Pastinaca sativa vs Launaea Taraxacifolia

Side-by-side comparison of medicinal herbs

Herb

Pastinaca sativa

Nutritive

Launaea taraxacifolia

Nutritive

Pastinaca sativa

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

❌ Not recommended while nursing

Launaea Taraxacifolia

✅ Generally safe in pregnancy

✅ Generally safe while nursing

Description

The edible parsnip with phototoxic wild form; root used nutritively and medicinally for digestive and urinary conditions.

Annual herb native to Africa used as a leafy vegetable and medicinal herb across West Africa for blood disorders, inflammation, and as a tonic.

Active Compounds

furanocoumarins, psoralen, bergapten, falcarinol

flavonoids, phenolics, sesquiterpene lactones, tannins

Traditional Uses

Diuretic use, Digestive tonic, Nutritive food

blood disorders, inflammation, digestive tonic, fever, edema

Modern Uses

Nutritive food medicine, Antioxidant activity

anti-inflammatory, nutritive, antioxidant, diuretic

Adult Dosage

Root as food; 2g dried root as tea

Fresh leaves as vegetable freely or 5g as tea

Contraindications

Wild plant phototoxic, Pregnancy large amounts caution

allergy to Asteraceae, excessive use

Side Effects

Phototoxic dermatitis from wild plant

very well tolerated

Drug Interactions

0 known interactions

Reviewed by: HerbAlly Editorial Team, Medical herbalists and healthcare professionals

Sources: WHO Monographs · NCCIH · PubMed · Commission E