PubMed-compiled information sheet
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Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Lactuca serriola, known as prickly lettuce, is a highly invasive wild relative of cultivated lettuce with documented traditional medicinal uses and potential pharmacological activities [PMID:34685964, PMID:33879443].
Background
Lactuca serriola L. is an annual and biennial herb and a highly invasive C3 weed found in countries including the USA, Canada, and Australia [PMID:33879443, PMID:34685964]. It is characterized by high water use efficiency under drought conditions and is believed to be the single wild ancestor from which cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa) was domesticated [PMID:34685964, PMID:38886807].
Traditional uses
The plant has been traditionally used in folk medicine as a sedative, hypnotic, cough suppressant, expectorant, purgative, diuretic, vasorelaxant, demulcent, antiseptic, and antispasmodic [PMID:33879443, PMID:23662127].
Active compounds
Chemical analysis of L. serriola reveals volatile compounds including aldehydes and terpenoids in leaves (major compound phenylacetaldehyde) and 2-ethyl hexanol in roots [PMID:36780447]. Volatile oils from Egyptian ecospecies contain oxygenated sesquiterpenes and diterpenes, specifically isoshyobunone, isocembrol, and alloaromadendrene oxide-1 [PMID:31207097]. Fatty acid profiles show nonadecanoic acid predominates in leaves and linoleic acid in seeds [PMID:36780447]. The plant also synthesizes long-chain natural rubber [PMID:25513853].
Mechanism of action
In isolated rabbit jejunum preparations, a methanol extract of L. serriola exhibited concentration-dependent spasmogenic effects at 0.03 to 3.0 mg/mL and a complete spasmolytic effect at 5.0 mg/mL, with the contractile response suppressed by atropine [PMID:23662127].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DParacetamol-induced hepatotoxicity
Pre-treatment with L. serriola methanolic extract caused restoration of hepatic biomarkers, blood lipid profile, and antioxidant enzymes [PMID:33879443]
Evidence DAnxiety and Epilepsy (Mice model)
Seed extracts (n-hexane, chloroform, methanol, and aqueous) significantly reduced head dipping in hole-board tests and increased duration of open arm stay in elevated plus maze; n-hexane extract (400 mg/kg) showed 96.34% reduction in head dipping [PMID:36421417]
Evidence summary
The current evidence is based on in vitro studies, animal models (mice and rabbits), and phytochemical analyses; there are no human clinical trials available in the provided data.
PubMed sources
- 1.PMID: 36014022 (2022) — Genotype-Specific Plastic Responses to Seed Bacteria under Drought Stress in Lactuca serriola. · Microorganisms
- 2.PMID: 34685964 (2021) — Biology, Ecology, Distribution and Control of the Invasive Weed, Lactuca serriola L. (Wild Lettuce): A Global Review. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
- 3.PMID: 36780447 (2023) — Chemical composition of different plant part from Lactuca serriola L. - focus on volatile compounds and fatty acid profile. · Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
- 4.PMID: 30251420 (2019) — Recognition of lettuce downy mildew effector BLR38 in Lactuca serriola LS102 requires two unlinked loci. · Molecular plant pathology
- 5.PMID: 28172969 (2017) — Molecular Biogeography of Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola L.) Shows Traces of Recent Range Expansion.