BIOACTIVITY OF CERTAIN MEDICINAL LATEXES USED BY THE ESEEJAS

Latexes from Croton erythrochilus, Ficus inspidia and Sapium marmieri used traditionally as medicinal by the Ese'ejas were analyzed for bioa ctivity. The assays run were: the brine shrimp toxicity microplate bio assay, the wheat rootlet growth inhibition and the DNA-methyl green bi oassay. The three latexes showed cytotoxicity to the brine shrimp and concentration-related growth inhibition. No interaction with the DNA-m ethyl green complex was observed with any of the three latex samples, The field bioassays described has demonstrated to be useful for suppor ting ethnobotanical information.