Sains Malaysiana 55(4)(2026): 613-624

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5504-02

 

Antioxidant and Antihyperlipidemic Potential of Ficus deltoidea Leaf Extracts: In Vitro Inhibition of LDL Oxidation and HMG-COA Reductase, and Reduction of Lipid Accumulation in Palmitic Acid-Induced HepG2 Cells

(Potensi Antioksidan dan Antihiperlipidemik Ekstrak Daun Ficus deltoidea: Perencatan In Vitro Pengoksidaan LDL dan HMG-CoA Reduktase serta Pengurangan Pengumpulan Lipid dalam Sel HepG2 Teraruh-Asid Palmitik)

 

FATHIN NABIHA MD LAZI¹, NORHANIZA AMINUDIN^1,2,* & NOORLIDAH ABDULLAH¹  

 

¹Institute Biological of Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

²Universiti Malaya Centre for Proteomics Research (UMCPR), Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

Received: 8 May 2025/Accepted: 7 April 2026

 

Abstract

Hyperlipidemia is a growing concern due to its association with cardiovascular disease, a leading global cause of mortality. Ficus deltoidea(Mas Cotek), traditionally consumed in Malaysia, has demonstrated antioxidant properties and the ability to reduce cholesterol. To date, the potential of F. deltoidea leaves for treating hyperlipidemia remains largely unexplored.  In this study, water extraction of F. deltoidea leaves produced a crude extract (CE) further separated into water (WF) and ethyl acetate (EAF) fractions. Antioxidant capacities were assessed through various assays including the Folin-Ciocalteu assay, as well as the 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging, the cupric ion reducing capacity, and the inhibition of lipid peroxidation assays. The CE, also both WF and EAF of F. deltoidea leaves were then evaluated for their ability to inhibit the oxidation of human low-density lipoproteins. It was discovered that CE demonstrated the highest antioxidant activities and exhibited the most potent effect in prevention of human low-density lipoprotein oxidation. The antihyperlipidemic potential of F. deltoidea leaves was also evaluated based on their inhibitory effect on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase and their ability to reduce intracellular lipid accumulation in palmitic acid (PA)-stimulated HepG2 cells. CE demonstrated the strongest inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase activity and significantly reduced PA-induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells in both pre- and post-treatment protocols. Consequently, F. deltoidea leaves could be an excellent source of natural antioxidants and antihyperlipidemic agents, essential for maintaining healthy cardiovascular function.

Keywords: Antioxidant; cardiovascular disease; Ficus deltoidea; hyperlipidemia; lipid

 

Abstrak

Hiperlipidemia merupakan masalah kesihatan yang semakin meningkat kerana kaitannya yang kuat dengan penyakit kardiovaskular, salah satu punca utama kematian di seluruh dunia. Ficus deltoidea (Mas Cotek), sejenis tumbuhan yang secara tradisi digunakan di Malaysia, telah menunjukkan sifat antioksidan serta keupayaan menurunkan kolesterol. Namun, potensinya dalam merawat hiperlipidemia masih belum dikaji secara meluas. Dalam kajian ini, daun F. deltoidea diekstrak menggunakan air untuk menghasilkan ekstrak kasar (CE), yang kemudiannya dipisahkan kepada fraksi air (WF) dan etil asetat (EAF). Aktiviti antioksida dinilai menggunakan beberapa ujian termasuk kaedah Folin–Ciocalteu, ujian penyingkiran radikal bebas DPPH, ujian keupayaan penurunan ion kuprik serta ujian perencatan peroksidasi lipid. Ekstrak CE, WF dan EAF juga diuji untuk keupayaan menghalang pengoksidaan lipoprotein berketumpatan rendah (LDL) manusia. Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa CE mempunyai aktiviti antioksida yang paling tinggi serta kesan paling kuat dalam menghalang pengoksidaan LDL. Potensi antihiperlipidemia daun F. deltoidea turut dinilai melalui keupayaan menghalang aktiviti HMG-CoA reduktase dan mengurangkan pengumpulan lipid intrasel dalam sel HepG2 yang dirangsang dengan asid palmitik (PA). CE menunjukkan perencatan paling kuat terhadap HMG-CoA reduktase serta berjaya mengurangkan pengumpulan lipid dengan ketara dalam kedua-dua protokol sebelum dan selepas rawatan. Secara keseluruhannya, daun F. deltoidea berpotensi tinggi sebagai sumber antioksida semula jadi dan agen antihiperlipidemik yang penting untuk menyokong kesihatan kardiovaskular.

Kata kunci: Antioksida; Ficus deltoidea; hiperlipidemia; lipid; penyakit kardiovaskular

 

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*Corresponding author; email: hanizaaminudin@um.edu.my