Larissa Adjoua Kouadio^1,, Pierre Martial Thierry Akely^{2, 3}, Adou Koffi Mathieu Kra¹, Goueh Gnahoue³

Regular consumption of fruits and vegetables is beneficial for health, as they play a role in preventing chronic diseases and reducing associated risks. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of ripe whole fruits and leaves of Ficus sycomorus on blood pressure. The vitamin and mineral contents of ripe whole fruits and leaves of Ficus sycomorus were determined. Hydroethanolic extracts were then prepared by homogenizing 100 g of the leaves or ripe whole fruits of Ficus sycomorus in one liter of ethanol (70%). The hypotensive effect of extracts was evaluated in vivo in normotensive rabbits. The vitamin content of the fruits is higher than that of the leaves, except for vitamins C and B1, which are higher in the leaves. Minerals also have higher levels in fruits, except for iron, which is abundant in leaves. All doses of extracts induced arterial hypotension in normotensive rabbits. However, the dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. of fruit extract yielded the best result. Hydroethanolic extracts of ripe whole fruits and leaves of Ficus sycomorus induced reductions in blood pressure values of normotensive rabbits of 15 to 20 mmHg and 8.57 to 14.28 mmHg respectively. These extracts possess hypotensive properties.

Ficus sycomorus, ripe fruits, leaves, hypotensive activity