Dandelion and its products on the cardiovascular system
What it found
In lab tests and animal studies, dandelion extracts and compounds affected blood clotting, platelet activity and oxidative stress.
The authors say the evidence is not yet enough to confirm benefits for human heart health.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Antioxidant effects in animals
In rabbits on a high-cholesterol diet, dandelion leaf and root extracts showed antioxidant properties and improved the thickness of the aorta. In rats, leaf and petal fractions with chicoric acid lowered total cholesterol and triglycerides.
Anti-obesity effects in animals
Dandelion extracts reduced body weight in mice and rats on a high-fat diet, and improved lipid profiles and liver enzyme levels in obese mice. A dandelion flower syrup did not change body weight on a normal-fat diet but improved antioxidant status in obese rats.
Platelet effects in lab tests
In human blood and plasma tests, dandelion leaf, petal and fruit fractions inhibited platelet adhesion to collagen and fibrinogen, and reduced platelet aggregation triggered by ADP. Chicoric acid also inhibited platelet adhesion and arachidonic acid metabolism.
Clotting effects in lab tests
Some dandelion leaf and petal fractions increased thrombin time in human plasma, suggesting an anticoagulant effect. Dandelion fruit preparations did not show this effect.
Antioxidant effects in lab tests
Dandelion leaf, petal, fruit and root fractions reduced lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in human plasma and platelets exposed to oxidative stress. Root fractions C and E were active even at low concentrations.
No cell damage in lab tests
None of the tested dandelion extracts, fractions or chicoric acid caused blood platelet lysis, which would release lactate dehydrogenase into the surrounding fluid.
What the authors conclude
“Although the effects of dandelion and its products on hemostasis have been evaluated in different in vitro and in vivo studies ( Table 1 ), the evidence base is insufficient to unequivocally confirm whether dandelion and its products have beneficial effects on hemostasis and CVDs, especially in humans.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the evidence is not yet enough to confirm whether dandelion and its products have beneficial effects on hemostasis and cardiovascular diseases, especially in humans.
- They note that effects on human hemostasis have only been tested in the lab, and the right doses for prevention or treatment are unknown.
- They call for more randomized clinical trials with larger groups, including healthy people and those with risk factors for heart disease.
How it was done
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, and standard anti-clotting drugs often cause unwanted side effects. The authors wanted to see whether dandelion, a plant rich in phenolic compounds, might offer a natural alternative for preventing or treating these conditions.
The authors reviewed studies published up to December 2021 that looked at dandelion, its extracts and pure compounds such as chicoric acid. The studies included lab tests on human blood and plasma, and animal experiments in rabbits, rats and mice.
What it can’t tell you
- Most of the studies were done in animals or in lab dishes, so they cannot show what happens in people.
- The effects on human blood clotting were only tested outside the body, not in living people.
- The review cannot say what dose of dandelion might be helpful or harmful for heart health in humans.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The author declares no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- University of Lodz, Poland
The paper
- Title
- New Perspectives on the Effect of Dandelion, Its Food Products and Other Preparations on the Cardiovascular System and Its Diseases
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Licence
- CC BY. Words in quotation marks are the authors’; the rest is our summary.
- Cite
- Olas B (2022). New Perspectives on the Effect of Dandelion, Its Food Products and Other Preparations on the Cardiovascular System and Its Diseases. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu14071350Free full textPubMed 35405963DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error