Medicinal and Pharmacological Potentiality of the Plant At-Tîn-Common Fig (Ficus carica L.)

Abstract

At-Tin (Ficus carica L.) of family Moraceae is commonly known as edible fig. This plant has been mentioned in the Holy Qur'an (in Sura 'At-Tin') only once. Islamic scholars have different views regarding the interpretation of the plant At-Tin. Most of them have interpreted it in the meaning of common fig in their interpretation on the Holy Qur'an. According to some authorities the fig means Mosque of Syria or Mountain of Syria or Mosque of Nuh which was built upon the Mountain Al-Judi. Some commentators say that At-Tin signifies a mountain nearby to which 'Jerusalem' is situated and that is the place of birth of Hazrat Essa (Alaihi Salaam). The fruit of Ficus carica (Fig) has been widely used in traditional medicine as laxative, anthelmintic, demulcent, emollient, galactogogue, vermifuge, nutritive, stimulant for the brain, poultice for gumboils and for the treatment of anemia, dental abscesses, heart-disease, hemorrhoids, osteoporosis and tumors. Consequently, fig has been extensively studied for its biological activities and has been shown antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiwart, anticancer, antidiabetic, antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties.