Indian Laurel Fig

Overview

Ficus microcarpa is a species of fig tree native to tropical and subtropical Asia. This plant has been introduced and cultivated pantropically for use as an ornamental plant. In southern India the species is reportedly cultivated as a shade tree in coffee plantations, and it is abundantly planted in southeast Asia and other tropical regions as an ornamental tree, as well as for its use in traditional medicine in India, Malaysia, and southern China. In Southeast Asia, F. microcarpa is one of the species thought to harbor spirits, in China, big fig trees are associated with good spirits and vital energy, Qi.

Vernacular Names

Ara jejawi (Malay), Laurel de la India (Spanish), Laurier d'Inde (French), Rong shu (Chinese), Lorbeer Feigenbaum (German), Gajumaru (Japanese).

Agroecology

Found in varied locations, from rocky sea coasts to limestone hills, from swampy areas near the sea to montane forests. F. microcarpa generally grows at lower elevations and within tropical and temperate climate zones. In Queensland, Australia, for example, the species occurs in tropical rainforest climate and has a reported altitudinal range of 0-400 m. In Bolivia and Peru, it is reported for 0-500 m, and in Panama, 0-1000 m, while in China it has been recorded for mountain and plain regions below 1900 m. 

Morphology

• Trunks - has a rounded or flattened crown, with numerous, slender aerial roots hanging from the branches and twigs in a curtain-like mass. Some of the roots develop into woody, pillar roots that help support the spreading tree crown. Roots eventually develop into stout, pillar roots—a straggler fig that may begin life as an epiphyte. Bark is light grey and smooth. Branches are held horizontally or inclined.
• Leaves - variable, coriaceous, oblong, elliptic to broadly elliptic or obovate, usually 5-8 cm long, 3-5 cm wide, glabrous, margins entire, petioles 0.6-2 cm long.
• Flowers - synconia sessile, arising among or just below the leaves, depressed-globose, 6-10 mm in diameter, subtended by 3 broadly ovate, ± persistent bracts. 
• Fruits - a round syconia (fig) developing singly or in stalkless pairs, 5-7 mm wide, ripening to a dark pink or deep purple at maturity.

Cultivation

Propagated by stem cuttings - Propagation using stem cuttings is the most common way to propagate a Ficus plant. Using this technique, small plants are grown from cuttings, each with its own new root system.

Chemical Constituents

Triterpenoids, phenylpropanoids, and phenolic acids, beta-amyrin, lupeol, lupeol acetate, maslinic acid, epifriedelinol, stearic acid, beta-sitosterol, daucosterol, protocatechuic acid, catechol, p-vinylguaiacol, syringol, p-propylphenol, vanillin, p-propylguaiacol, isovanillic acid, 4-n-propylresorcinol, syringaldehyde, and oleanolic acid.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• Studies have suggested antibacterial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-diarrheal, anticancer, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic properties.
• Bark and latex from leaves and roots used for headaches, toothaches, and wounds. Also used for treating colic and liver problems.
• Aerial roots used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat toothaches, rheumatism and inflammation of the feet.
• In India, latex extracted from leaves is ingested to treat liver disease or applied to the skin to treat colic.
• Bark and leaves used to relieve headaches, while leaves and roots are used to promote healing of bruises and wounds.
• Used for ulcers, diarrhea, diabetes, dropsy, skin diseases, and inflammations.
• Steam from boiling young leaves used as a steam bath for fever or headache.