WOet

RL
PHAJournal
RMACofYPharmacy
AND PH
ARPharmaceutical
MACEUTICSciences
AL SCIENCES
Chavan
al.D JOURNAL OF
World
and
SJIF Impact Factor 2.786

Volume 4, Issue 04, 1781-1796.

Review Article

ISSN 2278 4357

PLANT LATEX: AN INHERENT SPRING OF PHARMACEUTICALS

Chavan Bhagyashri A.*1, Hundiwale Jogendra C.2 and Patil Avinash V.2
1

Department of Biotechnology, Arts, Science and Commerce College, Chopda Dist.,

Jalgaon (M.S.).

Smt. Sharadchandrika Suresh Patil College of Pharmacy, Chopda Dist., Jalgaon (M.S.).

Article Received on
18 Feb 2015,
Revised on 09 March 2015,
Accepted on 31 March 2015

ABSTRACT
A plant system in nature always stands as a golden mark to represent
the outstanding phenomenon of symbiosis. From erstwhile, medicinal
plants have taken mightily and noteworthy strides to treat the diseases
and also having the potentially useful substances for the development

*Correspondence for

of novel chemotherapeutic useful drugs. Nearly all parts of plants can

Author

be used in medicinal applications. But plant latex has major

Chavan Bhaggyashri A.

contribution in medicine as it contain biologically active compounds

Department of
Biotechnology, Arts,

such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, phenolics, tannins

Science and Commerce

and saponins etc. which are not only beneficial for plant defense but

College, Chopda Dist.

also for the development of things such as disinfectants, anticoagulant

Jalgaon (M.S.).

etc., advantageous for human beings. Mixture of various chemical

constituents in plant latex protects the plant from herbivorous insects.

In this review we focused on the phytochemical study of latex as well as the evidences that
the latex serves as potent pharmacological agent against various diseases and its isolated
constituents have wide range of biomedical activities.
KEYWORDS: Bioactivity, Laticiferous plants, pharmacological activity, phytochemical
analysis, plant latex.
1. INTRODUCTION
Nature gives very precious gift of vegetation, where plants are used to cure diseases. From
the ancient practice, focus on utilization of plant as a medicine and it shows immense
potential with respect to their medicinal value. The 21st century is witnessing serious
scientific effort to ascertain major active ingredients in medicinal plants through research and
development. Nearly all parts of plants contain moderate amount of bioactive ingredients
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with massive pharmacological properties. Among these, plant latex has much more attention
in the research area because of its dazzling features in plant defense mechanism. Laticifer
tissues from several plant species secrete the plant latex which is a protein rich multicomponent fluid. Latex has been reported to occur in 12000 plant species belonging to 900
genera. It shows deleterious effects in insects mainly causes high mortality, inhibit feeding,
egg hatching and obstruct reproduction in them. Latex is the milky sap of plants secreted by
the specialized plant cells called laticifers, upon tissue injury and do not have any role in the
primary metabolism of plants and has been robustly hindered chewing herbivores as a
defense against it.

[1]

These laticifers (latex producing cells) developed a laticiferous system

with two different morphological forms, articulate laticifers and non-articulate laticifers. In
former type, the laticifers are arranged in larger chain by forming the net-like structure and
able to deliver latex in much more extreme to local tissues and connected by perforations in
the cell walls of neighbouring laticifers. While non-articulate are formed from single cells,
but do not loop or reconnect.[1 & 2] In most plant species latex is squirt out as white glue from
bark of plants. It is a complex mixture of proteins, alkaloids, starch, sugars, oils, tannins,
resins and gums. In most plants, latex colour is normally white, yellow, orange, or scarlet but
its color changes after an air exposure. It is stable dispersion of polymer micro-particles in an
aqueous medium that coagulates on exposure to air. Latex from few plants contains an elastic
polymer and form films without releasing potential organic solvent. It is stable dispersion of
polymeric micro-particles in aqueous medium which become coagulate on exposure to air.[3]
Certain amount of hydrolytic enzymes are present in this sticky emulsion which exert toxic
effects on the growth and reproductive cycle of the insects and thus impart multi defensive
characteristics to the plants against the insect pests.[4] Plant latex has wider ethnopharmacological applications as it is used by local tribal communities for wound healing,
burns, joint pain and for controlling worm infections. Plant latex used to make paintings,
elastics, swim caps, condoms, catheters, medical gloves and balloons and also used to prepare
chewing gum.
Plant latex is a good source of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, tannins, saponins,
phenolic components with potent antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal etc. bioactivities. These
bioactive constituents of latex are also exhibits potent pharmacological activities like antitumors, anti-angiogenic, anti-diabetic, anti- proliferative, anti-arthritis, anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, antiasthmatic, anti-fertility, analgesic, immunomodulation, wound healing,
cytotoxicity, vasodilatory activities.[5]

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2. PHYTOCHEMISTRY OF LATEX
Chemically latex comprises carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen. The molecular formula of latex is
C3H3N. Plant latex is flourished with various secondary metabolites and proteins, often in
higher concentration than that of the other parts of plants. Many of these metabolites exert
toxic effects on the insects while some other constituents impart gumminess to the latex due
to which, insect attempting bite or bore into latex bearing plants become immobilized.
Conversely, these constituents of latex play major role in plant defence mechanism.
Alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, phenolics, tannins, saponins as well as several
proteins, enzymes, glycolipids, carbohydrates have been reported in latex. M. R. Brahmbhatt
had screened about fourteen laticiferous plants found in North Gujarat region vise Calotropis
gigantea, Jatropha gossypifolia, Wrightia tinctoria, Carissa carandas, Hibiscus sabdariffa,
Moringa oleifera, Holostemma annulare, Azadirachta indica, Holarrhena antidysenterica,
Mangifera indica, Datura metel, Capparis aphylla, Rivea hypocrateriformis and Hemidesmus
indicus were analyzed for the presence of possible secondary metabolites. He found that the
coumarine was found only in the Rivea hypocrateriformis and Hemidesmus indicus.[2]
Alkaloids are basic natural products containing nitrogen, many of which are toxic and
typically do not have a primary function in plants. Alkaloids are produced by plants and have
been reported from the latex of many species, intermittently distributed among angiosperm
families. Recently, three types of sugar-mimic alkaloids were reported in the latex of Morus
australis and Morus alba (mulberry species) in the concentration of about 2.5% fresh mass
(18% dry mass) in latex and acts as glycosidase inhibitors. The investigators were analyzed
the latex of these two mulberry species directly using NMR spectra which showed strong
signals characteristic of three alkaloid sugar-mimic glycosidase inhibitors; 1,4-dideoxy-1,4imino-D-arabinitol (D-AB1), 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-Dribitol.[6] Latex also contains terpenoids which are tremendously diverse group of carbonbased compounds, derived from five-carbon isoprene units. Terpenoids have many functions
in plants, including pollinator attraction, defense, and roles in primary metabolism (e.g.,
carotenoids that provide additional pigments for harvesting light energy). A novel
spirotriterpenoid (Fig. 2) and three ingolditerpenesingol 7, 8, 12-triacetate 3-phenylacetate,
ingol 7, 8, 12-triacetate 3-(4-methoxyphenyl) acetate and 8-methoxyingol 7, 12-diacetate 3phenylacetate (phenylacetylingolderivatives) have been found in the latex of Euphorbia
officinarum (Fig. 1).[7] Latex of Euphorbia tirucalli contains diterpenes, inganen (Fig. 7),
which has been investigated for its anticancer property. [16] Lupeol, a pentacyclic triterpene
(Fig. 3) have been isolated from the latex of Calotropis gigantea.[39] Nascimento et al.
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investigated the sixteen different metabolites in the latex of Hevea brasiliensis to evaluate the
influence of rootstock on grafting through metabolomic analysis of latex samples by one- and
two-dimensional 1H and

13

C NMR spectroscopy. Quebrachitol (2-O-methyl-l-inositol) has

been identified as the principle metabolite in the cytosol of latex of Hevea brasiliensis.[8]
Latex of also found to contain glycosides. For example, three different iridoids,
demetylplumieride (Fig. 4), plumieride (Fig. 5) and isoplumieride (Fig. 6) have been
quantitatively determined by HPLC in the latex of Himatanthus sucuuba and the
concentration of these three iridoids in latex was about 10.5g/ml, 34.7g/ml and 4.7g/ml,
respectively.[9] Latex contains wide range of proteins which play major role in the defense
mechanism of plants. Several proteins and protein enzymes have been isolated, sequenced,
characterized and identified from the plant latex of variety of plants. Mulatexin, a chitin
binding protein, reported in the latex of Morus alba and specifically affect the insect
herbivorous but not the mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori.[10] Proteases are enzymes that
breakdown the proteins. Various types of proteases are found from latex of plants.
Siritapetawee et al. (2012) have been isolated 48-kDa protease (AMP48) from the latex of
Artocarpus heterophyllus (jackfruit).[11] Curcacycline A and curcacycline B with reducing
property and enzyme cucain has stabilizing property also found in the latex of lateciferous
plants which have role in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles.[12] The latex of Hevea
brasiliensis found to contain enzyme, cis-prenyltransferases, involved in rubber
biosynthesis.[13] Polyphenoloxidase enzymes were also reported in the latex of Taraxacum
officinale which is responsible for the browning, coagulation and wound healing by latex on
exposures to air.[14] Latex of Calotropis procera was found to contain lysozymes.[15]
.

OAc
H

.
.

.
H
OR 2

R1O

R1

AcO

R2
O

(a)

Ac

Ingol 7, 8, 12-triacetate 3-phenylacetate

Ac

Ingol 7, 8, 12-triacetate 3-(4-methoxyphenyl) acetate

O
MeO

(b)

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(c)

Me

8-mehoxyingol 7, 12-diacetate 3-phenylacetate

Fig. 1 Three ingolditerpenesingol compounds isolated from the latex of E. officinarum

.
.

HO
O
OH

Fig. 2 A novel Spirotriterpenoid isolated from the latex of E. officinarum

.
.

HO

Fig. 3 Lupeol structure

HO

OGIc

OGIc

OH

OH

Fig. 4 Demethylplumieride

Fig. 5 Plumieride

.
O

H H3C

CH3

H3C
H3C

H
H

O
OGIc
.

HO HO

HO

OH

Fig. 6 Isoplumieride
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OH

Fig. 7 Inagen
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3. PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF LATEX

3.1 Anti-cancerous activity
Cancer is the one of the common cause next to the heart attack for the death in both
developed and developing countries. Plant latex is used as traditional medicine for treatment
of cancer. Latex contains certain bioactive components that have therapeutic applications as
anti-cancerous agent. It increases vascular permeability and allows avariety of cytokines and
growth factors to reach the damaged tissue. It also induces angiogenesis and help to repair
wound, inhibit tumour growth and do revascularization of tissues. Multiple plant latex highly
rich in triterpenes such as lupeol, betulin, betulinic acid and calenduladiol and isused for the
treatment of tumours and ulcers due to the presence of a wide diversity of compounds,
display high substrate specificity.
Euphorbia tirucalli latex analyzed for the anti-cancerous activity. Latex contains diterpene,
Ingenol ester, affects on the microtubule organization was studied by using ultraviolet
spectrophotometer and fluorometry. Ingenol esters interact with microtubules protein,
tubulin, and inhibit its polymerization and thus responsible for the decreased stability in
microtubules and cytoskeleton which alternatively inhibits cell cycle.[16] This study shows
evidence that, the latex contain constituents with potent anti-cancerous activity. Besides
these, Tenzin Choedon et al evaluated latex of Calotropis procera for anti-cancerous
property using a transgenic mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma.[24] F. Biscaro et al
investigated the anti-cancerous property of Croton celtidifolius latex in the Ehrlich ascites
carcinoma (EAC) mouse model. Theyconcluded that the latex components particularly
flavonols and flavan-3-ols were responsible for the DNA fragmentation and increased the
number of apoptotic cells which is mechanistic aspect for the anti-cancerous property of
latex.[25]
3.2 Antimicrobial activity
Plants are natural resource system which contains many biologically active molecules with
different medicinal properties and having wide range antimicrobial activity. As latexes are
known to have a defensive purpose in plant, they may contain strong antimicrobial activity
and plants may provide the good source of antimicrobial compounds. Finding and examining
compounds with antimicrobial properties has normally targeted to the plants with a history of
ethno botanical uses, while a few studies have targeted randomly collected plants. The
increasing failure of chemotherapeutics and antibiotic resistance exhibited by pathogenic

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microbial infectious agents has led to the screening of several medicinal plants for their
potential antimicrobial activity. Petroleum ether fraction of different plant latex namely;
Carica papaya, Calatropes procera, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Jatropa carcass, Thevetia
peruviana revealed the antimicrobial activity against different human pathogenic bacterial
and fungal strains.
The antimicrobial activities of extract prepared from the latex of Jatropha curcas have been
evaluated against bacterial and fungal species. The result obtained from this study showed
that Staphylococcus aureus was the most sensitive bacterium at 1 mL latex with 22 mm zone
of inhibition as well as the growth of Aspergillus flavus was also inhibited at the same
concentration of Jatropha curcas latex. [17] The protease isolated from the latex of Artocarpus
heterophyllus has been evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas
aeruginosa and Candida albicans which could inhibit the growth of P. Aeruginosa and C.
albincans at MIC 2.2 mg/ml, and MMC 8.8 mg/ml. The bactericidal activity of protein was
determined by AFM image which were emphasized in changed in morphology from normal
and its shape was reduced significantly (p < 0.01) average from 0.915 0.036 m 3.019
0.038 m to 0.668 0.035 1.735 0.069 m.[11] Bidarigh et al. studied the antifungal
activity of ethyl acetate latex of Ficus lyrata by disc diffusion method.[18] Ishnava et al.
studied the in vitro antibacterial potential of the chloroform, ethyl acetate, hexane, methanol
and aqueous extracts of Calotropis gigantia was evaluated by agar well diffusion method.
The chloroform extracted fraction of latex showed inhibitory effect against Streptococcus
mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus with MIC value of 0.032 and 0.52 mg/mL,
respectively.[19]
3.3 Analgesic activity
Certain latex components of plants showed significant pain relief.

The aqueous,

dichloromethane-methanol and petroleum ether extract of the latex of Euphorbia tirucalli

was screened for analgesic activity and compared with aspirin by tail-immersion and by
acetic acid induced writhing methods. Aqueous extract showed significant 57.67% analgesic
activity than that of the dichloromethane-methanol and pet ether extract which was 51.80%
and 48.48%, respectively.[20] In some research articles latex of Calotropis procera have been
evaluated for their analgesic activity. S. Dewan et al. demonstrated the analgesic activity of
dry latex of Calotropis procera against the acetic acid induced writhing in mice. The single
oral dose of dry latex in the range between 165 to 830 mg/kg produced 69% of inhibition of

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writhing as compared to 50% inhibition produced by standard drug aspirin. The 830 mg/kg
oral dose of DL did not produce toxic effects in mice and the LD50 was found to be 3 g/kg.[26]
3.4 Anti-diabetic activity
Diabetic mellitus is the most common endocrine disorder affecting to nearly 10% population
which has adverse effect on the metabolism of carbohydrates, fat and proteins. Mulberry
latex was found to rich in anti-diabetic sugar-mimic alkaloids glycosidase inhibitors reported
to

have

anti-diabetic

activities,

such

as

1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D-arabinitol,

1-

deoxynojirimycin and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D-ribitol. These alkaloids are potent inhibitors

of glycosidases and sugar-metabolizing enzymes; they seem to exert adverse effects oninsects
by interfering with sugar metabolism in ways that are similar to their anti-diabetic activities.
[6]

S. Roy et al. was undertaken the study to investigate the anti-hyperglycemic effects of dry

latex of Calotropis procera against alloxan-induced diabetes in rats. A dose-dependent

decrease in the blood glucose and increase in the hepatic glycogen content were observed
after the daily oral administration of dry latex at 100 and 400 mg/kg doses. Dry latex was also
responsible to loss in body of diabetic rat. The efficacy of dry latex of Calotropis procera
was found to be comparable with that of the standard anti-diabetic drug such as
glibenclamide.[27]
3.5 Antioxidant activity
It is essential to maintain the reducing environment inside cells of all living organisms by
scavenging the free radicals. Any disruption in this reducing environment leads to the
development of oxidative stress which is associated with the imbalance in between the
production of reactive oxygen species and detoxifying capability of biological system. These
reactive oxygen species have the unpleasant consequence on the living cells such as
damaging the lipids, proteins and DNA of cells and all these consequences may be
responsible for the development of number of chronic diseases including cancer, diabetes,
rheumatoid arthritis, heart diseases, parkinsonism, atherosclerosis etc. Therefore, antioxidants
have pivotal in reducing the oxidative stress by arresting the generation of free radicals and
up regulating the enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase.
Medicinal plants are the major sources of antioxidants. Among the medicinal plant, latex of
laticiferous plants endowed with secondary metabolites having potent free radical scavenging
activity. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have been done to evaluating the antioxidant
property of latex. Yadav et al. has reported the nephroprotective role of Ficus religiosa latex.

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In vitro evaluation of latex of Ficus religiosa for its antioxidant potential revealed DPPH and
phosphor-molybdenum scavenging effects observed by significant decreases in the
concentration of DPPH and phosphor-molybdenum radical due to the scavenging potential of
the extract. IC50 values for DPPH and phosphor-molybdenum were 31.75 0.12 and 18.35
0.48 mg/ml, respectively.[28] In another study latex of Jatropha curcas was investigated for its
free radical scavenging and nitric oxide scavenging activity by using DPPH method by
comparing with standard antioxidants such as ascorbic acid and quercetin. Methanolic extract
of latex scavenged 50 % of free radicals and nitric oxide at 5.9 and 29.7 g/ml
concentrations, respectively.[30] Gholamreza Kavoosi et al. was prepared the essential oil
from the latex of Ferula assafoetida and evaluated it for antioxidant activity by analyzing
reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), hydrogen peroxide (H 2O2),
and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) scavenging activities. Ferula oil
obtained from latex displayed concentration dependant scavenging activities. IC50 for ROS,
RNS, H2O2, and TBARS scavenging were 130 17, 150 18, 160 13 and 155 14 g/mL
of Ferula oil, respectively. Radical scavenging capacity for ROS, RNS, H2O2, and TBARS
scavenging were 5.4 1.7, 4.7 1.0, 4.0 0.8, and 4.8 1.1 mg/g of Ferula oil,
respectively.[31] In another study Gelila Asamenew et al. was performed the two assays for
evaluating the antioxidant activity of latex of Aloe harlana. Researchers was first fractioned
the latex and isolated the two compounds namely anthrone (aloin) and chromone
(7Omethylaloeresin A) and then latex and these two isolated compounds were assessed for
their

possible

antioxidant

activity

by

using

two

complementary test

systems,

2,2diphenyl1picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2deoxyribose degradation assay methods. Finally

the result of this study was amazing, the latex and isolated compounds showed significant
activities on both antioxidant assays with the highest activity being observed for
7Omethylaloeresin A, which gave IC50 values of 0.026mM and 0.021mM for DPPH and
2deoxyribose degradation assay, respectively.[32]
3.6 Anti-inflammatory activity
Latex from Hancornia speciosa demonstrates significant anti-inflammatory activity. Latex
extract has been responsible for reduced the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema at dose
level 0.1-1.3 mg/kg. Latex also showed inhibitory effect on events involved in inflammatory
responses such as cell migration, exudates volume, protein extravasations etc.[48] Calotropis
procera Linn., is a species of flowering plant in the dogbane family Apocynaceae. Different
parts of this plant have been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-oxidant

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and antifungal activity. The latex of this plant has potent anti-inflammatory property in
various animal models. In one study, the efficacy of extract prepared from the dried latex of
Calotropis procera was evaluated against the inflammation induced by the carbon
tetrachloride. Subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride was responsible for the marked
elevation in the level of pro-inflammatory mediators like TNF- and PGE2 which were
significantly reduced by the dry latex of Calotropis procera at 5, 50 and 100 mg/kg dose
level.[29] While in another study five different fractions, 49.4% hexane, 5.2%
dichloromethane, 2.0% ethyl acetate, 2.1% n-butanol, and 41.1% aqueous, were prepared
from the crude latex of Calotropis procera and investigated for the anti-inflammatory
property. Among five extracts, dichloromethane, ethy acetate and aqueous extract of latex
had characteristic to reduced neutrophil migration in carrageenan-induced rats at 67%, 56%
and 72 %, respectively.[33] Both latex and its methanolic extract have been shown to inhibit
the inflammatory cell influx and edema formation induced by various inflammagens. The
anti-inflammatory property of the latex of Euphorbia tirucalli was studied with carrageenan
induced paw edema in albino rat model and was compared with ibuprofen. The aqueous
extract of latex was effective to a significant level against the acute inflammatory response
and researcher concluded that the flavonoids in latex might be responsible for this antiinflammatory response.[20]
3.7 Angiogenic activity
Angiogenesis is the process of formation of new blood vessels from the pre-existing
vasculature. Revascularisation may be beneficial in the recovery from injuries such as
ischemic stroke. Synadenium umbellatum latex had been evaluated for their angiogenic
activity. In the chicken egg chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) latex of Synadenium
umbellatum was responsible for the significant increased in vascular network in a dosedependent manner. The result demonstrate that treatments using 10 and 20 mg.mL1 S.
umbellatum latex showed a significant increase of percentage area of vascular net in fertilized
chicken eggs compared to the negative group.[21]
3.8 Insecticidal activity
Latex is considered as analogous to animal venom because it contains cysteine proteases,
which provide defence against herbivorous insects. Latex is an emulsion like sticky materials
that oozes out from various plants after having a small tissue grievance and hastily coagulates
when exposed to air.[1] Several latex proteins, including cysteine proteases and chitin related

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proteins have shown very important role in the plant insects infraction. Due to presence of
many chemical substances such as acetogenins, flavonoids, triterpene, alkaloids, lectins and
proteins plant latex showed promising lethality in insects. Consequently, insects attempting to
bite or irk into lactiferous plants may be immobilized due to this gooey latex and this is the
one kind of defense of lactiferous plants to their insect pest.[4] Beside this immobilization,
latex contains several bioactive secondary metabolites which are known to be toxic to pest
organisms. Thus latex protects plants from pathogens by sanitizing and sealing wounds.
Hazardous chemical substances present in plant latex causes allergic reactions and
immediate-type hypersensitivity in them.
Table 1: List of lateciferous plants with respective their family and biological activities
S.No
1.
2.

Name of plant
Artocarpus altilis
Artocarpus hetrophyllus

Family
Moraceae
Moraceae

3.

Aloe harlana

Asphodelaceae

4.

Calotropis procera

Asclepiadaceae

5.

Calotropis gigantea

Asclepiadaceae

6.
7.

Carrica candamarcensis
Croton celtidifolius

Caricaceae
Eophorbiaceae

8.

Euphorbia tirucalli

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Euphorbia nivulia
Euphorbia antiquorum
Euphorbia hirta
Euphorbia heliscopia
Euphorbia dendroides
Ficus lyrata
Ficus religiosa

Eophorbiaceae
Eophorbiaceae
Eophorbiaceae
Eophorbiaceae
Eophorbiaceae
Moraceae
Moraceae

16.

Ferrula assafoetida

Apiaceae

17.
18.
19.

Himatanthus drasticus
Hancornia speciosa
Hevea brasiliensis

Apocynaceae
Apocynaceae
Eophorbiaceae

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Biological activities
Hemostatic[34]
Antimicrobial[11]
Antimicrobial and
antioxidant[32]
Anicancer[24&33]
Anti-inflammatory[27&33]
Antioxidant[27&29]
Anti-diabetic[27]
Hepatoprotective[29]
Wound healing[37]
Analgesis[26]
Antinociceptive38
Antibacterial[19]
Anti-arthritic[39]
Hemolytic[40]
Anticancer[25]
Analgesic and
anti-inflammatory[20]
Anticancer[16]
Pro-inflammatory[41]
Hemostatic[43]
Protective[10]
Molluscides[22]
Antioxidant[42]
Anti-P-glycoprotein[44]
Antifungal[18]
Nephroprotective[28]
Antioxidant and
antimicrobial[31]
Antitumor[46]
Anti-inflammatory[48]
Antifungal[47]

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20.

Jatropha curcas

Eophorbiaceae

21.
22.
23.
24.
25.

Morus australis
Pedilanthus tithymaloides
Synadenium umbellatum
Synadenium grantii
Tabernaemontana divaricata

Moraceae
Eophorbiaceae
Eophorbiaceae
Eophorbiaceae
Apocynaceae

Antimicrobial[17]
Antioxidant, Antiinflammatory and
Anticancer[30]
Anti-diabetic[6]
Hemostatic[43]
Angiogenic[21]
Antitumor[45]
Hemostatic[34]

Few plant families such as Annonaceae, Solanaceae, Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae,

Cladophoraceae, Labiatae, Meliaceae, Oocystaceae and Rutaceae, possess various
phytochemicals in latex which show very high insecticidal activity.
CONCLUSION
A critical analysis of literatures have shown that the plant latex is the good source of various
important bioactive compounds and therefore has major applications in the medicinal as well
as in agricultural field for (pest control). Latex has wide application in industrial sector,
cosmetics, textile industry etc. Latex has diverse pharmacological activities but there is need
for extensive research in this regards. Plant latex might be more useful for successful control
of insect pests. To avoid poisoning of food chain and to stopkilling of non-target organisms,
bio-pesticides are only option for agriculturists.
REFERENCES
1. Agrawal A. and Konno K. Latex: A Model for understanding mechanisms, ecology, and
evolution of plant defence against herbivory. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and
Systematics, 2009; 40: 311-331.
2. Brahmbhatta MR. Phytochemical screening of latex containing plants of North Gujarat
region. Life science leaflets, 2012; 6: 29-34.
3. Upadhyay RK. Plant latex: A natural source of pharmaceuticals and pesticides.
International Journal of Green Pharmacy, 2013; 128: 169-180.
4. Farell BD, Dussourd DE and Mitter C. Escalation of Plant Defense: Do Latex and Resin
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