Dandelion Root and the Benefits for Cancer

You’re likely familiar with dandelion as an irksome weed and gardeners’ archnemesis, but you may be surprised to know that dandelion is a medicinal plant that is believed to have a range of health benefits and may have potential therapeutic application for cancer treatment.

In fact, dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) has been used as a medicinal plant since ancient times in many cultures with the root and young tops most commonly used for medicinal purposes, while the young leaves have traditionally been consumed as a nutrient-dense healing food or tea [1]. Dandelion tops, leaves or roots, fresh or dried, are used in a variety of different forms in herbal remedies such as tinctures, liquid extracts, teas, tablets, pills and capsules. Roasted dandelion root tea is also used as a caffeine-free coffee substitute.

What are the benefits of dandelion root, you might wonder? Scientific studies have explored the potential antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and immune boosting effects of dandelion root extract [1]. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), dandelion has been used as a remedy to improve upset stomachs, digestive disorders and skin problems [18]. TCM also recommends dandelion to reduce inflammation, cleanse the kidneys, gallbladder and liver, regulate the metabolism, relieve coughs, and purify the blood [18].

The potential applications of dandelion don’t stop there. Dandelion has also been used in traditional medicine systems, such as Chinese, Arabian, Indian, and Native American for many different types of cancer [2]. Ancient wisdom appears to be supported by preclinical research in laboratory and animal studies, which show that dandelion root extract has potent anticancer effects, selectively targets cancer cells of various types and inhibits tumor growth [1] [3].

Preliminary research indicates that dandelion root extracts could potentially be a well-tolerated and beneficial adjuvant (supportive) or primary therapy for multiple cancer types [3]. However, clinical research is still lacking. Therefore, the safety and efficacy of dandelion root extract in the treatment of cancer is currently unknown in humans.

History of Dandelion Root and the Benefits for Cancer

Traditional use of medicinal plants often plays a significant role in the discovery and development of new drugs in modern medicine. Plants of the genus Taraxacum, more commonly known as dandelions, have a history of use in Chinese, Arabian, Indian, European, and Native American traditional medicine systems to treat a wide range of ailments including cancer [16].

The origins of the medicinal use of dandelion can be traced back to 659 BC in ancient China and the plant is still used today in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In TCM, dandelion is prescribed for stomach problems, appendicitis, and increasing milk flow [18]. In traditional European medicine, dandelion was used as a fever remedy and to treat boils, eye problems, diabetes, and diarrhea [18]. In Native American medicine, dandelion was boiled into a tea or chewed to help relieve pain, ease sore throats, treat kidney disease, swelling, heartburn, and upset stomachs [18].

In recent decades, there have been concerted efforts to find less toxic and more effective cancer treatments that can improve the prognosis and quality of life of cancer patients who have often suffered severe side-effects from conventional cancer therapies. This has led to scientific research into the potential anticancer effects of dandelion [19].

Dr. Caroline Hamm, an oncologist at the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre in Canada, became intrigued in the potential anticancer effects of dandelion after hearing anecdotes and word-of-mouth tales of dandelion helping cancer patients to heal. This led to a collaboration with Dr. Siyaram Pandey, a Professor at the University of Windsor, to research dandelion with a view to developing new anticancer therapies [19].

They conducted many studies using animal models of human cancer. Their results showed potent anticancer effects and gave insight into the mechanisms of action. This consequently led to approval for the first human clinical trials in December in 2016. The researchers hope that human clinical trials will open the door for the introduction of dandelion root extract as a safe and effective adjunct or a primary treatment option for cancer [19]. However, more research is still needed in humans to confirm the safety and efficacy of DRE.

Research on Dandelion Root

Despite being an ancient remedy for cancer, there is currently no published clinical research on the anticancer effects of dandelion root in humans. However, laboratory and animal studies appear to support many of dandelion’s claimed health benefits in traditional medicine, including cholesterol-lowering, liver protective, blood-thinning, diuretic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties [5].

The anticancer properties of dandelion root are currently only supported by in-vitro (test-tube) studies and efficacy has yet to be validated in human studies. However, laboratory research is promising and indicates that DRE has anticancer effects against multiple types of cancer cells including liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, esophageal cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, melanoma and leukemia [5].

The results of a 2021 study on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells showed that DRE selectively inhibited cell growth, proliferation, migration and invasion and induced cell apoptosis in ESCC. Further research would be required to understand if DRE may serve as an effective anticancer alternative for human esophageal cancer [15].

A study in 2008 showed that dandelion leaf extract (DLE) inhibited breast and prostate cancer cell growth. It concluded that extracts of dandelion may be of value as novel anticancer agents [16]. However, clinical research in humans is still needed to validate the hypothesis.

A 2012 study demonstrated that dandelion root extract caused the collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential, leading to autophagy, in human pancreatic cancer cells. It concluded that DRE has the potential to induce apoptosis and autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells with no significant effect on noncancerous cells [7]. However, clinical research is still required to determine effects of DRE in humans with pancreatic cancer.

In a 2011 study, dandelion root extract was shown to specifically and effectively induce apoptosis in chemoresistant melanoma without causing toxicity in noncancerous healthy cells, which indicates potential application in the treatment of drug-resistant skin cancer. However, further research to validate anticancer effects and efficacy in treating drug-resistant cancers in humans is still needed [13].

A 2016 study showed that DRE selectively induced programmed cell death in over 95% of colon cancer cells after only 48 hours of treatment. The anticancer efficacy of the extract was confirmed by in-vivo (animal model) studies where DRE slowed the growth of human colon cancer models by more than 90%. The study demonstrated that DRE targets multiple vulnerabilities in cancer cells and researchers hypothesized that it could be a non-toxic and effective anticancer alternative with the potential to help reduce the occurrence of drug-resistance in cancer cells [9]. However, clinical research is still required to evaluate the effects in humans.

While there is limited research on the benefits of dandelion root extract in humans, there have been some case reports, but these only provide anecdotal evidence of limited quality. For example, a 76-year-old male with previously untreated leukemia whose bone marrow blast counts vastly improved while taking dandelion root extract in combination with papaya leaf extract [17].

Overall, preliminary research indicates potential anticancer effects of DRE, but clinical trials are still needed to determine safety and efficacy as a cancer treatment in humans.

Potential Applications of Dandelion Root

Dandelion has been studied for a range of potential health benefits. An analysis of 54 studies identified 12 key potential therapeutic properties of dandelion, but further clinical research is required to determine the validity of all these purported effects [1]:

• Diuretic (increases urine output)
• Hepatoprotective (promotes liver health)
• Anticolitis (prevents colitis)
• Immunoprotective (supports immune system)
• Antiviral
• Antifungal
• Antibacterial
• Antiarthritic (aids arthritis)
• Antidiabetic (aids diabetes)
• Antiobesity (aids weight-loss)
• Antioxidant
• Anticancer effects

Preliminary research indicates that DRE may exhibit the following anticancer effects, but further research is still required to confirm effects in humans:

• Selectively inhibit cancer cell growth
• Induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells
• Induce autophagy (destruction of damaged cells)
• Activate genes and pathways related to cancer cell death
• Inhibit tumor growth
• Kill cancer stem cells
• Damage mitochondria in cancer cells
• Improve immune function
• Reduce inflammation

In light of the medicinal properties of dandelion, it comes as little surprise that dandelion root extract (DRE) may have potential applications in the treatment of cancer. Preclinical laboratory research shows that DRE has potent anticancer effects through multiple specific mechanisms of action [4].

Firstly, dandelion has powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties [5]. The free radical scavenging properties of dandelion have been shown to reduce oxidative stress and prevent DNA damage [6]. Oxidative stress can damage DNA and trigger mutations in healthy cells, which can lead to chronic inflammation and cancer growth.

Dandelion root extract has been shown in laboratory studies to selectively target and kill certain cancer cells without harming healthy cells. Multiple studies on various cancer cell types (including pancreatic, colon and leukemia) have demonstrated that DRE efficiently and selectively induces apoptosis (programmed cell death) and autophagy (destruction of damaged cells) in a dose and time dependent manner with no toxicity to healthy cells [4] [7] [8].

The anticancer effects of dandelion root are related to multiple active compounds, targeted genes, activation of cell death pathways and a range of other complex biological processes [4] [9]. Gene expression analyses show that DRE modulates gene expression and triggers multiple death pathways in colon cancer cell models [9]. Natural compounds in DRE switch on specific genes that are involved in the programmed cell death of human colon cancer cells [9].

DRE has been shown to increase the production of certain cytokines (cell signaling molecules) such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and selectively target multiple cancer cell types [5]. TNF-alpha and IL-1 alpha play multifunctional roles in the inflammatory response of the immune system and cancer cell survival, growth and death [10] [11].

Luteolin, an active compound in DRE, has been shown to have cytotoxic effects on breast, colon and skin cancer cells without harming healthy cells, inhibit tumor growth and eliminate breast cancer stem cells, which indicates potential therapeutic benefit in the prevention of cancer initiation and metastatic disease progression (spread of cancer) [5] [12].

Natural compounds in DRE have been shown to specifically and effectively target mitochondria (energy powerhouses) in drug-resistant skin cancer cells without causing toxicity in normal cells [13]. Studies also show that DRE impairs mitochondrial integrity and collapses the mitochondrial membrane potential of neuroblastoma and pancreatic cancer cells, selectively leading to autophagy, while normal cells remain unharmed [7] [14] .

In short, laboratory results show that DRE has well-defined anticancer effects on various cancer cell types. It may have potential therapeutic applications for cancer treatment, but further research and clinical trials are needed to determine safety and efficacy in humans.

Risks and Side-Effects of Dandelion Root

Dandelion is typically considered to be safe and well-tolerated when consumed as a food or tea and probably safe in higher dosages as found in dandelion root extracts, but there is still limited research on the effects in humans [20].

Dandelion root side-effects include stomach discomfort, diarrhea or heartburn in some people [20]. Dandelion may also cause allergic reactions. Anytime you experience itching, redness, or swelling after starting a new supplement you should discontinue use.

Dandelion can interact with certain drugs. It also acts as a diuretic, which can result in medication being excreted from the body more quickly and reduce absorption. If you are taking any of the medications listed below dandelion may interfere with their effects.

• Antipsychotics
• Antidepressants
• Anticoagulants (blood thinners)
• Diuretics
• Antibiotics
• Diabetes medications
• Statin drugs
• Estrogen-based contraceptives

If you plan to start a new supplement and are taking prescription drugs, you should always talk with your doctor first to ensure there are no potential interactions.