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Taraxacum officinale F.H.Wigg. (common dandelion) is a perennial herb of the Asteraceae family with a long history of dietary and medicinal use worldwide.
It contains a chemically diverse set of secondary metabolites — sesquiterpene lactones, phenolic acids, flavonoids, triterpenoids, sterols, polysaccharides and inulin — which underpin a wide range of reported biological effects (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial and potential anticancer actions).
This review summarizes taxonomy, morphology, distribution, cultivation, phytochemistry, analytical methods, pharmacology, toxicology, quality control, applications (food, cosmetic, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical), and gaps & future directions. Key commercially used extract CAS numbers and commonly encountered synonyms are listed.
Taraxacum officinale, dandelion, phytochemistry, sesquiterpene lactone, inulin, antioxidant, hepatoprotection, ethnobotany.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Full name: Taraxacum officinale (L.) Weber ex F.H.Wigg. (Asteraceae).
Common names: common dandelion, dandelion, blowball, lion’s tooth, faceclock; localized folk names vary widely.
Synonyms (examples reported in floras and taxonomic treatments): Crepis taraxacum (L.) Stokes; Leontodon taraxacum L.; Taraxacum vulgare Schrank (used historically); plus many infraspecific names and regional synonyms. (Authoritative synonym list available in taxonomic databases.)
Note on CAS numbers: plant species generally do not have a single CAS registry number. Commercial preparations/extracts derived from Taraxacum are assigned CAS numbers. Examples:
Dandelion root extract, solid (Taraxacum spp.) — CAS 977038-72-4 (FDA / FEMA listing for food use).
Taraxacum officinale extract (commercial extract listings) — CAS in trade databases often listed as 68990-74-9 (commercial extract identifier).
Always check product-specific documentation for the exact CAS.
Botany and Morphology
Habit: herbaceous perennial with a rosette of basal, pinnately lobed leaves and a milky latex-containing taproot.
Flower heads are composite capitula of bright yellow ligulate florets, borne singly on hollow scapes; seedheads form the familiar wind-dispersed pappus.
Vegetative structures: basal leaves (no true stem leaves), latex ducts in root & leaf; taproot stores reserves (inulin).
Reproduction: Many Taraxacum taxa reproduce apomictically (agamospermy) leading to numerous microspecies and complex taxonomy; also reproduces sexually in some populations.
This contributes to high morphological & genetic variability.
Distribution, Habitat & Cultivation
Native to Eurasia; now cosmopolitan in temperate regions and naturalized across North America, South America, Australasia and elsewhere.
It thrives in lawns, roadsides, meadows, disturbed soils and anthropogenic habitats.
Ecology: hardy, tolerant of mowing & trampling; seed dispersal by wind ensures wide colonization.
It can accumulate environmental contaminants (heavy metals), making harvest-site selection important for medicinal/food uses.
Cultivation: minimal requirements; for commercial production, soil quality, water management and harvest timing (leaf vs root) influence chemical profile (e.g., inulin content declines with plant age; sesquiterpene lactone levels vary by organ & season).
Traditional & Ethnobotanical Uses
Widely used as food (young leaves in salads, cooked greens), coffee substitute (roasted roots), teas, and bitter digestive tonics.
Traditional medicine systems (Europe, China, Native American) use dandelion leaves/roots/flowers for diuretic, hepatic, digestive, antirheumatic, and dermatological applications.
Clinical folk uses include treatment of jaundice, digestion disorders, urinary complaints and as topical poultices.
Nutritional Composition
Leaves: significant fiber, vitamins (A provitamin carotenoids, vitamin C, some B vitamins), minerals (K, Ca, Fe), essential fatty acids in small amounts. Roots: inulin-rich carbohydrate reserve (prebiotic potential).
Nutritional composition depends on harvest stage and processing.
SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT TARAXACUM OFFICINALE
First aid measures:
Description of first aid measures:
General advice:
Consult a physician.
Show this safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.
Move out of dangerous area:
If inhaled:
If breathed in, move person into fresh air.
If not breathing, give artificial respiration.
Consult a physician.
In case of skin contact:
Take off contaminated clothing and shoes immediately.
Wash off with soap and plenty of water.
Consult a physician.
In case of eye contact:
Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and consult a physician.
Continue rinsing eyes during transport to hospital.
If swallowed:
Do NOT induce vomiting.
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Rinse mouth with water.
Consult a physician.
Firefighting measures:
Extinguishing media:
Suitable extinguishing media:
Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.
Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas
Advice for firefighters:
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.
Accidental release measures:
Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures
Use personal protective equipment.
Avoid breathing vapours, mist or gas.
Evacuate personnel to safe areas.
Environmental precautions:
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Soak up with inert absorbent material and dispose of as hazardous waste.
Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.
Handling and storage:
Precautions for safe handling:
Avoid inhalation of vapour or mist.
Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place.
Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage.
Storage class (TRGS 510): 8A: Combustible, corrosive hazardous materials
Exposure controls/personal protection:
Control parameters:
Components with workplace control parameters
Contains no substances with occupational exposure limit values.
Exposure controls:
Appropriate engineering controls:
Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice.
Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.
Personal protective equipment:
Eye/face protection:
Tightly fitting safety goggles.
Faceshield (8-inch minimum).
Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU).
Skin protection:
Handle with gloves.
Gloves must be inspected prior to use.
Use proper glove
removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product.
Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices.
Wash and dry hands.
Full contact:
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
Splash contact
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
It should not be construed as offering an approval for any specific use scenario.
Body Protection:
Complete suit protecting against chemicals, The type of protective equipment must be selected according to the concentration and amount of the dangerous substance at the specific workplace.
Respiratory protection:
Where risk assessment shows air-purifying respirators are appropriate use a fullface respirator with multi-purpose combination (US) or type ABEK (EN 14387) respirator cartridges as a backup to engineering controls.
If the respirator is the sole means of protection, use a full-face supplied air respirator.
Use respirators and components tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or CEN (EU).
Control of environmental exposure
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Stability and reactivity:
Chemical stability:
Stable under recommended storage conditions.
Incompatible materials:
Strong oxidizing agents:
Hazardous decomposition products:
Hazardous decomposition products formed under fire conditions.
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas.
Disposal considerations:
Waste treatment methods:
Product:
Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company.
Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material.
Contaminated packaging:
Dispose of as unused product
