Unveiling Bioactive Potential of Methanol and Dichloromethane Extracts of Ficus sycomorus L.: Linking Phytochemical Composition to Anti-Inflammatory Activity
| dc.contributor.author | Muthee, Eunice Wothaya | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-03-26T09:02:43Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-03-26T09:02:43Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-08 | |
| dc.description | A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Science (Biotechnology) in the School of Pure and Applied Sciences of Kenyatta University, August, 2025 Supervisors; 1.Mathew Piero Ngugi 2.Alex K Machocho | |
| dc.description.abstract | Inflammation is the mechanism by which the immune system initiates the healing process. Inflammation is treated using synthetic drugs linked to severe effects and resistance necessitating the need for safer alternatives. Herbal remedies have active phytocompounds that are highly effective in treating inflammation. They are arguably affordable and with fewer severe effects, which makes them suitable alternative agents. Ficus sycomorus is used by Mbeere community to treat inflammation but there lacks the science-based data to support the claim. This study aimed at determining anti-edema properties of DCM and MeOH stembark and leaf extracts of F. sycomorus in mice, as well as quantitative phytochemical analysis. The medicinal plant samples were collected from Embu County, Kenya. The plant was identified by a taxonomist at the National Museums of Kenya. Dichloromethane and methanol were used in the extraction. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques were used for phytochemical analysis. Swiss albino mice aged from seven to eight weeks and weighing between 20 and 22 g. The animals were randomly classified into six groups (n=5): normal control, negative control, positive control, and three experimental groups. The normal control mice received normal saline (0.1 ml). Carrageenan (0.1 ml) was used to induce edema. One hour after edema induction, the negative and positive control mice intraperitoneally received 0.1 ml of normal saline and diclofenac (0.1 ml-15 mg/kg bw), respectively. The three experimental groups intraperitoneally received the extracts at dosages of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg bw. The study employed one factorial analysis of variance to compute for significant variations across the groups under investigation. In case statistical variations, Tukey’s post hoc was employed. The significance threshold was inferred at p<0.05. Results revealed the extracts’ anti-inflammatory effects ranging from 2.67 to 16.54%. The Me OH extracts showed the best effects (16.54%) at dose of 200 mg/kg bw compared with DCM extracts. The LC-MS analysis identified ferulic acid – phenolic (14.27 %) as the highest abundant phytocompound followed by catechin - flavonoid (16.87%). The most abundant compound identified by GC-MS was zierone – terpenoid (40.68%). Some of these phytocompounds are linked to anti-inflammatory effects. Conclusions drawn from the study is that the extracts can be used in the development of alternative therapeutic agents with anti-inflammatory effect. The study recommends assessment of safety profiles and isolation of fractions of the studied extracts | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Kenyatta University | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/32856 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Kenyatta University | |
| dc.title | Unveiling Bioactive Potential of Methanol and Dichloromethane Extracts of Ficus sycomorus L.: Linking Phytochemical Composition to Anti-Inflammatory Activity | |
| dc.type | Article |