‘Wild Himalayan Fig alternative to synthetic painkillers’

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 19

A team of scholars conducted a study on ‘Wild Himalayan Fig’ and found that it has medicinal properties to cure pain. The ‘Wild Himalayan Fig’ is a popular fruit known as ‘Bedu’ in Kumaon region. It also has many other medicinal benefits, including curing skin diseases and infections.

What the study reveals...

• The study found that 'Wild Himalayan Fig', scientifically known as 'Ficus Palmata', contains two major components 'psoralen' and 'rutin'. Psoralen helps to block an enzyme called 'cyclooxygenase-2' (COX-2), which is also blocked by pain relievers (diclofenac) and rutin helps in binding mu-opioid (morphine).
• Over a time period of three years, the researchers studied analgesic results of 'Wild Himalayan Fig', which were tested on experimental rats and through computer modelling. According to study, 'Wild Himalayan Fig' can be used as an ingredient in nutraceutical products with therapeutic values.

The research was carried out in collaboration with Lovely Professional University, Kumaon University, Ganpat University, Sharda University, Messina University (Italy), Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (Iran). The research was led by Dr Devesh Tiwari of the LPU.

The study found that ‘Wild Himalayan Fig’, scientifically known as ‘Ficus Palmata’, contains two major components ‘psoralen’ and ‘rutin’. Psoralen helped to block an enzyme called ‘cyclooxygenase-2’ (COX-2), which is also blocked by pain relievers (diclofenac) and rutin helps in binding mu-opioid (morphine).

Over a time period of three years, the researchers studied analgesic results of ‘Wild Himalayan Fig’, which were tested on experimental rats and through computer modelling. According to study, ‘Wild Himalayan Fig’ can be used as an ingredient in nutraceutical products with therapeutic values.

Dr Tiwari said, “Wild Himalayan Fig is a safe plant-based alternative to synthetic pain relievers, including aspirin and diclofenac. Traditionally, this fruit is used for curing backpain in rural areas. So far, there is no study available on the analgesic effects of ficus palmata. Our research is the first to establish the ‘Wild Himalayan Fig’ as a natural pain reliever.”