Plant species from the Ficus genus are widely used as food, and in folk medicine as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer agents, although some of these species are known to produce adverse effects. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the chemical composition as well as in vitro antioxidant and mutagenic activity of the aqueous extracts of leaves from F. adhatodifolia and F. obtusiuscula. Phytochemical screening using thin-layer chromatography identified 6 classes of secondary metabolites in the extracts. Total phenolic content was estimated by the Folin-Ciocalteau method and the phenolic profile was determined by UPLC-DAD-ESI/MS/MS. Antioxidant activities were evaluated by the DPPH radical assay and by the β-carotene/linoleic acid system. Mutagenic activity was measured by the Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation test with 4 strains, in both the presence and absence of metabolic activation. Flavonoids, coumarins, and tannins were detected in both extracts, and 6 major derivatives were identified as flavone compounds. Antioxidant activities were demonstrated for both extracts, while F. obtusiuscula contained higher concentrations of phenolic compounds. Mutagenic activity of the TA97 strain without metabolic activation was observed for both tested extracts, as well as the TA102 strain with metabolic activation. In addition, the extract of F. adhatodifolia was shown to be mutagenic to the TA102 strain without metabolic activation. Evidence indicates that the use of teas obtained from these two plant extracts in folk medicine may raise concerns and needs further investigation as a result of potential pro-oxidant mutagenic effects in the absence or presence of metabolic activation.
Keywords: Ames test; Ficus adhatodifolia; Ficus obtusiuscula; Mutagenicity; Phytochemistry.