Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics

(8 g dried/kg body weight); greater activity
than that of the root; comparable with furose-
mid (80 mg/kg body weight) high potassium
content (4% in dried leaves) replaces that
eliminated in urine (ESCOP3).
Bitter sesquiterpene lactones in the root
increase bile secretion in rats by more
than 40%; and increases gastric secretion
(ESCOP3).
The aqueous and ethyl acetate flower
extracts rich in luteolin and luteolin-7-gluco-
side exhibited antioxidant activity in the
2,2-iphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free
radical scavenging assay as well as in the
phosphatidylcholine liposome assay. Lower
concentrations, however, had a pro-oxidant
effect.^11
Traditional use for rheumatic conditions
could be related to observed anti-inflammato-
ry activity.^12 The anti-inflammatory activity
has further been demonstrated by the protec-
tive effect of the extract against cholecystoki-
nin-induced acute pancreatitis in rats. A con-
comitant reduction in interleukin-6 (IL-6) and
tumor necrosis factor-a(TNF-a) was also
observed.^13
Numerous clinical studies using Chinese
Taraxacum species have been reported.
Root, leaves, juice, and extracts were effective
in treating infections of various kinds (e.g.,
upper respiratory infections, pneumonia,
chronic bronchitis, hepatitis, etc.) with few
side effects (JIANGSU).

USES

Medicinal, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmetic.
Extracts are quite extensively used in tonics
(especially those for female ailments). Also
used in diuretic, laxative, and antismoking
preparations as well as in cosmetic and toiletry
formulations, presumably for their tonic prop-
erties.^14 In Germany, the root is used for
disturbances in bile flow, as diuretic, and as
an appetite stimulant. The herb is used for
appetite and dyspeptic disorders, such as ab-
dominal fullness and flatulence. Products are
contraindicated in obstruction of bile ducts,

gallbladder empyema, and in gallstones,

only under advice of physician.15,16

Food. Extracts are used as flavor compo-

nents in various food products, including

alcoholic (e.g., bitters) and nonalcoholic

beverages, frozen dairy desserts, candy, baked

goods, gelatins and puddings, and cheese.

Highest average maximum use levels reported

are about 0.014% (143 ppm) for the fluid

extract in cheese and 0.003% (33.3 ppm) for

the solid extract in baked goods.

The roasted root and its extract are used

as coffee substitutes or in instant coffee

substitute preparations.

Young leaves, particularly those of culti-

vated forms, are used as salad or vegetables.

Flowers are used in home wine making.

Dietary Supplements/Health Foods. Root

used as a flavoring ingredient in tea formula-

tions; capsules, tincture, tablet formulations

for choleretic activity; leaf in tea as flavoring,

bulk filler; capsules, tablets, tinctures, and so

on, primarily as diuretics (FOSTER).

Traditional Medicine. The root is report-

edly used as a laxative, tonic, and diuretic and

to treat various liver and spleen ailments.

Root and leaves are also used for heartburn

and bruises and in treating chronic rheuma-

tism, gout, and stiff joints as well as eczema,

other skin problems, and cancers.^17

In China,Taraxacum mongolicumHand.-

Mazz. and otherTaraxacum species have

been used for more than 1100 years in treating

breast cancer and other breast problems

(inflammation of the mammary glands, lack

of milk flow, etc.), liver diseases (e.g., hepati-

tis), stomach problems, and others (JIANGSU;

NANJING).

Others. Due to its high content of inulin,

juice of root can serve as source of a special

high fructose syrup; a very light-colored

syrup containing 71% total sugars of which

77% was fructose has been produced from

dandelion root by hydrolysis and other

treatment.^18

Dandelion root 239