Compound Monograph
Lactucin
Lactucin is a bitter sesquiterpene lactone from wild lettuce, part of the milky "lettuce opium" latex traditionally used for its mild sedative reputation.
Classification
Lactucin is a sesquiterpene lactone (guaianolide), part of the terpenoids class. The largest class of plant compounds, built from five-carbon isoprene units — the essential-oil aromatics, resins, bitter principles, saponins, and plant sterols.
Where Does It Come From? (4)
Lactucin is a naturally occurring sesquiterpene lactone (guaianolide), found in Wild lettuce, Garden lettuce, Chicory and 1 other source. It is well tolerated orally (low toxicity).
Research & Evidence
Lactucin is a bitter sesquiterpene lactone (a guaianolide) found in the milky latex of wild lettuce and related Lactuca and Cichorium species. It is one of the principal bitter constituents of “lactucarium,” the dried latex historically called lettuce opium and used in folk medicine for its claimed mild sedative and pain-easing properties. Laboratory studies have reported sedative- and analgesic-type activity for lactucin and the related lactucopicrin in animals, but rigorous human evidence is lacking, and the traditional reputation of wild lettuce as a sedative remains poorly substantiated.
Toxicity & Safety
Lactucin occurs in edible lettuce and chicory and is generally regarded as low in toxicity at dietary levels. The isolated compound has not been characterised in detail, and concentrated wild-lettuce preparations have a much weaker safety record than their long folk use might suggest.