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Background The medicinal plant Ficus carica L., inhabiting southwest regions of Asia, is known for its wide ethnopharmacological applications. In traditional medicine, it has been applied as a treatment of respiratory, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular disorders, among others. Recent studies confirmed antimicrobial and anticancer activities for the plant extract. To find out whether endophytes of F. carica contribute to its biological activities, endophytes of the aerial parts of the plant were isolated and examined for anticancer and antimicrobial effects. Results The isolated species were identified as Chaetomium globosum, Penicillium oxalicum, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium proliferatum and Aspergillus neoniger. An anticancer assay was carried out on the extracts of fungal strains against human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), human immortalized myelogenous leukemia cell line (K-562) and human immortal cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). Results revealed antiproliferative effects for all endophytic strains against HUVEC and K-562 with GI50 values ranging from 4.75 to 13.75 µg mL−1 as well as cytotoxicity against HeLa with CC50 ranging from 8.25 to 18.75 µg mL−1. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was tested against several test strains in agar diffusion assay, and MIC values were determined by the broth microdilution method. All strain extracts exerted antibacterial and antifungal activities with highest antifungal effect observed for A. neoniger extract (MIC = 3.75 µg mL−1). Conclusions These results support the assumption that endophytes of F. carica contribute to the plant’s reported antimicrobial and anticancer activities and its corresponding applications in traditional medicine.

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Natural compounds that elicit anticancer properties are of great interest for cancer therapy. However, the low solubility and bioavailability of these compounds limit their use as e cient anticancer drugs. To avoid these drawbacks, incorporation of these compounds into cubic nanoparticles (cubosomes) was carried out. Cubosomes containing bergapten which is a natural anticancer compound isolated from Ficus carica were prepared by the homogenization technique using monoolein and poloxamer. These cubosomes were characterized for size, zeta potential, entrapment e ciency, small angle X-ray diffraction, In-vitro release, In-vitro cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and antitumor activity. Particle size of cubosomes was 220 ± 3.6 nm with almost neutral zeta potential -5 ± 1.2 mV and X-ray measurements con rmed the existence of the cubic structure. Additionally, more than 90% of the natural anticancer drug was entrapped within the cubosomes. A sustained release over 30 hours was obtained for these cubosomes. Finally, these cubosomes illustrated higher In-vitro cytotoxicity and In-vivo tumor inhibition compared with the free natural anticancer compound. Thus, cubosomes could be promising carriers for enhancement of antitumor e ciency of this natural compound