Survey of Nutritional and Remedial Properties of Fig in Islamic, Traditional and Modern Medicine

The Fig (Ficus carica) is one of the oldest and most commonly consumed fruit in the world and Iran is one of the most important countries in the world in production of figs. By increasing development of science in various fields in recent years, new aspects of medical and nutritional properties of fig have been founded. It was found that many of proven properties of fig in modern science have already been mentioned in the Quran, narrations and hadiths of the Imams(AS). Fig is mentioned in the holy books of Jews and ancient Greeks and the god has sworn to it in the holy Quran. This fruit is laxative and it is effective to treat numerous diseases including hemorrhoids, gout, leprosy and epilepsy in traditional medicine. Other medicinal benefits for fig are including is lowering blood pressure, fever, weight, inflammation, increasing the bone density and preventing muscle weakness. The aim of this article was to study the Quran, hadith and narrations about fig properties to the importance and consistency of their recommendations with the latest scientific findings in modern medicine will be more proved. In this study, medical properties of fig were investigated in the Quran, hadiths, traditional medicine as well as recent scientific researches (1999 - 2016). Despite the recommendations of the Quran and Prophet, Imams and traditional sciences to the consumption of fig, findings of recent studies also indicate that this fruit is effective in the treatment of various diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious diseases, diabetes, Schizophrenia, epilepsy, insomnia, stress, constipation and hepatotoxicity. It also has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Scientific findings of researchers in recent years confirm the recommendations of the Quran and Hadith of the Imams (AS) about the fig and it represent the necessity of thinking in the Islamic and traditional medicine resources.