IN-VITRO ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTI-DIABETIC ASSAYS OF ETHYL ACETATE LEAF AND STEMBARK EXTRACTS OF FICUS CONGENSIS ENGL

Inflammation and diabetes mellitus are major global health concerns, often managed using synthetic drugs with potential side effects. Medicinal plants, such as Ficus congensis, have been traditionally used for their therapeutic properties. This study evaluates the in-vitro antiinflammatory and anti-diabetic activities of ethyl acetate extracts from the leaf and stem bark of Ficus congensis to explore their potential as natural therapeutic agents. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using the Human red blood cell (HBRC) membrane stabilization assay, while the anti-diabetic activity was evaluated using the α-amylase inhibition assay. The phytochemical composition of the extracts was also analyzed to identified the presence of bioactive constituents. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, steroids, and saponins, with the stem bark extract containing higher levels of flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and steroids, which may have contributed to its stronger anti-inflammatory activity. The stem bark extract exhibited stronger anti-inflammatory activity than the leaf extract, with an IC50 of 2.49µg/mL and IC90 of 2.82µg/mL, compared to IC50 of 2.71µg/mL and IC90 of 2.98µg/mL for the leaf extract. The leaf extract showed stronger α-amylase inhibitory activity, with IC50 of 1.96µg/mL and IC90 of 2.64µg/mL, while the stem bark extract had IC50 of 2.12µg/mL and IC90 of 2.70µg/mL. The findings suggest that the stem bark extract is more effective for antiinflammatory applications, while the leaf extract has greater anti-diabetic potential. These results validated the traditional use of Ficus congensis in managing inflammation and diabetes. However, further in-vivo studies, mechanism-based research, and toxicity evaluations are required to confirm its therapeutic potential and ensure its safety for pharmaceutical application