Key Constituents

Sesquiterpene lactones (lactucin, lactucopicrin)^{[4, 11, 12]}

Bitter, centrally-active constituents responsible for the sedative and pain-relieving effects; isolated lactucin and lactucopicrin produced analgesia comparable to ibuprofen and sedation in rodent tests.

Sesquiterpene lactonesSesquiterpenes

Lactucarium (the dried milky latex)^[11]

The historical medicinal preparation, concentrating the active lactones.

Pharmacological Actions

Analgesic (pain relief)^{[4, 6, 11, 12]}

Mild analgesic / anodyne for pain (lactucin and lactucopicrin act on the central nervous system) - in mice these compounds produced analgesia comparable to ibuprofen

Antitussive (cough suppressant)^{[5, 11]}

Antitussive for an irritable, dry cough (traditional)

Anxiolytic / calming^[11]

Calming for nervous tension and restlessness

Sedative / sleep support^{[4, 6, 7, 8, 11]}

Sedative for sleeplessness / insomnia - lactucin and lactucopicrin showed sedative activity in animal models

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Anxiety^[11]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anxiolytic action

more plants for anxiety →detailed sources →

Back pain^{[4, 11, 12]}Traditional · 2/10

inferred from analgesic action

more plants for back pain →detailed sources →

Cough^[11]Traditional · 1/10

Antitussive for an irritable, dry cough (traditional)

more plants for cough →detailed sources →

Headache^{[4, 11, 12]}Traditional · 2/10

inferred from analgesic action

more plants for headache →detailed sources →

Insomnia / sleeplessness^{[4, 11]}Traditional · 2/10

Sedative for sleeplessness / insomnia - lactucin and lactucopicrin showed sedative activity in animal models

more plants for insomnia / sleeplessness →detailed sources →

Nervous tension^[11]Traditional · 1/10

Calming for nervous tension and restlessness

more plants for nervous tension →detailed sources →

Pain (general)^{[4, 11, 12]}Traditional · 2/10

Mild analgesic / anodyne for pain (lactucin and lactucopicrin act on the central nervous system) - in mice these compounds produced analgesia comparable to ibuprofen

more plants for pain (general) →detailed sources →

Stress^[11]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anxiolytic action

more plants for stress →detailed sources →

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note^[12]Info

Can be unsafe in large amounts or if harvested too early: overdose can cause sweating, fast heartbeat, dilated pupils, dizziness, ringing in the ears, vision changes, heavy sedation, breathing difficulty and, in extreme cases, death.

Safety note^{[11, 12]}Caution

Its sedative effect can add to that of sedatives and alcohol - avoid combining and do not use before driving. As a daisy-family (Asteraceae) plant it can cause allergy; avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

References

REF-0854, REF-0855, REF-0856, REF-0622, REF-2059, REF-2060, REF-2061, REF-2062, REF-2063, REF-2064

References & Sources

Ullah, M.I., Anwar, R., Kamran, S., Gul, B. et al (2022) 'Evaluation of the Anxiolytic and Anti-Epileptogenic Potential of Lactuca serriola Seed Using Pentylenetetrazol-Induced Kindling in Mice and Metabolic Profiling of Its Bioactive Extract', Antioxidants (Basel), 11(11), pp. 2232. doi:10.3390/antiox11112232 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11112232
Lee, M., Park, J., Cho, W., Jun, Y. et al (2024) 'Lactuca L. Extract Enhances Sleep Duration Through Upregulation of Adenosine A1 Receptor and GABA-A Receptor Subunits in Pentobarbital-Injected Mice', Journal of Medicinal Food, 27(7), pp. 661-668. doi:10.1089/jmf.2023.K.0250 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2023.K.0250
Paulsen, E. and Andersen, K.E (2015) 'Lettuce contact allergy', Contact Dermatitis, 74(2), pp. 67-75. doi:10.1111/cod.12458 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1111/cod.12458
Wesolowska, A., Nikiforuk, A., Michalska, K., Kisiel, W. and Chojnacka-Wojcik, E (2006) 'Analgesic and sedative activities of lactucin and some lactucin-like guaianolides in mice', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 107(2), pp. 254--258. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2006.03.003 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2006.03.003
Gumprecht, T (1815) 'On the use of the Lactuca Virosa, in Hooping-Cough', Medico-Chirurgical Transactions, 6, pp. 608-617. doi:10.1177/095952871500600125 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1177/095952871500600125
Trojanowska, A (2005) 'Lettuce, Lactuca sp., as a medicinal plant in Polish publications of the 19th century', Kwartalnik Historii Nauki i Techniki, 50(3-4), pp. 123-134. Traditional / reference
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Spadari, M., Pommier, P., Canioni, D., Arditti, J., David, J.M. and Valli, M (2003) 'Abuse of Lactuca virosa', Presse Medicale, 32(15), pp. 702-703. Preclinical
Find this source
Lo Faro, A.F., Di Trana, A., La Maida, N., Tagliabracci, A., Giorgetti, R. and Busardo, F.P (2019) 'Biomedical analysis of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) of natural origin', Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 179, pp. 112945. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2019.112945 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2019.112945
Besharat, S., Besharat, M. and Jabbari, A (2009) 'Wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa) toxicity', BMJ Case Reports, 2009, pp. bcr0620080134. doi:10.1136/bcr.06.2008.0134 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr.06.2008.0134
Stojakowska, A., Malarz, J. and Kisiel, W (1994) 'Sesquiterpene Lactones in Tissue Culture of Lactuca virosa', Planta Medica, 60(1), pp. 93-94. doi:10.1055/s-2006-959419 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-959419
Herbal Reality (n.d.) 'Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa): Benefits, Uses, Safety'. Available at: https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/wild-lettuce/ Traditional / reference
https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/wild-lettuce/
RxList (n.d.) 'Wild Lettuce: Health Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, Dose & Precautions'. Available at: https://www.rxlist.com/supplements/wild_lettuce.htm Traditional / reference
https://www.rxlist.com/supplements/wild_lettuce.htm

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