Introduction to Plant-Based Latex - Phytochemistry, Ethnopharmacology, Biological, and Pharmacological Activities

Natural latex is a type of secondary metabolite that oozes out of damaged tissues of herbs to protect them. Indigenous people of different regions utilized it to alleviate several ailments. Apart from its physiological role in plants, natural latex has demonstrated various pharmacological effects, including anti-leishmanial, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic activities.

These effects could be attributed to the highly concentrated mixture of phytoconstituents in latexes, including proteins, enzymes, terpenoids, cardenolides, alkaloids, and phenolics.This book offers a thorough review of the recent research, studies, and discoveries on natural latex. It discusses the occurrence and origin of laticiferous plants and their physiological function, chemistry, structural diversity, processing, and medicinal and pharmacological properties. The book is a useful reference for researchers, instructors, students and scholars involved in the study and research of natural products.