Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) has a long history of use as a natural medicine for the relief of pain and inflammation. On investigating dandelion the researchers whose publication is summarized below demonstrated a diversity of effects attributable to an extract of dandelion, including a reduction in numerous markers of inflammation. The historic use of dandelion is thereby confirmed by modern research.

The publication:

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J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Jan 4;115(1):82-8. Epub 2007 Sep 15.

Anti-inflammatory activity of Taraxacum officinale.

Jeon HJ, Kang HJ, Jung HJ, Kang YS, Lim CJ, Kim YM, Park EH.

College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women’s University, Cheongpa-dong, Yongsan-ku, Seoul 140-742, Republic of Korea.

Summary of the abstract

Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) has been widely used as a folkloric medicine for the treatment of diverse diseases.

In this study, the dried plant was extracted with 70% ethanol to generate its ethanol extract (TEE).

TEE showed radical scavenging activity, decreased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, and had anti-angiogenic activity (significant in the prevention or treatment of cancer.)

In a model of asthma and pneumonia, TEE inhibited production of exudate, and significantly diminished nitric oxide (NO) and leukocyte levels in the exudate. It acted to reduce inflammation. TEE was also analgesic – it decreased pain.

The anti-inflammatory effects of TEE included a reduction in vascular permeability, decreased production of NO, decreased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and decreased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages.

Collectively, Taraxacum officinale contains anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive (anti-pain) activities through its inhibition of NO production and COX-2 expression and/or its antioxidative activity.

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