CHEMICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF WILD LETTUCE (LAUNAEA TARAXACIFOLIA)

The study is focus on the proximate, mineral and phytochemical composition of Wild Lettuce and its extractive value in different solvents. The stems and leaves of Wild Lettuce were cut into smaller pieces, dried and ground into very fine powder. The powdery sample was analyzed for proximate and mineral constituents. The powdery sample was further subjected to extraction using acetone, chloroform, ethylacetate, methanol and water. The powdery sample as well as its solvent-extracts was screened for phytochemicals. It was found out that the powder sample contained flavonoid, phenol, oxalate, tannin, phytate and ascorbic acid but no alkaloid was found present. Methanol and water extracts contained all the phytochemicals present in the sample while only ascorbic acid was found in acetone and ethylacetate extracts. Chloroform extract contained phytate and ascorbic acid. Wild lettuce is very rich in nutrient and methanol as well as water is very effective in extracting bioactive materials of Wild Lettuce than ethylacetate, chloroform and acetone.