Researchers have found that the sycamore fig (Ficus sycomorus) could be used to reverse that adverse effects caused by stress. The study, which appeared in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, found that the bark of the sycamore fig contains bioactive compounds that function similarly to antidepressants which can treat conditions brought about by an unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) model in animal studies.
UCMS is a widely accepted model for depression in animals. In the study, the team looked at whether the extract obtained from the bark of the sycamore fig is able to relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and memory impairment following UCMS. In the experiment, researchers examined the rats for behaviors related to anxiety, depression, and anhedonia (the inability to feel pleasure). For the latter, this was done using a sucrose test before and after UCMS. In addition, the extracts were subjected to other tests to determine its total antioxidant capacity, as well as its other chemical properties.
Researchers found that rats treated with the sycamore fig extract had reversed the effects of UCMS. In particular, rats felt anhedonia after the test, but this was reversed after treatment with the extract, with rats showing an increase in sucrose consumption. This suggests that using the sycamore fig can influence a patient’s sense of pleasure, which is usually affected by depression.
The rats also performed better in tests designed to evaluate memory and anxiety after treatment, which supported the claim that the sycamore fig contained antidepressive properties. Researchers opined that this biological activity is a result of the potent flavonoids that are present in the extract. These, for instance, reduce oxidative stress in the brain, especially in the areas where learning and memory were involved. In addition, these also contained anti-inflammatory properties that are closely associated with the inhibition of enzymes that cause anxiety and mood disorders.
“These results suggest that the plant extract has an in vivo antioxidant activity and is capable of ameliorating the effect of ROS [reactive oxygen species (a process linked to oxidative stress)] in the brain of rats,” they added.
The researchers concluded that the sycamore fig is able to reverse the effects of UCMS, which gives it its antidepressant-like effect.
