Figs The Genus Ficus

About this book

With a history as ancient as any cultivated fruit, many believe the fig has been with us even longer than the pomegranate. The Ficus constitutes one of the largest and hardiest genera of flowering plants featuring as many as 750 species. Although the extraordinary mutualism between figs and their pollinating wasps has received much attention, the phylogeny of both partners is only beginning to be reconstructed. The fig plant does have a long history of traditional use as a medicine and has been a subject of significant modern research.

Figs, the Genus Ficus brings together those histories, ancient and modern, to present an extraordinary profile of an extraordinary plant with an abundance of medical uses and a reputation as both a delicacy and a diet staple in some regions of the world. Several chapters within the book are devoted to intensive study of different parts of the tree: fruits, leaves, bark and stem, roots, and latex. These chapters discuss the Ficus genus as a whole, including the botany of the most important species that have been related to that particular part pharmacologically.

The authors, Dr. Ephraim Lansky MD, highly respected as one of the world’s only physician pharmcognocists and Dr. Helena Paavilainen, a renowned researcher of natural products, go on to consider the chemistry and pharmacology of each part in selected Ficus species, and modern, medieval, and ancient methods for obtaining and preparing the beneficial components from that plant part for medicinal use. Special attention is paid to the plants' propensity for fighting inflammation, including cancer. Figs’ future potential is considered in a number of treatments, as are future areas of research.

Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction
References
Chapter 2. Overview of Ficus genus
References
Chapter 3. Fruits
Summary
References
Chapter 4. Leaves.
Alkaloids
Coumarins
Flavonoids
Terpenoids, Sterols
Peptides and Proteins.
Nociception.
Inflammation
Osteoporosis, Viruses, Parasites
Toxicology
Historical Uses
Summary
References .
Chapter 5. Latex
Historical Uses of Ficus Latex
Chemistry and Pharmacology of Fig Latex
Hypertension
Signal Transduction Modulation
Blood Coagulation
Chitinase-Related Activities
viii Contents
Warts
Cancer
Psoriasis .
Hepatotoxicity
Allergy
For the Plant
References 
Chapter 6. Bark, Wood, and Stems
Chemistry
References
Chapter 7. Roots (Including Aerial Roots and Root Bark)
Historical Uses
References
Chapter 8. Fig Wasps.
References
Chapter 9. Figs and Humans
Terradiagnostics
Terratherapeutics
Ecology, Nutrition, and Novel Applications
Figs and Medicine.
References
Chapter 10. Ficus Post-Script
References
Index

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