Bioactive Compounds, Pharmacological Activity and Food Application of Ficus racemosa: A Critical Review

Ficus racemosa: Linn. (Moraceae) is a popular medicinal plant found throughout India, which has long been used inAyurvedaas a source of medicine for curing various diseases/disorders including diabetes, liver disorders, diarrhea, inflammatory conditions, hemorrhoids, respiratory and urinary diseases. It is commonly known as "Gular" in India and widely distributed throughout the world. The different parts of the plant have numerous phytochemical compounds (alkaloids, tannins, saponins, beta-sitosterol, lupeol and other compounds) and it possesses numerous therapeutic properties. Despite various pharmacological properties possessed by the plant, it remains underutilized because of its limited availability, i.e., found at limited places and for a limited time period. However, to date, no scientific report has witnessed its effective utilization in the food and feed industry. Therefore, an attempt has been made to exploreF. racemosain terms of its composition, health benefits, value addition and future perspective so that its future can be enlightened.