Lactucin Explained

Lactucin is a bitter substance that forms a white crystalline solid and belongs to the group of sesquiterpene lactones. It is found in some varieties of lettuce and is an ingredient of lactucarium. It has been shown to have analgesic and sedative properties^[1] which are speculated to occur via modulation of the GABAA receptor.^[2] It has also shown some antimalarial effects.^[3] It is also found in dandelion coffee.

See also

• Lactucopicrin

References

1. Wesołowska A, Nikiforuk A, Michalska K, Kisiel W, Chojnacka-Wójcik E . Analgesic and Sedative Activities of Lactucin and some Lactucin-Like Guaianolides in Mice . Journal of Ethnopharmacology . 2006 . 107 . 2 . 254–258 . 16621374 . 10.1016/j.jep.2006.03.003 .
2. Kim H, Suh H, Choi H, Hong K, Jo K . Effectiveness of the Sleep Enhancement by Green Romaine Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in a Rodent Model . Biol. Pharm. Bull. . 2019 . 42 . 10 . 1726–1732 . 31582660 . 10.1248/bpb.b19-00454 . free .
3. Bischoff TA, Kelley CJ, Karchesy Y, Laurantos M, Nguyen-Dinh P, Arefi AG . Antimalarial Activity of Lactucin and Lactucopicrin: Sesquiterpene Lactones Isolated from Cichorium intybus L. . Journal of Ethnopharmacology . 2004 . 95 . 2–3 . 455–457 . 15507374 . 10.1016/j.jep.2004.06.031.