Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) has a long history of using as a folk medicine in Europe, Asia, and American. Dandelion grows in nature like weeds in everywhere from Asia, Europe, and America. You can find dandelion tea and supplements in many supermarkets as a dietary supplement. People use dandelions as a diuretic supplement, foods, and tonic drinks. Recent studies pay more attention to dandelion’s antioxidant activity. and its possible effects on obesity. cancer, and some cardiovascular risks. In many Vivo and Vitro research dandelion’s extracts have possible effects on obesity. Dandelion also supports the immune system, inflammation, and support cancer treatment. Dandelion makes me surprised with tons of health benefits and potential. So that, today I will discuss dandelion’s key components, benefits, side effects, and cautions.
Dandelion’s key components
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Dandelion has the rich sources potassium. One gram of dandelion leaves contains 29.68 mg of potassium. When you infuse dandelion leaf, potassium accounts for 67% of dandelion’s solubility. In a Spanish test, people found 519 mg/l of potassium after brewing 5g of dandelion leaves at 70°C during 2 hrs.
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Major compounds in dandelion are chicoric acid, monoaffeoyltartaric acid, caffeic acid, and luteolin 7- diglucoside. Many studies found that chicoric acid has potential immunostimulatory activities. Other dandelion’s chemical ingredients are sterine, nicotine acid, choline, various resins, and waxes.
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Dandelion also contains several phenylpropanoids, terpenoids, and polysaccharides. These compounds play an important role in immune regulation, hepatoprotective effects, and antitumoral activity.(González-Castejón et al., 2012)
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Dandelion roots and leaves contain sesquiterpene lactones. The sesquiterpene lactones bring the bitter test. This compound contributes dandelion’s anti-inflammatory and anticancer effect. The dandelion leaves have a higher amount of sesquiterpene lactones than the root. In the spring, dandelion roots have higher sesquiterpene lactones than other time.
Leaf and flower:
– Main phenolic compounds in the leaves and the flowers are derivatives of hydroxycinnamic acid. Dandelion flowers main carotenoid pigment is a diester of taraxanthin (González-Castejón et al., 2012). Meanwhile, sitosterol is the most abundant sterol in the leaves.
Dandelion root
Traditional usage
Traditional Chinese Medicine considered dandelion is sweet, drying, and cooling. Chinese people believe dandelion can clear the heat from the liver and support the stomach and lungs.
The Health Evidences
Both in vitro and vivo studies are now supporting the long history of this plant as a folk medicine. But, most scientific studies of dandelion come from animals research, not human. A few animal studies suggested that dandelion might help to fight inflammation, obesity, and cancer.
Antioxidant resources
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-obesity
In 2010, Korean scientists found that dandelion extract had positively changed plasma antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid profiles in cholesterol-fed rabbits (Choi et al., 2010). However, the scientists recommended the further research on the anti-obesity effects of dandelion.
Natural alternative cancer treatment
Dosage
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‘‘3-4 g of cut or powdered drug three times (decoction in 150 ml of water) (Gehrmann B et al. 2005
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1 tablespoon full of drug (infusion in 150 ml of water) 0.75-1.0 g of native dry extract 4:1 m/m 3-4 ml fluid extract 1:1 (g/ml) (Blumenthal M et al. 1998).
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5-10 ml of tincture (1:5 in 45% ethanol), three times (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1996).
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Adults: 4-10 g of the drug or as an infusion, three times daily. 2-5 ml of tincture (1:5, ethanol 25% V/V), three times daily. 5-10 ml of juice from the fresh leaf, twice daily (Bradley PR 1992).’’
Side Effect and PRECAUTIONS
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Ask your doctor before using herbal products if you are pregnant, nursing, or using any medications.
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The data on using dandelion for children or adolescents are not available. Do not use dandelion for children under 12 years old, during pregnancy and lactation.
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Do not use dandelion extracts in cases of active peptic ulcer or biliary diseases except under expert professional supervision.
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Not recommended in patients with renal failure or heart failure due to potential hyperkalemia.
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Do not use this plant in case of obstructions of bile ducts, cholangitis, liver diseases, and gallstones.
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There is an evidence on dandelion can reduce fertility in male rats but no human studies have confirmed this. But in Jordan people use dandelion as a male fertility enhancer.
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Interactions: dandelion might alter the absorption of ciprofloxacin, based on an animal study.
Note
Many studies show that dandelion absorbs heavy metal in phytoremediation of agricultural land. Do not pick dandelion grown in recreational parks. Dandelion grows off the side of roads and backyards where people used herbicide, are not good too. Dandelion can absorb lead in high pollution area.
References
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Gonzalez-Castejon, M., Visioli, F., & Rodriguez-Casado, A. (2012). Diverse biological activities of dandelion. Nutr Rev, 70(9), 534-547. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2012.00509.x
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Jeon, Hye-Jin, Kang, Hyun-Jung, Jung, Hyun-Joo, Kang, Young-Sook, Lim, Chang-Jin, Kim, Young-Myeong, & Park, Eun-Hee. (2008). Anti-inflammatory activity of Taraxacum officinale. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 115(1), 82-88. doi:
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Kang, Jung-Woo, Kim, Seok-Joo, Kim, Hyo-Yeon, Cho, Soon Hyun, Kim, Kyung Nam, Lee, Sin Gu, & Lee, Sun-Mee. (2012). Protective Effects of HV-P411 Complex Against DGalactosamine-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats. American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 40(3), 467-480.
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The university of Windsor, Human clinical trials on for cancer killing dandelion extract, http://www.uwindsor.ca/dailynews/2015-02-18/human-clinical-trials-cancer-killing- dandelion-extract
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Human clinical trials on for cancer killing dandelion extract. (n.d.). Retrieved May 06, 2016, http://www.uwindsor.ca/dailynews/2015-02-18/human-clinical-trials-cancer-killing-dandelion-extract
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Ema assessment report on taraxacum officinale weber ex-wigg. European medicines agency http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Herbal_-_HMPC_assessment_report/2011/03/WC500102972.pdf