Unveiling the genus Taraxacum: From folk medicine to chemodiversity-driven pharmacological and toxicological outcomes-A systematic review.

2026-01-17
Journal of ethnopharmacology 360
- Meng Cui
- Xue Wang
- Tian Yu
- Xinman Liu
- Xuemei Zhang

PubMed: 41554454
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2026.121231

Study Design

Type: Systematic Review
Methods: Comprehensive literature review using keywords such as 'Taraxacum', 'dandelion', 'Taraxaci Herba', 'pu gong ying', across multiple scientific databases from 1972 to 2025

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The genus Taraxacum (dandelion), belonging to the Asteraceae family, encompasses over 2800 species predominantly found in temperate to subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Dandelion has a long history as a functional food and traditional medicine in numerous countries, including China, Turkey, Spain, Italy, etc. Traditional application records indicate that dandelion might be used extensively to treat kidney stones, constipation, eczema, ulcers, inflammation, etc. However, the therapeutic application of different Taraxacum species varies significantly across regions, which may be influenced by local cultural and medical traditions.

Aim of the review

This review provides a comprehensive summary of recent advancements in traditional applications, phytochemistry (highlighting 184 newly identified compounds), pharmacology, and toxicology, offering novel insights into both genus-wide characteristics of Taraxacum (covering 55 species) and species-specific differences.

Materials and methods

A comprehensive search for relevant data was conducted using keywords such as "Taraxacum", "dandelion", "Taraxaci Herba", "pu gong ying", and others across multiple scientific databases, including Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Baidu Scholar, CNKI, online ethnobotanical databases, ethnobotanical monographs, The Plant List, Dictionary of Chinese Ethnic Medicine and considered data from 1972 to 2025. World Flora Online (http://www.worldfloraonline.org/) was utilized for confirming the correct species names of Taraxacum genus. The gathered information on the ethnobotanical usages, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology is comprehensively summarized in this paper.

Results

The literature review indicates that dandelion, a medicinal and edible plant, has been extensively utilized in traditional Chinese medicine since the 7th century. In Europe, its edible and medicinal properties began to be acknowledged and applied during the Middle Ages. In ethnomedical practice, dandelion has been used as diuretic, laxative, anti-inflammatory remedy, digestive aid, etc. Building on the 197 compounds reported from T. officinale, this review highlights over 180 newly identified compounds from 19 Taraxacum species, expanding the genus-wide catalog to more than 380 constituents. Recent toxicological and safety evaluations corroborate that T. officinale F.H.Wigg., T. mongolicum Hand.-Mazz., and T. lacistrum Sahlin possess a favorable safety profile.

Conclusions

The genus Taraxacum is a promising medicinal and edible plant, exhibiting a range of biological activities, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. These properties align with its ethnobotanical usages, confirming its traditional use as diuretic, laxative, anti-inflammation, and digestive aid. However, research on its effects on neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases remains limited. Future studies should focus on in vivo experiments to explore the material basis and mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of dandelion species. Furthermore, current phytochemical and pharmacological research has overlooked several Taraxacum species with well-documented traditional uses. Investigating these understudied species is essential to fully elucidate the potential therapeutic value of the genus Taraxacum.