Common Fig Tree, Or Fig.

Common Fig Tree, Or Fig: Description, Properties and Application

The common fig tree, also known as the fig, is a shrub or small tree belonging to the mulberry family. It can reach a height of up to 12 meters, and its crown has a spreading shape. Fig trees have a powerful root system.

The bark of the fig tree is light gray and smooth. Young shoots are green and contain milky juice. The leaves of the fig tree are large, dark green, with a hard, rough surface on top and a glandular-pubescent surface below. The fig tree blooms from April to October, and its flowers are located inside the receptacle. The fruit of the fig tree is a nut embedded in yellow or purple fruits that ripen from June to October.

The fig tree is common in the Crimea, Transcaucasia, Central Asia, southern Ukraine and Moldova, and was introduced into culture. Fig tree wood is used for turning, and the fruits of cultivated varieties can be consumed fresh, dried or dried. Fig tree seed oil is used in the paint and varnish industry.

Jams, marmalades, pastilles, sweets, gingerbreads and compotes are made from figs. The leaves, bark, petioles, fruits and seeds of the fig tree serve as medicinal raw materials. The bark is collected during sap flow, and the leaves and petioles are collected in the first half of summer, dried in the sun and dried in the shade or in a dryer at a temperature of 25-30°C. The petioles are used to obtain juice. The fruits are harvested as they ripen and dried in the usual way.

The fig tree contains alkaloids, higher fatty acids (cerotinic, linolenic, etc.), organic acids (valeric and isovaleric), essential oil, triterpenoids, phenolcarboxylic acids, tannins and coumarins. The fruits of the fig tree contain sugars, organic acids, vitamins Bi, B2, C, E, PP, potassium salts, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron and various enzymes. Preparations from various parts of the plant have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, hemostatic, laxative and diuretic effects. Fig tree leaves can be used to treat respiratory conditions such as bronchitis and asthma, and to reduce inflammation and pain from rheumatism and arthritis. Fig tree bark can help treat diarrhea, and the fruits can be used to improve digestion and reduce blood cholesterol levels.

However, as with any medicinal plant, you should consult your doctor or herbalist before using the fig tree to treat ailments. It is also worth remembering that people with allergies to mulberry plants may experience an allergic reaction to fig trees.