OBJECTIVE: Gastric cancer is one of the gastrointestinal tract tumors associated with a poor prognosis. Ficus carica L. is one of the most outstanding species among many traditional medicines. The aim of our study is to determine the antioxidant content of Ficus carica L., and its therapeutic effects on gastric cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ficus carica L. was extracted in a different solvent. The antioxidant parameters of the different concentrations of extracts were measured photometrically. The human gastric adenocarcinoma cells (AGS) were incubated with different concentrations of Ficus carica L. extract for 24 hours; cell viability by the ATP test, and intracellular reactive oxygen species levels were determined by H₂DCF-DA fluorescent dye. Intracellular glutathione levels luminometrically, and mitochondrial membrane potential fluorometrically were detected. The apoptotic effect was analyzed with acridine orange/ ethidium bromide, and the genotoxic effect by the comet assay.

RESULTS: It was found that methanol extract has higher antioxidant content compared to ethanol extract (p<0.001). In addition, it has been revealed that methanol extract has cytotoxic, genotoxic, and apoptotic effects on gastric cancer cells statistically significantly (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: As a result of our study, it is thought that Ficus carica L., which has an anticancer effect, can be used together with routine treatments in gastric cancer.