All articles starting with L

Lactofen

Lactofen is a diphenyl ether herbicide, first registered in the United States in 1987 under the trade name Cobra, that controls broadleaf weeds in soybeans, cotton, peanuts, and snap beans.

Lactoferrin (lactotransferrin), an ~80 kDa bilobal iron-binding glycoprotein of the transferrin family in milk, tears, saliva, and neutrophils; binds Fe3+ at Kd ~10^-20 M (about 260x transferrin), acts antimicrobially via iron sequestration and lactoferricin peptides, and is used in infant formula and supplements.

Lactone

A lactone is a cyclic ester of a hydroxy carboxylic acid, formed by intramolecular condensation with loss of water, occurring widely as flavor compounds, pheromones, and macrolide antibiotic pharmacophores.

Lactose

Lactose, also called milk sugar, is a disaccharide of glucose and galactose that occurs in mammalian milk, about 5% in cow's milk and 7% in human milk.

Lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerance, also called lactase nonpersistence or adult-type hypolactasia, causes bloating, diarrhea, gas, and abdominal pain after dairy. Over 60 percent of people have reduced lactase; most tolerate 12 to 15 g lactose.

Lactose synthase

Lactose synthase (EC 2.4.1.22), also called lactose synthetase, is a Golgi enzyme complex of β4Gal-T1 (B4GALT1) and α-lactalbumin (LALBA) that transfers galactose from UDP-galactose to glucose to make milk lactose; α-lactalbumin raises glucose affinity 1000-fold.

Lactose synthesis

Lactose synthesis: formation of lactose (Galβ1-4Glc) from glucose and UDP-galactose in the Golgi of mammary epithelial cells by lactose synthase, the B4GALT1–α-lactalbumin complex; it sets milk osmolarity and volume.

Lactose Tolerance Test

Lactose tolerance test (lactose tolerance blood test): blood glucose measured after a 50 g oral lactose load to detect lactase deficiency; glucose rise under 20 mg/dL is abnormal; largely replaced by the hydrogen breath test.

Lactuca

Lactuca (lettuce genus), Asteraceae tribe Cichorieae, 117 accepted Kew species with white latex and yellow or blue heads; includes cultivated Lactuca sativa, domesticated from L. serriola near the Caucasus.

Lactuca serriola

Lactuca serriola, known as prickly lettuce or compass plant, is an annual or biennial herb in the daisy family, native to Europe and now an invasive weed.

Lactuca virosa

Lactuca virosa, wild or bitter lettuce (Giftlattich, laitue vireuse), is a European and North African Asteraceae herb whose latex (lactucarium, lettuce opium) contains sedative sesquiterpene lactones and which contributed to Crisphead lettuce breeding.

Lactucarium

Lactucarium, or lettuce opium, is the dried latex of Lactuca virosa and related lettuces, named by Andrew Duncan. Its main compounds are the sesquiterpene lactones lactucin and lactucopicrin; sedative and mild analgesic effects are shown in mice, with little human evidence.

Lactulose

Lactulose, a synthetic galactose-fructose disaccharide, is an osmotic laxative and first-line therapy for hepatic encephalopathy; PEG outperforms it for chronic constipation.

Sep 19, 2026

Lacumaces

Lacumaces, also spelled Lacumazes, was a prince of the Massylii who briefly held the Numidian throne as a boy, placed there by the guardian Mazaetullus after Capussa was killed.

Lacuna Coil

Lacuna Coil (formerly Sleep of Right, then Ethereal) is a Milan-based Italian gothic metal band formed in 1994, led by dual vocalists Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro; breakthrough album Comalies (2002) and tenth album Sleepless Empire (2025) on Century Media.

Lacunar stroke

A lacunar stroke, or lacunar infarct, is an ischemic stroke caused by blockage of one small penetrating artery, producing a subcortical infarct under 20 mm.

Lacus Aestatis

Lacus Aestatis, "Lake of Summer," is an 86.39-km lunar lacus of Eratosthenian-age basalt at 14.83°S, 68.57°W on the Moon, IAU-approved in 1970, near Lacus Autumni.

Lacus Autumni

Lacus Autumni, "Lake of Autumn", a small lunar mare of three shallow basalt ponds between the Outer Rook and Cordillera rings of the Orientale basin; IAU-named 1970, diameter 195.65 km, eruptions about 1.8 to 2.2 billion years ago.

Lacus Bonitatis

Lacus Bonitatis (Lake of Goodness) is an IAU-approved lunar lacus, a solidified lava plain on the Moon's northeastern near side, 122.10 km across at 23.18°N, 44.32°E, named in 1976.

Lacus Curtius

Lacus Curtius, a monument in the middle of the Roman Forum explained by three legends (Curtius' self-sacrifice, Mettius Curtius, a lightning spot), excavated by Boni in 1904; dry by Augustus' time.

Lacus Doloris

Lacus Doloris ("Lake of Sorrow") is a small lunar mare, a solidified basalt lava lake on the Moon's near side at 16.80°N, 8.61°E, about 102.90 km across, named by the IAU in 1976.

Lacus Excellentiae

Lacus Excellentiae, the Lake of Excellence, is an IAU-approved lunar lacus at 35.65S 43.58W on the Moon's near side, about 197.74 km across, named in 1976, with medium-titanium basalt lava.

Lacus Felicitatis

Lacus Felicitatis, Latin for Lake of Happiness, is a small lava plain on the central nearside of the Moon, best known for hosting the volcanic feature Ina.

Lacus Gaudii

Lacus Gaudii (Lake of Joy) is an IAU-approved small lunar mare, 88.54 km across, centered at 16.33°N 12.27°E near Mare Serenitatis; named in Latin and approved in 1976.

Lacus Iuturnae

Lacus Iuturnae (Lacus Juturnae), the spring of the nymph Juturna in the southeast Roman Forum beside the Temple of Castor; monumentalized from the 2nd century BC, tied to Castor and Pollux, later the statio aquarum.

Lacus Lenitatis

Lacus Lenitatis (Lake of Softness) is a 78.25 km lunar lacus at 14.32°N, 12.05°E on the Moon's near side, IAU-approved in 1976, near Lacus Gaudii, Doloris, and Hiemalis.

Lacus Mortis

Lacus Mortis, or Lake of Death, is a small basaltic mare on the northeastern nearside of the Moon, between Mare Frigoris and Lacus Somniorum, named in 1651.

Lacus Odii

Lacus Odii (Lake of Hatred) is a 72.68-km lunar lacus at 19.22N, 7.27E on the Moon's nearside, IAU-approved in 1976, near Lacus Felicitatis and Doloris, with augitic mare basalts.

Lacus Solitudinis

Lacus Solitudinis (Lake of Solitude) is a small lunar mare on the Moon's far side at 27.52S, 103.88E, 122.67 km across, IAU-approved 1976, with ~2.3 Ga basalts near Bowditch crater.