Qualitative study of chemical substances presents in the plant Ficus carica L

• Main Authors: Elizabeth Expósito Paret, Arely Díaz Cifuentes, José Manuel Contreras Tejeda, Tamara Caraballoso Recio, Deisy Caraballoso Recio
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Las Tunas 2017-05-01
• Series: Revista Electrónica Dr. Zoilo E. Marinello Vidaurreta
• Subjects: plants, medicinal; ficus; moraceae.
• Online Access: http://revzoilomarinello.sld.cu/index.php/zmv/article/view/1065

<p><strong>Background</strong>: medicinal plants have secondary metabolites that produce an evident therapeutic effect in the organism.</p><p><strong>Objective</strong>: to identify chemical substances present in the fruits and leaves of the plant <em>Ficus carica L</em> that grows in the province of Camagüey.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>: an experimental study was carried out by using qualitative trials of phytochemicals, with the Rondina and Coussio technique (fractions A-D) to identify the presence of secondary metabolites in different aerial organs of the plant, green and ripe fruits and leaves, from September 2014 to February 2015. Fresh vegetables were used as raw material, which were dried a few hours after harvest in a heat cabinet with air circulation under 50 ºC of temperature.</p><p><strong>Results</strong>: in fraction A amines and tannins were found, and in fractions B, C2 and D there was presence of steroidal triterpenes. There were flavonoids and proanthocyanidins in fractions D and E, and in all the studied parts. Sugar reducing agents were obtained only in fraction E and saponins in fraction F. The green fruit is slightly higher than the ripe one with a value of 1,13 times. The leaves had a value with 3,38 times higher than the ripe fruits.</p><strong>Conclusions</strong>: in the chemical composition of the fruits and leaves of the plant <em>Ficus carica L</em> there is presence of secondary metabolites such as amines, tannins, steroidal triterpenes, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins and sugar reducing agents. This is a composition similar to species of other countries.