Diet and nutritionFigs—a sweet fruit, but do the leaves lower blood sugar?
- Henryk Różański — Ficyna = Ficin i Ficus
- Henryk Różański — Figi – Feige – Caricae Fructus w Pharmacopoea Helvetica XI. Liście figowca w medycynie ludowej.
- Efficacy and Safety of Fig (Ficus carica L.) Leaf Tea in Adults with Mild Atopic Dermatitis: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Preliminary Trial. · Nutrients 2022
- Antischistosomal effects of Ficus carica leaves extract and/or PZQ on Schistosoma mansoni infected mice. · J Parasit Dis 2022
- A chloroform extract obtained from a decoction of Ficus carica leaves improves the cholesterolaemic status of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. · Acta Physiol Hung 2000
- Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of Ficus carica Linn. leaves. · Nat Prod Res 2012
- High-resolution LC-MS/MS-based phytochemical profiling and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of fig (Ficus carica L.) fruits, leaves, and twigs. · Food Chem 2026
- Industrial Application and Health Prospective of Fig (Ficus carica) By-Products. · Molecules 2023
- Phytochemistry, biological activities, industrial and traditional uses of fig (Ficus carica): A review. · Chem Biol Interact 2022
- A comprehensive review on phytochemistry, bioactivities, toxicity studies, and clinical studies on Ficus carica Linn. leaves. · Biomed Pharmacother 2021
- Inhibitory effects of Ficus carica and Olea europaea on pro-inflammatory cytokines: A review. · Iran J Basic Med Sci 2022
Figs are also described as helpful for colds, coughs, and respiratory complaints.
- Fig leaves and sap are used in the described remedies for wounds that are slow to heal, scars, and rashes.
- Fresh sap may irritate the skin and make it more sensitive to sunlight.
What the authors write
Figs were given for constipation, indigestion, and parasites of the digestive tract.
Fig leaves were used in folk medicine for coughs, diabetes, colds, indigestion, and as a deworming agent.
Fig fruit was used for constipation, hemorrhoids, bladder and kidney complaints, and gout.
Juice and puree made from the fruit are described as helpful for colds, flu, respiratory complaints, and indigestion.
The fruit and its juice are said to promote protein digestion, help with indigestion, and cleanse the intestines.
Enzymes found in fig fruit are described as having antiparasitic effects.
A water extract of the leaves is described as lowering blood sugar levels.
Fig leaves and fruit were used externally on wounds that were slow to heal, keloids, and ulcers.
Fig tree milky sap was applied to persistent warts and genital warts.
Milky sap and fig masks were described as softening the skin and helping remove dead skin and blackheads.
An infusion of dried leaves is described as being used for respiratory catarrh and urinary stones.
Fresh fruit juice is described as being used for coughs, constipation, colds, and indigestion.
Fig syrup is described as reducing bloating, relieving gas, acting as a laxative, and helping to clear mucus from the airways.
Ficin was used for indigestion and parasites, and to tenderize meat.
Fresh fig tree sap may irritate the skin and cause reactions after exposure to sunlight.
When using fresh figs or fig juice, the author advises avoiding exposure of the skin to sunlight.
Research from PubMed · Europe PMC
We selected 9 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.
Total number of studies on this topic in PubMed: 89.
A preliminary clinical study found that fig leaf tea reduced the severity of mild atopic dermatitis.
Aim of the study: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, recurrent pruritic skin disease with repeated remissions and exacerbations. Various factors, such as allergies, skin conditions and lifestyle, combine to cause AD, making it difficult to cure completely.
Results: Eczema Area and Severity Index values were significantly lowered in the fig leaf tea-treated group than in the placebo-treated group. The effect weakened 4 weeks after the end of the intervention, suggesting that continued intake of fig leaf tea was effective. Further assessments confirmed the safety of fig leaf tea consumption and revealed no variations that might pose a health hazard. Therefore, we postulate that fig leaf tea is a natural and safe therapeutic option for AD.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
In infected mice, combining fig leaf extract with praziquantel had a stronger antiparasitic effect than the drug alone.
Aim of the study: Currently, praziquantel (PZQ) is the only drug of choice used for treatment of human schistosomes because of its safety and broad-spectrum activity. It is reported that the repeated chemotherapy is complicated by the occurrence of drug resistance to schistosomiasis.
Results: In addition, F. carica leaves extract is a promising for PZQ potentiating its antischistosomal action in animal model infected with S. mansoni. Therefore, the present work conclude that combined treatment has a synergetic effect and could be more promising in the management of schistosomiasis.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
In rats with diabetes, fig leaf extract lowered cholesterol levels and hyperglycemia.
Aim of the study: The antidiabetic effects of Ficus carica leaf extracts have been reported previously.
Results: The antidiabetic effects of Ficus carica leaf extracts have been reported previously. From the aqueous decoction of fig leaves, after treatment with HCI, centrifuging, treatment with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and extraction with chloroform (CHCl3), the administration of the organic phase rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes led to a decline in the levels of total cholesterol and an decrease in the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio (with respect to the control group), together with a reduction of the hyperglycaemia.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
The study found anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in fig leaves, consistent with their traditional use.
Aim of the study: Ficus carica Linn. (Moraceae) is commonly known as edible fig.
Results: Our study validated the traditional claim with pharmacological data. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of the drug could be due to the presence of steroids and flavanoids, respectively, which are reported to be present in the drug. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory activity of the drug could be due to its free radical scavenging activity. Further work is also required to isolate and characterise the active constituents responsible for the anti-inflammatory activities.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
In laboratory studies, extracts from fig leaves and twigs had stronger antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects than fruit extract.
Aim of the study: This study combined high-resolution LC-MS/MS with feature-based molecular networking (FBMN) to characterize the phytochemical composition and evaluate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of fig (Ficus carica L.) fruits, leaves, and twigs. Comparative analysis revealed that twig tissue exhibited a chemically distinct profile, characterized by FBMN-identified clusters of lignans and flavonoids less prominent in fruits and leaves.
Results: Structural annotation identified 61 compounds across six chemical classes: phenolic acids, hydroxycoumarins, furanocoumarin derivatives, furanocoumarins, flavonoids, and lignans. Quantitative analysis showed that furanocoumarins and rutin were major constituents in both leaves and twigs, with higher concentrations in leaves, while twigs were distinctly enriched in flavonoid aglycones and lignans. Despite these compositional differences, leaf and twig extracts exhibited stronger antioxidant capacity and more effectively suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory mediators in RAW 264.7 macrophages than fruit extract. These findings establish fig twig tissue as a chemically distinct, biologically active component with potential for functional food applications.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
A review describes the potential dietary benefits of fig by-products, including in relation to diabetes and constipation.
Aim of the study: The current review was carried out on the industrial application of fig by-products and their role against chronic disorders. Fig is basically belonging to fruit and is botanically called Ficus carica.
Results: Fig by-products are used in extract or powder form to value the addition of different food products for the purpose of improving the nutritional value and enhancing the stability. Fig by-products are additive-based products which contain high phytochemicals fatty acids, polyphenols and antioxidants. Due to the high bioactive compounds, these products performed a vital role against various diseases including cancer, diabetes, constipation, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Concussively, fig-based food products may be important for human beings and produce healthy food.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
A review lists possible effects of figs and fig leaves, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic effects.
Aim of the study: This review describes the traditional and industrial use of fig (Ficus carica) in medicine as remedies for health problems and its biological activities. It describes various ways of traditional use to treat various ailments like, inflammation, gastric problems and cancer.
Results: This review describes the traditional and industrial use of fig (Ficus carica) in medicine as remedies for health problems and its biological activities. It describes various ways of traditional use to treat various ailments like, inflammation, gastric problems and cancer. Phytochemical studies on fruits and leaves of fig plant have explored that they are rich in phenolics, organic acids and volatile compounds. Owing to rich and diversified presence of biologically active compounds, they possess various biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticancer, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antifungal, antiviral, antimutagenic, antipyretic, antituberculosis, anti-angiogenic, antiparisitic, hematostatis, anticonstipation and antiwarts activities.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
A review of studies on fig leaves describes their potential antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, liver-protective, and kidney-protective effects.
Aim of the study: The leaves of Ficus carica Linn. (FC) have been widely used for medicine purposes since ancient times, and its decoction is consumed as tea.
Results: Many scientific studies have proven the antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anticholinesterase, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, and renoprotective activities. Many studies have carried out to provide the insights on molecular pathways involved in the biological activities of FC leaves. The toxicity studies have suggested that FC leaves exhibit toxicity only at very high doses. We believe this review serve as a comprehensive resource for those who are interested to understand the scientific evidence that support the medicinal values of FC leaves and also the research gaps to further improve the commercial value and health benefits of FC leaves.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
A review suggests that figs may support the prevention or treatment of inflammatory diseases by reducing inflammatory mediators.
Aim of the study: Ficus carica (fig) and Olea europaea (olive) are valuable nutritional plants that are widely used in diet and traditional medicine. Different parts of the plants such as fruit and leaves contain beneficial compounds with diverse pharmacological properties, among which anti-inflammatory activities are remarkable. The purpose of this review is to discuss the anti-inflammatory effects of F. carica and O.
Results: As a result, we observed that most of the compounds in fig and olive including polyphenols, flavonoids, etc., exert their anti-inflammatory effects through inhibiting or decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, some natural antioxidants are common between these two plants. We suggest that consuming figs and olives simultaneously or alone can be useful in the prevention or treatment of inflammatory diseases.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
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