Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale F.H.Wigg.Asteraceae // root · leaf
Overview
Plant parts
root, leaf
Known constituents
sesquiterpene lactones, inulin, phenolic acids
Research corpus coverage
Chemistry notes
- CHEMISTRY: Relevant reported constituents include sesquiterpene lactones; inulin; phenolic acids; constituent presence alone does not establish clinical efficacy.
Uses & Evidence
Traditional / historical use
Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.
TRADITIONAL: Dandelion has been used for digestive and urinary complaints; appetite; this records historical/traditional use and does not establish efficacy.
MODERATE · evidence synthesis/fact sheet · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Modern evidence
EVIDENCE: For the major use set (digestive and urinary complaints; appetite), the evidence assessment is insufficient: Insufficient clinical evidence; regulatory support is traditional-use based.
LOW · regulatory monograph and mixed scientific literature · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Preparation
Forms used traditionally
A listed form does not imply it suits every plant part, or that one preparation is interchangeable with another — see the plant’s own notes below.
PREPARATION: The medicinal material is root; leaf; traditional and modern forms include decoction, tincture, powder/capsule, standardized extract, infusion/tea, extract. No dose or potency is specified.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Preparation-specific evidence should not be generalized across extracts, teas, oils, or whole herb.
Safety
Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)
Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.
SAFETY: Major issues include Asteraceae allergy; GI upset; latex contact reactions. Contraindications/cautions include Biliary obstruction; Asteraceae allergy.
MODERATE · evidence synthesis/fact sheet · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
SAFETY: Clinically relevant interaction concerns include Theoretical additive diuretic, lithium, glucose-lowering and anticoagulant effects.
MODERATE · evidence synthesis/fact sheet · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Some interactions are theoretical or based on case reports/pharmacokinetics rather than outcome trials.
SAFETY: Pregnancy/lactation reference: Insufficient pregnancy/lactation evidence.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph or evidence synthesis · NCCIH Herbs at a Glance
Absence of evidence is not evidence of safety.
Preparation × species risk matrix
Unknown means insufficient evidence was located — not that a form is safe.
Cats
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Dogs
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Identity
- Synonym
GBIF resolves Leontodon taraxacum L. as a synonym of Taraxacum officinale. The older name still appears in herbal and taxonomic literature.
HIGH · GBIF Species Match API
Botanical synonym
Leontodon taraxacum L.
Taxonomic identity note
- Dandelion is treated here as Taraxacum officinale F.H.Wigg. in the family Asteraceae; recorded older names include Leontodon taraxacum L..
Sources
Research records are source-linked but may not yet be editorially reviewed.
- NCCIH Herbs at a Glance5 claims
NCCIH fact sheet
- Plants of the World Online1 claim
botanical taxonomy database
EMA monograph
WHO monograph
- GBIF Species Match API1 claim
authoritative taxonomic database