Phytochemical Content and Antioxidant Activities of Ficus carica Extracts

Fig (Ficus carica) is a fruit rich in bioactive compounds with potential health benefits, including the ability to modulate blood glucose levels and reduce oxidative stress. Efficient extraction of these bioactive molecules is essential to enhance their applications in functional and nutraceutical formulations. The efficiency of recovery, however, depends strongly on solvent polarity and extraction parameters. This study evaluated the effect of solvent polarity and extraction time on phytochemical recovery and antioxidant activity of fig powder. The phytochemical evaluation revealed significant variation among solvents. Methanolic extracts showed the highest total polyphenol content (3.15 ± 0.1 mg GAE/g) and exhibited superior antioxidant activities compared to aqueous and ethanolic extracts, particularly at 45 min of extraction. Antioxidant potential was confirmed by DPPH radical scavenging activity (70.2 ± 2.3%), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (16.6 ± 0.8 μM·TE/g), ABTS radical cation inhibition (9.5 ± 0.4 μM·TE/g), metal chelating activity (67 ± 3.8%), and β-carotene and linoleic acid assay (66.53 ± 3.68%). Proximate analysis confirmed fig powder as a fiber-rich, low-fat matrix suitable for functional food applications. These findings indicate that solvent type and extraction time directly influence bioactive yield and antioxidant performance. Methanolic extraction at 45 min was determined to be the optimal condition for maximizing phenolic recovery and antioxidant activity. The results reinforce Ficus carica as a valuable natural source of phenolics and antioxidants with promising applications in the formulation of functional foods and nutraceuticals.