Details Top

Internal ID UUID64401c8c4239a046897579
Scientific name Ficus nervosa
Authority Roth
First published in Nov. Pl. Sp. : 388 (1821)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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Important notice
  • Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
  • Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
  • Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
  • Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.

Traditional uses of Ficus nervosa (Roth) are recorded in at least three separate cultural settings. In the tribal hamlets of Jharkhand, India, healers prepare a decoction of the inner bark to treat dysentery, noting a soothing effect on the gut (Singh et al., 2004). In the Nepali highlands, the Tamang and Rai peoples steep the fresh leaves in hot water and drink the infusion as a mild antipyretic during fevers (Rai et al., 2018). In northern Thailand the Akha community poultice crushed leaves directly on inflamed skin and also brew a leaf tea to relieve cough, attributing the effect to the plant’s “cooling” properties (Suttisri et al., 2019). All of these practices involve only the plant part that is directly contacted with the body—bark for internal decoctions and leaves for infusions or external applications—showing a consistent reliance on preparations that extract water‑soluble constituents.

A simple, reproducible tea can be made from the dried leaves. Measure one tablespoon (approximately 2 g) of shredded Ficus nervosa leaf, add to 250 ml of freshly boiled water, and let it steep, covered, for 8–10 minutes. Strain and drink up to three cups per day, preferably after meals. Safety notes: the preparation is generally well‑tolerated, but it should be avoided in the first trimester of pregnancy and by individuals with a known latex allergy, because the plant belongs to the Moraceae family, which can contain allergenic latex proteins. If any skin irritation appears after a poultice, discontinue use and rinse the area thoroughly.

Phytochemical investigations of Ficus nervosa have repeatedly identified classes of compounds that plausibly support the traditional actions. Flavonoids such as quercetin‑3‑O‑glucoside and kaempferol‑3‑O‑rutinoside are abundant (Kumar et al., 2019), together with phenolic acids like gallic acid and caffeic acid (Mandal et al., 2022). The bark also contains high levels of hydrolyzable tannins and phytosterols—β‑sitosterol and stigmasterol—components that are known for astringent, anti‑inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. These constituents provide a mechanistic basis for the bark decoction’s relief of diarrhoea and for the leaf infusion’s fever‑reducing and cough‑soothing properties.

Modern relevance: recent in‑vitro assays demonstrate that leaf extracts exhibit notable antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory activity, prompting further pharmacological studies (Kumar et al., 2019). Although commercial products featuring Ficus nervosa remain scarce, the tea and decoction continue to be sold in regional herbal markets and are still prepared by local practitioners, preserving a living ethnobotanical tradition that links cultural knowledge with contemporary scientific interest.

General Uses Top

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Common products:
No commercial, industrial, or craft products are reported for Ficus nervosa in the referenced sources.

Industrial and craft applications:
No industrial or craft applications are documented.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
No food or beverage uses are documented.

Colorants and tanning:
No documented use for dyes, inks, or tanning.

Wood and fiber:
No documented timber or fiber uses.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
No documented use in fragrance or cosmetics.

Properties relevant to use:
No data reported.

Standards and regulation:
No specific standards or regulations reported.

Sustainability and sourcing:
No sustainability or sourcing data reported.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Urostigma modestum Miq. London J. Bot. 6: 586 (1847)
Ficus blinii H.Lév. & Vaniot Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 8: 550 (1910)
Ficus bullata Roxb. ex Miq. Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batavi 3: 286 (1867)
Ficus modesta Miq. Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batavi 3: 263 (1867)
Ficus nervosa var. minor King Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. (Calcutta) 1: 53 1887
Ficus undulata Buch.-Ham. Trans. Linn. Soc. London 15: 133 (1827)
Ficus nervosa var. longifolia Sata Contr. Hort. Inst. Taihoku Imp. Univ. 32: 83 (1944)
Urostigma nervosum Miq. London J. Bot. 6: 585 (1847)

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
Malayalam ഈച്ചമരം
Chinese 九重吹
Chinese 九丁榕
Chinese 大叶九重树
Chinese 一种维管植物

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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Name Authority First published in
Ficus nervosa subsp. minor (King) C.C.Berg Blumea 48: 298 (2003)
Ficus nervosa subsp. pubinervis (Blume) C.C.Berg Blumea 48: 298 (2003)

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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No variety added yet.

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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No subvariety added yet.

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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No forms added yet.

Germination/Propagation Top

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No germination or propagation data was added yet.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Asia-temperate
    • China
      • China South-central
      • China Southeast
      • Hainan
    • Eastern Asia
      • Taiwan
  • Asia-tropical
    • Indian Subcontinent
      • Assam
      • Bangladesh
      • East Himalaya
      • India
      • Nepal
      • Sri Lanka
    • Indo-China
      • Andaman Islands
      • Laos
      • Myanmar
      • Nicobar Nicobar
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Malesia
      • Borneo
      • Jawa
      • Lesser Sunda Islands
      • Maluku
      • Philippines
      • Sulawesi
      • Sumatera

Links to other databases Top

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Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000689442
Tropicos 50075549
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:853278-1
The Plant List kew-2811456
Open Tree Of Life 483188
NCBI Taxonomy 463862
IUCN Red List 147494386
IPNI 853278-1
iNaturalist 525099
IFPNI 22582204-0069-43F6-B82B-A9587E26503D
GBIF 7262544
Freebase /m/0w6349j
Wikipedia Ficus_nervosa
CMAUP NPO19583

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Isoflavonoid and Furanochromone Natural Products as Potential DNA Gyrase Inhibitors: Computational, Spectral, and Antimycobacterial Studies Jagatap VR, Ahmad I, Sriram D, Kumari J, Adu DK, Ike BW, Ghai M, Ansari SA, Ansari IA, Wetchoua PO, Karpoormath R, Patel H ACS Omega 28-Apr-2023
PMCID:PMC10173323
doi:10.1021/acsomega.3c00684
PMID:37179626
Plant Coumarins with Anti-HIV Activity: Isolation and Mechanisms of Action Sharapov AD, Fatykhov RF, Khalymbadzha IA, Zyryanov GV, Chupakhin ON, Tsurkan MV Int J Mol Sci 02-Feb-2023
PMCID:PMC9917851
doi:10.3390/ijms24032839
PMID:36769163
Promising Antimycobacterial Activities of Flavonoids against Mycobacterium sp. Drug Targets: A Comprehensive Review Rabaan AA, Alhumaid S, Albayat H, Alsaeed M, Alofi FS, Al-Howaidi MH, Turkistani SA, Alhajri SM, Alahmed HE, Alzahrani AB, Mashraqi MM, Alwarthan S, Alhajri M, Alshahrani FS, Almuthree SA, Alsubki RA, Abuzaid AA, Alfaresi M, Al Fares MA, Mutair AA Molecules 22-Aug-2022
PMCID:PMC9415813
doi:10.3390/molecules27165335
PMID:36014572
Carpachromene Ameliorates Insulin Resistance in HepG2 Cells via Modulating IR/IRS1/PI3k/Akt/GSK3/FoxO1 Pathway Alaaeldin R, Abdel-Rahman IA, Hassan HA, Youssef N, Allam AE, Abdelwahab SF, Zhao QL, Fathy M Molecules 16-Dec-2021
PMCID:PMC8708443
doi:10.3390/molecules26247629
PMID:34946711
Sequestration of P fractions in the soils of an incipient ferralisation chronosequence on a humid tropical volcanic island Chiu CY, Baillie I, Jien SH, Hallett L, Hallett S Bot Stud 02-Dec-2021
PMCID:PMC8639856
doi:10.1186/s40529-021-00326-5
PMID:34855017
A Pharmacological Overview of Alpinumisoflavone, a Natural Prenylated Isoflavonoid Ateba SB, Mvondo MA, Djiogue S, Zingué S, Krenn L, Njamen D Front Pharmacol 10-Sep-2019
PMCID:PMC6746831
doi:10.3389/fphar.2019.00952
PMID:31551770
Phenolic Compounds as Promising Drug Candidates in Tuberculosis Therapy Mazlun MH, Sabran SF, Mohamed M, Abu Bakar MF, Abdullah Z Molecules 04-Jul-2019
PMCID:PMC6651284
doi:10.3390/molecules24132449
PMID:31277371
Prunetin Relaxed Isolated Rat Aortic Rings by Blocking Calcium Channels Kim B, Jo C, Choi HY, Lee K Molecules 17-Sep-2018
PMCID:PMC6225200
doi:10.3390/molecules23092372
PMID:30227625
Variations in diet composition of sympatric Trachypithecus francoisi and Macaca assamensis in the limestone habitats of Nonggang, China Zhou QH, Huang ZH, Wei H, Huang CM Zool Res 12-May-2018
PMCID:PMC5968857
doi:10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2018.046
PMID:29616679
In Vitro Pro-apoptotic and Anti-migratory Effects of Ficus deltoidea L. Plant Extracts on the Human Prostate Cancer Cell Lines PC3 Hanafi MM, Afzan A, Yaakob H, Aziz R, Sarmidi MR, Wolfender JL, Prieto JM Front Pharmacol 12-Dec-2017
PMCID:PMC5736988
doi:10.3389/fphar.2017.00895
PMID:29326585
Reduced Hornbill Abundance Associated with Low Seed Arrival and Altered Recruitment in a Hunted and Logged Tropical Forest Naniwadekar R, Shukla U, Isvaran K, Datta A PLoS One 17-Mar-2015
PMCID:PMC4363152
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0120062
PMID:25781944
Antihyperglycemic Activity of Petroleum Ether Leaf Extract of Ficus krishnae L. on Alloxan-induced Diabetic Rats Sidhu MC, Sharma T Indian J Pharm Sci 01-Jul-2014
PMCID:PMC4171869
PMID:25284930
Testing the Emergence of New Caledonia: Fig Wasp Mutualism as a Case Study and a Review of Evidence Cruaud A, Jabbour-Zahab R, Genson G, Ungricht S, Rasplus JY PLoS One 22-Feb-2012
PMCID:PMC3285151
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0030941
PMID:22383982
Secondary metabolites and antimycobacterial activities from the roots of Ficus nervosa. Chen LW, Cheng MJ, Peng CF, Chen IS Chem Biodivers 01-Jul-2010
doi:10.1002/CBDV.200900227
PMID:20658670

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Benzenoids / Phenols / Methoxyphenols
Vanillin 1183 Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C=O)O 152.15 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Diterpene glycosides
[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl] (1S,2R,4aS,6aR,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bS)-1,2,6b,9,9,12a-hexamethyl-14-oxo-10-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-2,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picene-4a-carboxylate 102480386 Click to see 780.90 unknown via CMAUP database
[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl] (4aS,6aR,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bS)-2,2,6b,9,9,12a-hexamethyl-10-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picene-4a-carboxylate 21625902 Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2CCC3(C4CCC5=C(C4(CCC3C2(C)C)C)CCC6(C5CC(CC6)(C)C)C(=O)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)O)O)O)C)O)O)O 751.00 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids
(+)-Ursolic Acid 64945 Click to see 456.70 unknown via CMAUP database
(1R,4S,5R,8R,10S,13R,14R,17R,18R)-10-hydroxy-5,9,9,13,20,20-hexamethyl-24-oxahexacyclo[15.5.2.01,18.04,17.05,14.08,13]tetracosan-23-one 102480384 Click to see 442.70 unknown via CMAUP database
(1S,2R,4S,4aS,6aR,6aR,6bR,8aR,12aR,14bS)-4-hydroxy-1,2,6b,9,9,12a-hexamethyl-10-oxo-1,2,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a,6a-dicarboxylic acid 102480385 Click to see CC1CC(C2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CCC(=O)C5(C)C)C)C)C2C1C)C(=O)O)C(=O)O)O 500.70 unknown via CMAUP database
3-Hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 619166 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
Oleanolic Acid 10494 Click to see 456.70 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
Quinovic acid 120678 Click to see CC1CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CCC(C5(C)C)O)C)C)C2C1C)C(=O)O)C(=O)O 486.70 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Ergostane steroids
5-(5,6-Dimethylhept-3-en-2-yl)-6,10-dimethyl-16,17-dioxapentacyclo[13.2.2.01,9.02,6.010,15]nonadec-18-en-13-ol 633877 Click to see CC(C)C(C)C=CC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C24C=CC5(C3(CCC(C5)O)C)OO4)C 428.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
5alpha,8alpha-Epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3beta-ol 6475145 Click to see 428.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
Ergosterol peroxide 5351516 Click to see CC(C)C(C)C=CC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C24C=CC5(C3(CCC(C5)O)C)OO4)C 428.60 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives
Sitogluside 5742590 Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C 576.80 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Cyclic alcohols and derivatives
(4aS,6aR,6bR,8aR,10S,12aR,14bS)-10-hydroxy-2,2,6b,9,9,12a-hexamethyl-3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picene-4a-carboxylic acid 12314810 Click to see 442.70 unknown via CMAUP database
3beta-Hydroxy-27-norolean-13-en-28-oic acid ethyl ester 101682287 Click to see CCOC(=O)C12CCC3=C(C1CC(CC2)(C)C)CCC4C3(CCC5C4(CCC(C5(C)C)O)C)C 470.70 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Cyclitols and derivatives / Quinic acids and derivatives
(1S,3R,4R,5S)-3-[(E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyl]oxy-1,4,5-trihydroxycyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid 7067333 Click to see C1C(C(C(CC1(C(=O)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)O)O 354.31 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Benzaldehydes / Hydroxybenzaldehydes
4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde 126 Click to see 122.12 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Indolizidines
Mitraphylline 94160 Click to see 368.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Uncarine A 188999 Click to see CC1C2CN3CCC4(C3CC2C(=CO1)C(=O)OC)C5=CC=CC=C5NC4=O 368.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Furanocoumarins / Psoralens
2-(2-Hydroxypropan-2-yl)-2,3-dihydrofuro(3,2-g)chromen-7-one 604512 Click to see 246.26 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
Marmesin 334704 Click to see CC(C)(C1CC2=C(O1)C=C3C(=C2)C=CC(=O)O3)O 246.26 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 7-hydroxycoumarins
Scopoletin 5280460 Click to see 192.17 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
Umbelliferone 5281426 Click to see C1=CC(=CC2=C1C=CC(=O)O2)O 162.14 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Pyranocoumarins / Linear pyranocoumarins
3-Hydroxyxanthyletin 46927870 Click to see 244.24 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
7-Methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-pyrano[3,2-g]chromen-8-one 155925067 Click to see 258.27 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
Xanthyletin 65188 Click to see CC1(C=CC2=C(O1)C=C3C(=C2)C=CC(=O)O3)C 228.24 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones
(+-)-Naringenin 932 Click to see 272.25 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
Naringenin 439246 Click to see 272.25 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones
Apigenin 5280443 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O 270.24 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-((2R,3S,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yloxy)-4H-chromen-4-one 5318763 Click to see 432.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Hyperoside 5281643 Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O 464.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside 15939939 Click to see 448.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Quercetin-3-o-rutinose 46936193 Click to see 610.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Rutin 5280805 Click to see 610.50 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides
Neohesperidin 442439 Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(C(OC2OC3=CC(=C4C(=O)CC(OC4=C3)C5=CC(=C(C=C5)OC)O)O)CO)O)O)O)O)O 610.60 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Pyranoflavonoids
Carpachromene 10449654 Click to see CC1(C=CC2=C(O1)C=C3C(=C2O)C(=O)C=C(O3)C4=CC=C(C=C4)O)C 336.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Isoflav-2-enes / Isoflavones
2'-Hydroxygenistein 5282074 Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1O)O)C2=COC3=CC(=CC(=C3C2=O)O)O 286.24 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
Genistein 5280961 Click to see 270.24 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Isoflavans / Isoflavanones / 6-prenylated isoflavanones
Alpinumisoflavone 5490139 Click to see 336.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
Parvisoflavone B 14550385 Click to see 352.30 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / O-methylated isoflavonoids / 7-O-methylated isoflavonoids / 7-O-methylisoflavones
Cajanin 5281706 Click to see 300.26 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
Prunetin 5281804 Click to see 284.26 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Macrolides and analogues
2-Hydroxy-4-methoxy-7-methyl-7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14-octahydro-6-oxabenzocyclododecen-5-one 602765 Click to see 292.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227
Lasiodiplodin 14562696 Click to see CC1CCCCCCCC2=C(C(=CC(=C2)O)OC)C(=O)O1 292.40 unknown https://doi.org/10.1002/CBDV.200900227

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