Introduction to Plant‐Based Latex

Laleh Khodaie is an associate professor at the Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. She has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed international publications. Her area of research includes phytochemistry, natural products, natural medicine, drug discovery and development from natural sources, and Persian traditional and herbal medicine.Ajay Sharma is a professor at the Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, India. He has more than 15 years of teaching and research experience and has published more than 60 research articles in peer-reviewed journals. Dr Sharma’s area of research includes drug discovery and development from natural sources, ethnopharmacology, natural product chemistry, metabolomics, plant biotechnology, and bioactivity-guided fractionation and bioconversions.Saurabh Bhatia is an associate professor at the Natural and Medical Sciences Research Centre, University of Nizwa, Oman. He has published 127 refereed journal articles and 94 book chapters. Dr Bhatia has also authored 10 books and is an associate editor of several international journals.Ahmed Al-Harrasi is a professor of organic chemistry and vice chancellor for graduate studies, research and external relations at the University of Nizwa, Oman. He is a founder and chair of the Natural and Medical Sciences Research Center at the university. He is a member of the Scientific Council of UNESCO and has been among the top 2% scientists for the past three years. Dr Al-Harrasi has authored more than 800 scientific papers and more than 20 books and book chapters. He is a recipient of the Order of Royal Commendation from His Majesty, The Sultan of Oman, as an outstanding Omani individual for his remarkable contribution and active role in research.

• 1. Occurrence, Habitat, Distribution, and Traditional Uses of Laticiferous Plants 2. Production and Function of Latex within Latex-Bearing Plants 3. Chemistry of Latex 4. Processing of Herbal Latex 5. Pharmacology of Natural Latex 6. Drug Discovery, Commercial Applications, Regulations, Safety and Toxicity of Latexes