The State-of-Art in Angiogenic Properties of Latex from Different Plant Species

Abstract

Background: The development of drugs capable of enhance or inhibit the cell proliferation is an area in expansion at modern biomedical sciences. Recent researches have shown that latex has strong angiogenic potential. Methods: We performed a bibliometric analysis on the global literature trying to identify: the main scientometrics data, the botanical families and species, the angiogenic or antiangiogenic properties and also discussed the results obtained on this topic up to now. Results: The different bibliometric approaches, showed a continuous increase of both quantitative and qualitative parameters in the studies of latex utilization in the angiogenesis process. From more than 35,000 lactiferous species existing only 29 have been studied and showed angiogenic potential. Then, the potential for finding new therapeutic compounds in latex is a new and promising field that needs to be better explored. Regarding the biological activity, 59% of articles have reported the angiogenic activity and 41% the antiangiogenic property. The most articles identified in this research, have been used in their experimental analysis the crude latex (73.41%). Only 26.52% of the articles used biocompounds isolated from latex. Among the weaknesses in this field, it is necessary to point: the molecular characterization of latex; the establishment of molecular mechanism of action; and demonstration of latex biocompunds safety and effectiveness in clinical trials. Conclusion: Those results are important to spread knowledge about the use of latex as a new biomaterial employed in medicine, indicate trends, point out the technical difficult on the development of new drugs. Keywords: Angiogenesis, cancer, Euphorbiaceae, natural rubber, scientometrics, wound healing.