Dandelion Root Health Benefits for the Liver, Cancer & Immunity

Dandelion root supplements are purported to support healthy detoxification pathways, the digestive system, reduce inflammation and promote liver health.

Extracts from this plant have long been used to soothe upset stomach and as a laxative and natural “water pill”. Dandelion is a bitter herb with astringent properties. It is also a natural source of many nutrients including Vitamins A, C and D, iron, zinc and potassium.

This herbal extract is an antioxidant that has been used to support healthy blood lipid levels. It has also be used for weight loss, though it primarily causes a loss in water weight.

Preliminary research exploring dandelion root benefits suggests diuretic, anticancer, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, proimmunity and certain other properties.

To date, there is very little research into the effects of dandelion root extract in humans. However, studies involving experimental animals have demonstrated potential beneficial mechanisms of action.

Dandelion Root

Herbal Supplement

Liver Health

Detox

Immunity

How It Works:

• Supports liver and kidney health
• Used as a diuretic & detox supplement
• Exhibits anti-inflammatory properties

Dosage:

Varies depending on formulation

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

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Dandelion Root Diuretic Benefits

Dandelion roots, leaves and flowers have been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicinal systems since before the beginning of recorded history.

They have been used as food items, prepared into tea and made into herbal tinctures and treatments.

Dandelion plants (Taraxacum officinale) are known by various names worldwide.

The French sometimes call dandelions “pissenlit”. Roughly translated to English, pissenlit means “pee in bed”. This name refers to dandelion’s diuretic properties.

A diuretic is any agent that causes the body to urinate more frequently. Diuretic medications are used to increase the amount of water and salt excreted from the body.

Diuretics have a number of uses such as for helping to maintain normal blood pressure and for reducing symptoms of edema or promoting kidney health.

Dandelion is recognized as one of the best natural diuretic herbs. In rat models, dandelion leaves seem more potent as diuretics than do dandelion roots.

However, both parts of the plant demonstrate similar diuretic effects in animals. These effects may be caused by the high concentration of potassium in dandelions relative to their sodium concentrations.

Some animal research shows that dandelion increases urine output and frequency. As a result, supplements containing this plant are commonly used by bodybuilders who want to cut water weight and by people on a cleanse or detox regimen.

Dandelion is also used for a number of other health goals including improving cardiovascular health, depression, hormone balance, fatigue, insulin resistance and more.

The roots of this plant contain a number of active constituents, such as artemetin, quercetin, luteolin, luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, caffeic acid, esculetin, stigmasterol, and taraxasteryl acetate.

It is the sesquiterpene lactones found in this plant that are believed to be responsible for the diuretic effects and may promote the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant benefits.

Dandelion Root Benefits for Inflammation

Traditionally, Dandelion was one of the most important herbal extracts used in Chinese medicine. Bitter compounds found in the roots and leaves were believed to have anti-inflammatory effects.

There are various phytonutrients (plant chemicals) in dandelions that seem to demonstrate anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.

Moderate to high dandelion root extract doses seem to intensify macrophage stimulation in conjunction with agents like interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma); a signaling protein that plays a role in the immune response.

Benefits of dandelion roots also possibly include antiviral properties. For instance, in vitro studies suggest that extract administration attenuate and/or prevent influenza and HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).

The antiviral effects of dandelion do not appear to be as potent as those of prescription drugs like Oseltamivir and AZT.

It is notable that drugs used to treat AIDS costs several hundred to more than a thousand dollars per month for patients. Also, these drugs are associated with various side effects, some of which can be severe.

Organic dandelion roots and greens can be harvested wild or purchased affordably from a variety of sources.

Lung tissue from mice appears to be protected from inflammation via low levels of dandelion administration. Some researchers believe that dandelions may help to alleviate or reverse allergy symptoms. Human trials are necessary to validate the purported pro-immune benefits of dandelion.

Cancer Research

Laboratory studies suggest that there are antineoplastic effects associated with compounds found in dandelion root. Agents that have antineoplastic properties are said to inhibit, prevent or otherwise impede the development of tumors or neoplasms.

Apoptosis is the natural death of a cell. Cancerous cells resist apoptosis. Many anticancer drugs kill certain types of cancer cells but cannot selectively target them. This causes death in surrounding healthy cells as well.

A 2010 study of dandelion root benefits on human leukemia cell lines reported dose and time-dependent apoptosis. Dandelion root extract contains constituents that selectively induce apoptosis in human leukemia cells, but not in noncancerous cells.

According to the researchers, “This extract induces selective apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Dandelion root extract caused the collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential, leading to prodeath autophagy. Normal human fibroblasts were resistant at similar doses.” [8]

Results from the above study suggest that dandelion root extracts could be developed into novel, non-toxic alternatives to mainstream leukemia drug therapies. Extracts from the plant have also demonstrated similar effects in cultured cancerous breast, prostate, pancreas and liver cells.

However, these in vitro results are preliminary and require more evidence from animal and human studies to be validated. It is too early to determine whether dandelion has any effect on cancer risk or development in humans.

Benefits for Liver Health

The liver plays an important role in filtering and detoxifying the blood circulating through our body. It also is involved in metabolism regulation and in blood lipid levels.

Research suggests that dandelion may support liver health and improve levels of hepatic enzymes which are responsible for detoxification.

In mice, dandelion root benefits include protecting the liver from damage incurred by drug toxicity. Acetaminophen (Tylenol)-induced hepatotoxicity seems to have been decreased secondary to antioxidant effects which protected liver cells.

Dandelion root hot water extracts also protected mice liver cells from damage from alcohol toxicity. TOP1 and TOP2 are polysaccharides in dandelion roots that may induce these antioxidant effects. They may work by regulating NF-kappaB, as well as its mediators.

Dandelion root also seems to increase signaling efficacy of AMPK (adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase) in liver cells.

In murine research studies, administration of this plant extract seems to have attenuated fatty liver production and reduced hepatic inflammation. It also reduced subsequent resistance to insulin, at least to a small degree.

For humans, ingesting roughly 10 grams of dandelion leaves and/or roots may provide hepatoprotection via upregulated antioxidant activity in liver cells.

According to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, “Hepatoprotective effects, including
decreased total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglyceride, transaminase (AST, ALT), and gamma-GT concentrations, have
been reported in human research with 60 days of supplementation with Cinarepa, a combination product containing
dandelion.”

Dandelion Root Side Effects

Dandelion roots, leaves, stems and flowers have been used for many hundreds of years traditionally with apparent safety. The US FDA classifies dandelions as GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) food item.

Dandelion is rated Likely Safe by NMCD when used in dietary amounts. The plant extract is rated Possibly Safe in properly administered medicinal amounts.

Pregnant and nursing women are discouraged from using this supplement until more is known about its effects and side effects.

Some users may experience side effects when taking this product. Individuals have reported allergic reactions like contact dermatitis.

Sensitive individuals may also experience allergies to members of the Asteraceae plant family; including marigolds, daisies, chrysanthemums and ragweed.

The scope of dandelion root health benefits in humans is not yet understood. Preliminary evidence suggests positive effects, however no therapeutic uses has been established clinically.

If you have a bleeding condition, then seek medical advice before using this supplement as it could increase the risk of excessive bleeding. Also, talk to a doctor about using dandelion supplements if you take prescription medications or herbal supplements. Various drug interactions are possible.

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