Taraxacum, Dandelion, Pu Gong Ying 蒲公英 Pu Gong Ying  (whole herb, TCM) Gong Ying Gen  公英根  (root, TCM) Khur mong  ཁུར་མོང༌ (Tibetan)

New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

Kohler’s Medizinal Pflanzen, 1887

Atlas der Officinellen Pflanzen, Berg & Schmidt, Leipzig, 1893

Dandelion root (Squibb’s Atlas of the Official Drugs, Mansfield, 1919)

Various Dandelion roots, (Text Book of Pharmacognosy, Youngken, 1921)

Dandelion root Gong Ying Gen as available on the Chinese market
(Adam, 2024)

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Botanical name:

Taraxacum spp.
Taraxacum species are used in various systems:

1. Western: T. officinale (Official Dandelion, used in Europe)
2. China: T. sinicum, T. mongolicum, T. brassicaefoliurn, T. heterolepsis, T. platypecidurn, T. erythropodiurn are used in TCM (at least 17 species supply the Chinese market)
3. Tibet: T. tibetanum (Khur tshod) is used similarly in Tibetan Medicine

Other species used include Taraxacum centrasiaticum (XinJiang Dandelion), Taraxacum platycarpum (Korean Dandelion)
Greater, Middle, Sharp-leaved and Blunt-leaved varieties were listed in European Herbals.

Parts used:

Root, leaf, or whole plant
Root is most used in the Western Tradition
The whole plant is used in TCM and has been used in Europe.

Temperature & Taste:

Cold, dry. Bitter

Classifications:

2A APERIENT.    2F. PURIFYING
4e. STOMACHIC.    4g. HEPATIC
TCM:
B. Clears Heat and Toxin

Uses:

1. Clears Heat and Toxin from the Liver (TCM, West):
-Liver heat, damp heat, or Toxic Heat conditions with sore, red eyes, headache, pain or discomfort over the Liver region, Nausea, and Fever
-Jaundice, Hypochondriac pain, swelling of the Liver, Hepatitis, Cirrhosis
-Gall Bladder inflammation, Cholecystitis etc.
-chronic skin complaints related to heat in the Liver or Blood
–‘Chiefly used in Putrid Fevers’ (Salmon)
-Promotes rest and refreshes the spirits in bodies effected by heat

2. Clears Heat and Toxins, Resolves Swellings (TCM, West):
-Abscesses, Boils, and Mastitis, as well as Ulcers; it can be used internally and topically.
-chronic Lymph Swellings and Lymphadenitis;
-internal abscesses of the Intestines or Breast.
-Breast Cancer and other Cancers, especially when related to Liver heat and toxin.
-In Tibet, Taraxacum tibetanum is used to treat poisoning caused by the use of precious stones and metals.

3. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine (TCM, West):
-acute urinary tract infections
-in Europe it was boiled in vinegar for painful and difficult Urination;
-heat-type Edema or water retention (TCM, West)
-‘The Essence drank helps a Gonorrhea, Ulcers in the Ureters, and pain of making water’ (Salmon).
-heat-type Arthritis, Rheumatism, Gout and Urinary Stones.
–Weiss said ‘Arthritic processes are a primary indication for Taraxacum’.

4. Promotes Milk:
-In TCM it is used for insufficient lactation associated with heat.

5. Benefits the Kidneys:
-Diabetes (root); The fresh flower stems have also been used for Diabetes (Treben)
–Bohn used Dandelion for Diabetes mellitus related to the Liver
–juice is used for involuntary Seminal Emission (Gerard).

6. Externally:
-A drop of the milk was dropped into the eyes 3 times daily to heal spots, wounds and ulcers of them (Salmon)
–the fresh milk juice was painted in the eyes to remove corneal patches. (Künzle, Salvia 1921)
-the milky latex can be applied to remove freckles and warts.
-American Indians applied a paste of the leaves to fractures

Dose:

DECOCTION of the WHOLE HERB, ROOT or LEAF: 5–15 grams, up to 30 grams, and a maximum of 60 grams is decocted in TCM;
TINCTURE of the WHOLE HERB or ROOT (1:5 in 25% alcohol): 3–5, up to 10 mls, 2–5 times daily;
FLUID EXTRACT of the ROOT (1:1): 3–5 mls;
SOLID EXTRACT of the ROOT (BP): 300–1000mg (5–15 grains)
ROOT in POWDER: 1–3 grams;
FRESHLY EXPRESSED JUICE: 5–10 mls, up to 30 mls, 2–3 times daily;
FRESH FLOWER STEMS: 5–15 are taken per day (see below).

Substitute:

Endive and Chicory are both used similarly

Combinations:
Dandelion & Violet

1. Liver Heat, Liver obstruction, Liver disease:
i. Dandelion with Fumitory and Centaury (Mühlschlegel)
ii. Dandelion with with Centaury and Liverwort
iii. Dandelion with Celandine and Mint (Dispensatorium Fuldense, 1791)
iv. Dandelion with Gentian, Rhubarb and Ginger
v. Dandelion herb with root, Fumitory, Yarrow, Alder bark (Fischer)
vi. Dandelion with Agrimony and Corn Silk
2. Cholagogue, Inflammation of the gall Bladder, Gall Stones:
i. Dandelion with Milk Thistle and Rhubarb
ii. Dandelion with Agrimony, Celandine, Peppermint
iii. Dandelion with Mint, Wormwood, Yarrow, Zedoary
3 Liver obstruction, Dandelion with the Opening Roots, 4 Cold Seeds, Chicory, Agrimony and Licorice (as in Opening Hepatic Decoction)
4. Liver and Gall Bladder disorders Dandelion with Milk Thistle seed and Chicory root (Kroeber)
5. Jaundice:
i. Dandelion with Agrimony, Tumeric and Barberry bark
ii. Dandelion with Wormwood, Barberry bark, Betony, Rhubarb, Senna, Saffron
iii. Jaundice in children, Dandelion with Ginger, Caraway seed, Cinnamon, Senna (Grieves)
6. Scrofula:
i. Dandelion with Yellow dock, Burdock and Sarsaparilla.
ii. Scrofula and Lymphadenitis, Dandelion with Self Heal. (TCM)
7. Clear Heat and Toxin from the Blood:
i. Dandelion with Chicory
ii. Dandelion with Chicory, Couch grass, Fennel seed (Westen)
iii. Dandelion with Hops, Fumitory, Chicory, Rhubarb and Licorice (as in Syrup of Chicory and Rhubarb).
8. Boils, Abscesses:
i. Dandelion with Violet
ii. Dandelion with Burdock root, Cleavers, Licorice
9. Mastitis, Dandelion, Scutellaria Huang Qin, Safflower
10. Urinary Tract Infection, Dandelion with Horsetail, Rosehip, Peppermint
11. Kidney Stones, Dandelion with Birch leaf, Nettle, Camomile
12. Chronic Colitis, Dandelion, St. John’s wort, Calendula, Balm, Fennel seed (proven effective to ease pain and symptoms)
13. Fevers, including Intermittent Fever, Dandelion with Fumitory

Major Formulas:

Decoction of Dandelion
Decoction for Skin Disease
Decoction for Hepatitis
Hepatic Decoction (Hoffman)
Decoction to Purify
Syrup of Chicory and Rhubarb (Nicholas)

Cautions:

1. Not used in Cold and weak digestion

Main Preparations used:

Distilled Water of the whole plant with root and flower, Juice, Extract

1. Dandelion Juice:
i. Fresh root and herb of Dandelion, bruise in a stone mortar, express, set aside, then filter the juice. Add 1 dram of alcohol to each pound of juice. Dose: 1–4 oz. (Pharmacopoeia Herbipolitania, 1796)

2. Extract of Dandelion:
i. Fresh Dandelion root (1 lb.), Boiling Water (1 gallon). Macerate 24 hours, then boil to half. Strain while hot and evaporate to a proper consistency.
ii. Some versions required both herb and root.

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• Extra Info
• Research

GENERAL / REVIEW –Updates and advances on pharmacological properties of Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz and its potential applications. –Flavonoid Preparations from Taraxacum officinale L. Fruits-A Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Hemostasis Studies. –Physicochemical, Structural, and Biological Properties of Polysaccharides from Dandelion. –Diverse biological activities of dandelion. –[Studies on chemical constituents from herbs of Taraxacum mongolicum]. –Taraxacum–a review on its phytochemical and pharmacological profile. ANTIBACTERIAL –Ethnobotany of the genus Taraxacum-Phytochemicals and antimicrobial activity. –Isolation and Identification of Compounds from Bioactive Extracts of Taraxacum officinale Weber ex F. H. Wigg. (Dandelion) as a Potential Source of Antibacterial Agents. –GC-MS characterization of n-hexane soluble fraction from dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber ex F.H. Wigg.) aerial parts and its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. –Characterisation of antimicrobial extracts from dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale) using LC-SPE-NMR. –Cellulase-assisted extraction and antibacterial activity of polysaccharides from the dandelion Taraxacum officinale. –Preparation and antibacterial activity of oligosaccharides derived from dandelion. ANTIVIRAL –Taraxacum officinale and Urtica dioica extracts inhibit dengue virus serotype 2 replication in vitro. –Taraxacum mongolicum extract exhibits a protective effect on hepatocytes and an antiviral effect against hepatitis B virus in animal and human cells. –Anti-influenza virus effect of aqueous extracts from dandelion. –Inhibitory effect of aqueous Dandelion extract on HIV-1 replication and reverse transcriptase activity. ANTI-FUNGAL –A novel cysteine-rich antifungal peptide ToAMP4 from Taraxacum officinale Wigg. flowers. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY –Taraxacum officinale Wigg. Attenuates Inflammatory Responses in Murine Microglia through the Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB Signaling Pathways. –Anti-inflammatory evaluation of the methanolic extract of Taraxacum officinale in LPS-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells. –IN VIVO ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS OF TARAXASTEROL AGAINST ANIMAL MODELS. –The aerial part of Taraxacum coreanum extract has an anti-inflammatory effect on peritoneal macrophages in vitro and increases survival in a mouse model of septic shock. –Anti-inflammatory activity of Taraxacum officinale PROTECTS FROM ACUTE LUNG INJURY –Protective effect of taraxasterol on acute lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide in mice. –Taraxacum officinale protects against lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in mice. INHIBITS CIGARETTE SMOKE-INDUCED LUNG INFLAMMATION –Taraxasterol inhibits cigarette smoke-induced lung inflammation by inhibiting reactive oxygen species-induced TLR4 trafficking to lipid rafts. BRONCHITIS –Organic acid component from Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz alleviates inflammatory injury in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute tracheobronchitis of ICR mice through TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. ASTHMA –Effects of taraxasterol on ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma in mice. ANTIOXIDANT –Polyphenols Content, Antioxidant Activity, and Cytotoxicity Assessment of Taraxacum officinale Extracts Prepared through the Micelle-Mediated Extraction Method. –The effect of five Taraxacum species on in vitro and in vivo antioxidant and antiproliferative activity. ANTICOAGULANT –Assessment of effects of phenolic fractions from leaves and petals of dandelion in selected components of hemostasis. HIGH CHOLESTEROL –In vitro Hypolipidemic and Antioxidant Effects of Leaf and Root Extracts of Taraxacum Officinale. –Hypolipidemic activity of Taraxacum mongolicum associated with the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase in human HepG2 cells. INCREASES RED BLOOD CELLS –The Effect of Taraxacum officinale Hydroalcoholic Extract on Blood Cells in Mice. IMMUNOMODULATORY –Polysaccharide extracted from Taraxacum platycarpum root exerts immunomodulatory activity via MAPK and NF-κB pathways in RAW264.7 cells. –Effects of Taraxacum officinale on fatigue and immunological parameters in mice. ANTI-ALLERGY –Inhibitory Effects of AF-343, a Mixture of Cassia tora L., Ulmus pumila L., and Taraxacum officinale, on Compound 48/80-Mediated Allergic Responses in RBL-2H3 Cells. –Effects of taraxasterol on ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma in mice. HEPATOPROTECTIVE –Antioxidant characteristics and hepatoprotective effects of a formula derived from Maydis stigma, Nelumbo nucifera and Taraxacum officinale against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage in rats. –Protective Effects of Taraxacum officinale L. (Dandelion) Root Extract in Experimental Acute on Chronic Liver Failure –Lemon balm and dandelion leaf extract synergistically alleviate ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity by enhancing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. –Dandelion polyphenols protect against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice via activation of the Nrf-2/HO-1 pathway and inhibition of the JNK signaling pathway. –Purification, Preliminary Characterization and Hepatoprotective Effects of Polysaccharides from Dandelion Root. –Chemical composition and hepatoprotective activity of ethanolic root extract of Taraxacum Syriacum Boiss against acetaminophen intoxication in rats. –Hepatoprotective effect of Taraxacum officinale leaf extract on sodium dichromate-induced liver injury in rats. –Effect of leaf extracts of Taraxacum officinale on CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats, in vivo study. –Taraxacum mongolicum extract exhibits a protective effect on hepatocytes and an antiviral effect against hepatitis B virus in animal and human cells. –Dandelion leaf extract protects against liver injury induced by methionine- and choline-deficient diet in mice. –Protective effects of HV-P411 complex against D-galactosamine-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. –Antioxidant properties of Taraxacum officinale leaf extract are involved in the protective effect against hepatoxicity induced by acetaminophen in mice. –Antifibrotic activity of Taraxacum officinale root in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in mice. –In vitro and in vivo hepatoprotective effects of the aqueous extract from Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) root against alcohol-induced oxidative stress. FATTY LIVER –Taraxacum official (dandelion) leaf extract alleviates high-fat diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver. HEPATITIS –In vitro inhibition effects of hepatitis B virus by dandelion and taraxasterol. FATIGUE –Effects of Taraxacum officinale on fatigue and immunological parameters in mice. –The effects of Taraxacum officinale extracts (TOE) supplementation on physical fatigue in mice. CARDIOPROTECTIVE –New Perspectives on the Effect of Dandelion, Its Food Products and Other Preparations on the Cardiovascular System and Its Diseases. GASTROPROTECTIVE –Gastroprotective Effects of the Aqueous Extract from Taraxacum officinale in Rats Using Ultrasound, Histology, and Biochemical Analysis. –Gastroprotective actions of Taraxacum coreanum Nakai water extracts in ethanol-induced rat models of acute and chronic gastritis.

GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASE –The potential of dandelion in the fight against gastrointestinal diseases: A review. GASTRITIS –Gastroprotective actions of Taraxacum coreanum Nakai water extracts in ethanol-induced rat models of acute and chronic gastritis. COLITIS –Network pharmacology-based identification of the protective mechanisms of taraxasterol in experimental colitis. –Heme Oxygenase-1 Induction and Anti-inflammatory Actions of Atractylodes macrocephala and Taraxacum herba Extracts Prevented Colitis and Was More Effective than Sulfasalazine in Preventing Relapse. ULCERATIVE COLITIS –[Effects of Dandelion polysaccharide on IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway in ulcerative colitis rats]. MASTITIS –Taraxacum mongolicum protects against Staphylococcus aureus-infected mastitis by exerting anti-inflammatory role via TLR2-NF-κB/MAPKs pathways in mice. ESTROGENIC –Ethanolic extract of dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum) induces estrogenic activity in MCF-7 cells and immature rats. STEROIDOGENIC –Steroidogenic effects of Taraxacum officinale extract on the levels of steroidogenic enzymes in mouse Leydig cells. ANTI-FERTILITY –Anti-spermatogenic activities of Taraxacum officinale whole plant and leaves aqueous extracts. –Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) decreases male rat fertility in vivo. OBESITY –Anti-Obesity Attributes; UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS-Based Metabolite Profiling and Molecular Docking Insights of Taraxacum officinale. DIURETIC –The diuretic effect in human subjects of an extract of Taraxacum officinale folium over a single day. DIABETES –Synergistic antidiabetic activity of Taraxacum officinale (L.) Weber ex F.H.Wigg and Momordica charantia L. polyherbal combination. –Medical Species Used in Russia for the Management of Diabetes and Related Disorders. –Hypoglycemic effect of Taraxacum officinale root extract and its synergism with Radix Astragali extract. –The Physiological Effects of Dandelion (Taraxacum Officinale) in Type 2 Diabetes. RENOPROTECTIVE –Protective effect of Silybum marianum and Taraxacum officinale extracts against oxidative kidney injuries induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats. URINARY STONES –Plants Used in Mexican Traditional Medicine for the Management of Urolithiasis: A Review of Preclinical Evidence, Bioactive Compounds, and Molecular Mechanisms. –Antiurolithiatic effect of the taraxasterol on ethylene glycol induced kidney calculi in male rats. ARTHRITIS –Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of taraxasterol on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS –Taraxasterol suppresses inflammation in IL-1β-induced rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes and rheumatoid arthritis progression in mice. NEUROPROTECTIVE –Neuroprotective Effects of Taraxacum officinale Wigg. Extract on Glutamate-Induced Oxidative Stress in HT22 Cells via HO-1/Nrf2 Pathways. ANTIDEPRESSANT –Antidepressive Effects of Taraxacum Officinale in a Mouse Model of Depression Are Due to Inhibition of Corticosterone Levels and Modulation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatase-1 (Mkp-1) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (Bdnf) Expression. –Antidepressant effects of the water extract from Taraxacum officinale leaves and roots in mice. ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE –Herbal Mixture of Carthamus tinctorius L. Seed and Taraxacum coreanum Attenuates Amyloid Beta-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction In Vivo. RADIOPROTECTIVE –Differential effect of Taraxacum officinale L. (dandelion) root extract on hepatic and testicular tissues of rats exposed to ionizing radiation. ANTIFIBROTIC –Antifibrotic activity of Taraxacum officinale root in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in mice. CYTOTOXIC –Polyphenols Content, Antioxidant Activity, and Cytotoxicity Assessment of Taraxacum officinale Extracts Prepared through the Micelle-Mediated Extraction Method. –Comparative phytochemical, cytotoxicity, antioxidant and haemostatic studies of Taraxacum officinale root preparations. ANTIMUTAGENIC –In vitro and in vivo antimutagenic effects of DIG, a herbal preparation of Berberis vulgaris, Taraxacum officinale and Arctium lappa, against mitomycin C. ANTIPROLIFERATIVE –[Anti-proliferation Effect of Taraxacum mongolicum Extract in HepG2 Cells and Its Mechanism]. –The effect of five Taraxacum species on in vitro and in vivo antioxidant and antiproliferative activity. CANCER –Anticancer Effects of Taraxacum via Cell Cycle Arrest, Necrosis, Apoptosis, and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress. –Taraxacum officinale extract shows antitumor effects on pediatric cancer cells and enhance mistletoe therapy. BREAST –Luteolin Inhibits Breast Cancer Stemness and Enhances Chemosensitivity through the Nrf2-Mediated Pathway. –Taraxacum mongolicum extract inhibited malignant phenotype of triple-negative breast cancer cells in tumor-associated macrophages microenvironment through suppressing IL-10 / STAT3 / PD-L1 signaling pathways. –Effect of Taraxacum officinale extract on PI3K/Akt pathway in DMBA-induced breast cancer in albino rats. –Taraxacum mongolicum extract induced endoplasmic reticulum stress associated-apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer cells. –Evaluation of aqueous extracts of Taraxacum officinale on growth and invasion of breast and prostate cancer cells. COLORECTAL –Dandelion root extract affects colorectal cancer proliferation and survival through the activation of multiple death signalling pathways. GASTRIC –Research on the mechanisms of taraxerol for the treatment of gastric cancer effect based on network pharmacology. –Dandelion root extract suppressed gastric cancer cells proliferation and migration through targeting lncRNA-CCAT1. LEUKEMIA –Selective induction of apoptosis through activation of caspase-8 in human leukemia cells (Jurkat) by dandelion root extract. LUNG –Total flavonoids of Taraxacum mongolicum inhibit non-small cell lung cancer by regulating immune function. MELANOMA –Taraxasterol attenuates melanoma progression via inactivation of reactive oxygen species-mediated PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. PANCREAS –Selective induction of apoptosis and autophagy through treatment with dandelion root extract in human pancreatic cancer cells. PROSTATE –Evaluation of aqueous extracts of Taraxacum officinale on growth and invasion of breast and prostate cancer cells. PROTECTS SKIN FROM UV DAMAGE –Dandelion Extracts Protect Human Skin Fibroblasts from UVB Damage and Cellular Senescence.