Modulatory Effects of Leave and Fruit Extracts of Ficus sycomorus on Cytostatic and Inflammatory Mediators in Monocultures and Co-cultures of Human Keratinocyte (HaCat) and Human Monocyte (THP-1) Cell Lines

ABSTRACT

Background: Ficus sycomorus is one of the recommended antipsoriatic medicinal plants in the traditional Greco-Arab herbal medicine. However, the knowledge on its action mechanisms is limited. Aims: Cytotoxic, cytostatic, and anti-inflammatory effects of water/ethanolic extracts of Ficus sycomorus leaves and fruits were evaluated to test their role in the traditionally known antipsoriatic properties. Place and Duration of Study All the experiments were done in the Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Arab American University-Palestine in 2020. Plants were collected from the Northern region of the West Bank/Palestine during the fall months in 2019 and given (Voucher code Pharm-PCT-1030) at An-Najah National University. Methodology: MTT assay was used to evaluate cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of Ficus sycomorus extracts in human skin keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT), human monocytic cell line (THP-1)-derived macrophages, and their co-cultures. Commercial ELISA kits were applied to measure the cytokine levels. Results: Both extracts exhibited cytostatic effects with IC 50 of 656 ?g/mL and 886 ?g/mL for HaCat and co-culture, respectively. Leaves and fruits extracts significantly reduced dose-dependently the LPS-induced NO production by THP-1-derived macrophages from 65 ?M to 19 ?M and 16 ?M, respectively. The fruit extracts showed higher effects than the leaf extracts and reduced the TNF-? levels from 709 pg/mL to 208 pg/mL. The fruit extracts increased the production levels of IL-10 from 74 pg/mL to 90 pg/mL. Conclusion: Ficus sycomorus extracts probably exert their antipsoriatic effects through cytostatic effects and modulation of the production levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.