lactuca sativa

Lactuca sativa is a plant species commonly known as lettuce, widely consumed as a food and used in various traditional medicines. Specific preparations, including its seeds and extracts, have been used for sedative, hypnotic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anxiolytic effects. Principal bioactive compounds include lactucin and lactucopicrin, sesquiterpene lactones which exhibit analgesic and sedative activity, partially via adenosine receptor agonism and acetylcholinesterase inhibition in vitro. Both folk and Unani medical systems employ *Lactuca sativa* (seed, leaf, oil, whole plant) for insomnia, cough, inflammation, rheumatism, headache, fever, and as a blood purifier, galactagogue, and anaphrodisiac. Clinical and preclinical studies have shown efficacy for sleep aid, improvement of anxiety and antioxidant status, mild hypoglycemic activity, and possible anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Safety concerns primarily relate to allergenic potential due to sesquiterpene lactones, with toxicities mostly reported at high doses. There is little evidence of addiction or severe adverse effects at typical medicinal doses.

Other names

lettucegarden lettucekahulettuce opium