Chemistry, Biological Activities, and Uses of Ficus carica Latex

Capitulo de Libro

Summary *

Ficus carica L. (Moraceae), also known as the common fig, is the most relevant fig species. It is valued both as food and as medicine. Fig contains milky latex in all parenchymatous tissues, which consists of the cytoplasmic content of laticifers and is leaked in response to physical damage. In this book chapter, aspects of the chemical composition of latex from the common fig are reviewed, including proteins with enzymatic activity, fatty acids, amino acids, volatile and no volatile low molecular weight molecules (secondary metabolites), and rubber particles. Biological activity, ethnopharmacological uses, and commercial aspects of fig latex and enzymes with high economic value purified from F. carica latex are also discussed. Information provided by the agent in SIGEVA