Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Research

Latin Name: Taraxacum officinale

Family: Asteraceae

RESEARCH

The listings of research below represents a compilation of scientific articles found on the species, with a very brief overview description of each article/study.  Research found is catalogued by therapeutic action.  This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use.

GENERAL

• Schütz, K., Carle, R., & Schieber, A. (2006). Taraxacum—a review on its phytochemical and pharmacological profile. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 107(3), 313-323.
• Sweeney, B., Vora, M., Ulbricht, C., & Basch, E. (2005). Evidence-based systematic review of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) by natural standard research collaboration. Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy, 5(1), 79-93.
• Rasool, S., & Sharma, B. (2014). Taraxacum officinale: a high value less known medicinal plant. Annals of Plant Sciences, 3(12), 908-915.

SAFETY

• Can cause allergic reactions and contact dermatitis in some people.
• Avoid non-organically grown dandelions, exposed to pesticides and pollutants.
• May interact with certain drugs such as anticoagulants, antidiabetics, and drugs that interact with a diuretic effect.

LIVER DETOX

• Dandelion extract reduced an effect of a fatty liver in mice.  From:  Davaatseren, M., Hur, H. J., Yang, H. J., Hwang, J. T., Park, J. H., Kim, H. J., … & Sung, M. J. (2013). Taraxacum official (dandelion) leaf extract alleviates high-fat diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver. Food and chemical toxicology, 58, 30-36.
• Dandelion root extract showed protective action against alcohol-induced toxicity in the liver in vitro and in vivo.  From:  You, Y., Yoo, S., Yoon, H. G., Park, J., Lee, Y. H., Kim, S., … & Jun, W. (2010). In vitro and in vivo hepatoprotective effects of the aqueous extract from Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) root against alcohol-induced oxidative stress. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 48(6), 1632-1637.

DIURETIC

• Dandilion ingestion over 2 days had a diuretic effect in humans, with measured increase urination.  From:  Clare, B. A., Conroy, R. S., & Spelman, K. (2009). The diuretic effect in human subjects of an extract of Taraxacum officinale folium over a single day. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 15(8), 929-934.

ANTIVIRAL

• Dandilion was effective against the flu virus in vitro.  From:  He, W., Han, H., Wang, W., & Gao, B. (2011). Anti-influenza virus effect of aqueous extracts from dandelion. Virology journal, 8(1), 538.

ANTI-CANCER

• Dandilion extracts reduced the growth of breast and prostate cancer cells in vitro.  From:  Sigstedt, S. C., Hooten, C. J., Callewaert, M. C., Jenkins, A. R., Romero, A. E., Pullin, M. J., … & Steelant, W. F. (2008). Evaluation of aqueous extracts of Taraxacum officinale on growth and invasion of breast and prostate cancer cells. International journal of oncology, 32(5), 1085-1090.

BLOOD

• Taking a dandelion extract increased hematological parameters in rats.  From:  Berezi, E. P., Monago, C., & Adelagun, R. O. A. (2013). Haematological profile of rats treated with aqueous extracts of common dandelion leaf (Taraxacum officinale Weber) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) toxicity. Int J Biochem Biotechnol, 2(1), 263-267.

By: Kathy Sadowski

Last Updated: 2/6/19