanol induced significant
gastritis, apoptosis, swelling of mucosa, and hydropic degeneration leading to cellular degeneration and
necrosis, observed through staining techniques. Furthermore,
ethanol activated the
inflammation pathway in all gastric zones by elevating the levels of
cyclooxygenase-2, TNF-α, and nuclear factor kappa light-chain enhancer of activated B-cells. Overall results expressed the
antidiarrheal,
antispasmodic, enteropooling, antimotility, and antiulcer activities of Ficus palmata fruit extract.