Based on the hypothesis that the variation of the metabolomes of latex is a response to selective pressure and should thus be affected differently from other organs, their variation could provide an insight into the defensive chemical selection of plants. Metabolic profiling was used to compare tissues of three Euphorbia species collected in diverse regions. The metabolic variation of latexes was much more limited than that of other organs. In all the species, the levels of polyisoprenes and terpenes were found to be much higher in latexes than in leaves and roots of the corresponding plants. Polyisoprenes were observed to physically delay the contact of pathogens with plant tissues and their growth. A secondary barrier composed of terpenes in latex and in particular, 24-methylenecycloartanol, exhibited antifungal activity. These results added to the well-known role of enzymes also present in latexes, show that these are part of a cooperative defense system comprising biochemical and physical elements.

基于乳胶代谢组的变化是对选择压力的反应，因此应该受到与其他器官不同的影响的假设，它们的变化可以提供对植物防御性化学选择的深入了解。代谢谱用于比较三种大戟属植物的组织在不同地区收集的物种。乳胶的代谢变异比其他器官的代谢变异要有限得多。在所有物种中，发现胶乳中聚异戊二烯和萜烯的含量远高于相应植物的叶和根。观察到聚异戊二烯物理延迟病原体与植物组织的接触及其生长。由乳胶中的萜烯，特别是 24-亚甲基环木桐醇组成的二级屏障表现出抗真菌活性。这些结果加上也存在于乳胶中的酶的众所周知的作用，表明它们是包含生化和物理元素的协同​​防御系统的一部分。