Fig (Ficus carica L.) is known to be one of the first plants cultivated and oldest known fruit tree by humans. By recent investigations it had been indicated that fig has been cultivated for over 11000 years conceivably exist before cereal grains. (Kislev, 2006; Borola, 2014). Ficus carica Linn. is having greatest commercial importance among all the species of fig and is known by the name of common fig (Anjeer in hindi). (Barolo, 2014) It is one of the largest genera of angiosperms, and a deciduous tree of mulberry family Moraceae with more than 800 species of epiphytes, trees, and shrubs in sub tropical and tropical regions throughout the world. This tree is a native of south western part of Asia minor, and progressively spread to Europe and around the world. (Mitrofanova, 2016) It is cultivated in many parts of Uttar Pradesh, western part of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Karnataka (Knap, 2016; Gond, 2008). It has been regarded from pre historical times as an anthropogonic tree and has been widely cultivated from ancient times for its fruits having nutritional value and referred to as figs. Figs have significant importance in Indian mythology throughout the tropics, both as objects of worship and for their many everyday uses. Ficus carica have been indicated in the traditional systems of medicine such as Unani, Siddha, Ayurveda and Chinese medicine for its therapeutic efficacies. (Shamkant, 2014; Borola, 2014) In human culture Ficus carica is a remarkable and ancient source of food and medicine (Borola, 2014; Nikhat, 2013).

Fruits of fig can be eaten raw, dried, canned, or in other preserved forms like in sweets and jam which can be eaten fresh or used in preparation of delicacies and cakes. As per USDA data, dried fig has the best nutrient score as it is an important source of vitamins and minerals among all dried fruits. Fig is rich in iron, proteins, calories, and highest fibre content. It is the richest source of calcium higher than milk. Fig has nutritive index of 11, as against 6, 8 and 9 for date, raisin, and apple (Gani, 2018).

Kingdom: Plantae

Arabic: Teen

Ficus carica is usually a 15-30 ft high, large deciduous tree or a large shrub with several branches from a trunk. Bark of the tree is grey, smooth or dull white or delicately hairy. Leaves are broad ovate or nearly orbicular, more or less deeply lobed, blade 10-20, petiole 5-7.5 cm, rough above and pubescent below. Flowers are unisexual, minute, closely crowded on the inner surface of large, hollow, externally pear-shaped receptacle, supported at base by several broad, smooth, scaly bracts, and perforated at apex by an orifice closed by numerous small scales. Male flowers: are few, found on lower part of receptacles. Stamens: usually 1-5, generally 3, sepals: 4, filaments: longer than perianth. Female flower: are found on the upper part of receptacles, shortly stalked, pedicellate, sepals-4, perianth very delicate and transparent, deeply cut into 3-5 acute segments, ovary superior, hyaline, 1-celled with a single ovule. The fruit of F. carica, like those of other species of ficus, is a syconium- a fleshy hollow receptacle of a pear shaped form, on the inner surface of which grows a multitude of minute fruits. The ripe and unripe fruit of fig is shown in figure 1 and figure 2. Depending upon the nature of flowers and the method of pollination, it is usual to distinguish pomologically in 4 distinct classes of figs, Common fig, Caprifig, Smyrna fig and San Pedro fig. Of these four types Smyrna fig is commercially important and is extensively grown in Europe and America. (Al-Snafi, 2017; Dymock, 2005; Shamkant, 2014)

■ Fruit -fresh and dried

Temperament of fig is hot in first degree and moist in second degree. Hot1 and Moist2. (CCRUM, 1987; Ali, 2012; Kabiruddin, 1953)

Jali (Detergent)

Several phytochemical studies describe the presence of numerous bioactive compounds like organic acids, phenolic compounds, volatile compounds and few other classes of secondary metabolites from different parts of Ficus carica. Fresh fruits of Ficus carica contains cyanidin-3-Orhamnoglucoside, Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, insoluble sugars, protein, iron, sodium, vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, cholesterol, and saturated fat. Various flavonoids, Alkaloids, saponins, coumarins and terpenes are found in ripe dried fruit. Dried fruit contained total higher amounts of phenolics than the pulp of fresh fruits. Leaves of Ficus carica contains many active ingredients such as Furano coumarins including xanthotoxin, psoralen, bergapten, triterpenes such as calotropenyl acetate, lupeol acetate, and Phenolic acids such as 3-O- and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acids, ferulic acid, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside. Dried seeds contain fixed oil including fatty acids. (Oguzhan, 2011; Rahmani, 2017) Triterpenoids have been isolated from latex (mainly as steryl derivatives) and roots, Acyl sterylglucosides were stated only from latex. (Rubnov, 2001; Barolo, 2014)

❖ Anti-inflammatory activity

By extensive literature survey, it was revealed that Ficus carica is an important medicinal plant which was used from traditional Unani system of medicine. It has been cultivated for over 11,000 years, possibly preceding cereal grains. It is a good source of vitamins, minerals (calcium, sodium and potassium), essential amino acids and dietary fibres. Nutrient composition of dried figs indicates that it has the best nutrient score among the dried fruits. Ficus carica is a rich source of naturally occurring antioxidant like phenolic compounds, flavonoids, phytosterols, sterols, anthocyanins and volatile compounds. Phenolic compounds and flavonoids play a vital role in preventing the health disorder which is related to oxidative stress including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.

F. carica fruit is used to treat constipation, worked as laxative, purgative, antipyretic and aphrodisiac, dysentery and enteritis, fig is useful in piles, gout, in liver and spleen disorders as mentioned in Unani literature. Roots are used in treatment of ringworm and leucoderma. Latex of fig has been used as vermifuge as mentioned in classical literature.