Insight into the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology of Launaea taraxacifolia (Willd) amin ex c. jeffrey as an underutilized vegetable from nigeria: a review

Launaea taraxacifolia (Willd) is a perennial herb, commonly known as wild lettuce, assumed the position of wild and underutilized. It is common in Asia, North America, Europe and North Africa. Various parts of L. taraxacifolia have ethnomedicinal importance as they are employed against various ailments and diseases in humans and its traditionally use in ruminant animals. Arguments on its family is presented in this study, so far only five compounds were identified i.e. caffeic acid (1), chlorogenic acid (2), ellagic acid (3), quercetin (4) and kaempferol (5), from this neglected vegetable and an extensive range of pharmacological effects such as antioxidant, antidiabetic and hypolipidemic, antibacterial, antimalarial, anticancer effects and drug-herb interaction of this medicinal plant with recombinant human enzymes i.e. CYP1A2, CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 was stated in this review. This study was carried out with a reason to highlight its importance and discusses its ethnomedicinal, phytochemical, pharmacological, toxicological and states its relevance beyond conventional nutritional gains. Furthermore, this review reiterates the needs to isolate constituents and carry out clinical studies to justify the scientific efficacy accrues to this medicinal plant from traditional uses and give it the due recognition as therapeutic supplement.