Context: The plant kingdom has become a target in the search for new drugs and biologically active lead compounds. The common Jrani Tunisian caprifig Ficus carica L. (Moraceae) is one of the large number of plant species that are used in folklore medicine yet to be investigated for the treatment of many diseases, including those of infectious nature.
Objective: Hexane extract of the Tunisian common Jrani caprifig latex was assayed for antibacterial activity against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Chemical composition of the extract was also investigated.
Materials and methods: The hexane extract was obtained from Tunisian Jrani caprifig latex by maceration, and then analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The extract was tested in vitro for antibacterial activity by the disc diffusion method and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was also determined for all the test cultures.
Results: Thirty-six compounds of the extract were identified, 90.56% of the total area of peaks were coumarins. A strong bactericidal effect was demonstrated. The most sensitive bacteria were Staphylococcus saprophyticus clinical isolate, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, with a MIC of 19 µg/mL.
Discussion and conclusion: These findings demonstrate an effective in vitro antibacterial activity of the hexane extract of caprifig latex.