Anatomical characterization and evaluation of antioxidant activity of Ficus auriculata Lour. In Việt Nam

Ficus auriculata (Moraceae), commonly known as “Vả” in Vietnam, is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and has long been used in traditional medicine and as a functional food source. This study aimed to investigate the morphological and anatomical characteristics of the roots, stems, and leaves, and to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the fruit extract. Plant samples were collected in Phan Đình Phùng Ward, Thai Nguyen Province. Morphological and anatomical analyses were performed using standard botanical methods and light microscopic observations. The results showed that Ficus auriculata possesses typical dicotyledonous characteristics, including well-developed secondary tissues, collateral vascular bundles, abundant laticifers, and clearly differentiated palisade and spongy mesophyll tissues in the leaf. The antioxidant activity of the ethanolic fruit extract was evaluated using the DPPH free radical scavenging assay. The extract exhibited strong antioxidant activity with an IC₅₀ value of 22.45 μg/mL, compared with 12.71 μg/mL for vitamin C. These findings suggest that the fruits of Ficus auriculata are a promising natural source of antioxidant compounds with potential applications in pharmaceutical and functional food industries.