Ficus religiosa: A beneficial medicinal plant

Abstract

In India, herbs have been the primary means of treatment. The existence of secondary plant metabolites, which are combinations of chemical substances with different amalgams, in one or more sections of medicinal plants confers therapeutic qualities. Ficus religiosa, sometimes known as peepal, belongs to the Moraceae family of plants. The Bo tree, Ficus religiosa, provided shelter to the Buddha as he divined the "Truths." In Ficus religiosa, phenolic components, hydrocarbons, aliphatic alcohols, volatile components, phytosterols, amino acids, furanocoumarins, and a few more types of secondary metabolites have been isolated by phytochemical studies. Both (In vitro and in vivo) pharmacological activities of Ficus religiosa crude extracts and isolated components included anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, antiviral, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antiasthmatic, parasympathetic modulator, estrogenic, anticancer, antiulcer, antianxiety, anthelmintic, endothelial receptor antagonistic, apoptosis inducer, and hypotensive activities. Keywords: Ficus religiosa, phytoconstituents, pharmacology, toxicity