Li Yanni, Chen Yilun, Sun-Waterhouse Dongxiao
College of Food Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, Shandong Province, China.
College of Food Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, Shandong Province, China.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2022 Jul 15;293:115272. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115272. Epub 2022 Apr 8.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber ex F. H. Wigg.), as a garden weed grown globally, has long been consumed as a therapeutic herb. Its folkloric uses include treatments of digestive disorders (dyspepsia, anorexia, stomach disorders, gastritis and enteritis) and associate complex ailments involving uterine, liver and lung disorders.
The present study aims to critically assess the current state of research and summarize the potential roles of dandelion and its constituents in gastrointestinal (GI) -protective actions. A focus is placed on the reported bioactive components, pharmacological activities and modes of action (including molecular mechanisms and interactions among bioactive substances) of dandelion products/preparations and derived active constituents related to GI protection.
The available information published prior to August 2021 was reviewed via SciFinder, Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, Elsevier, Wiley On-line Library, and The Plant List. The search was based on the ethnomedical remedies, pharmacological activities, bioactive compounds of dandelion for GI protection, as well as the interactions of the components in dandelion with the gut microbiota or biological regulators, and with other ingested bioactive compounds. The key search words were "Taraxacum" and "dandelion".
T. coreanum Nakai, T. mongolicum and T. officinale are the most commonly used species for folkloric uses, with the whole plant, leaves and root of dandelion being used more frequently. GI-protective substances of dandelion include taraxasterol, taraxerol, caffeic acid, chicoric acid, chlorogenic acid, luteolin and its glucosides, polysaccharides, inulin, and β-sitosterol. Dandelion products and derived constituents exhibit pharmacological effects against GI disorders, mainly including dyspepsia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastritis, small intestinal ulcer, ulcerative colitis, liver diseases, gallstones, acute pancreatitis, and GI malignancy. The underlying molecular mechanisms may include immuno-inflammatory mechanisms, apoptosis mechanism, autophagy mechanism, and cholinergic mechanism, although interactions of dandelion's constituents with GI health-related biological entities (e.g., GI microbiota and associated biological modulators) or other ingested bioactive compounds shouldn't be ignored.
The review reveals some in vivo and in vitro studies on the potential of dandelion derived products as complementary and alternative medicines/therapeutics against GI disorders. The whole herb may alleviate some symptoms related GI immuno-inflammatory basing on the abundant anti-inflammatory and anti-oxide active substances. Dandelion root could be a nontoxic and effective anticancer alternative, owing to its abundant terpenoids and polysaccharides. However, research related to GI protective dandelion-derived products remains limited. Besides the need of identifying bioactive compounds/complexes in various dandelion species, more clinical studies are also required on the metabolism, bioavailability and safety of these substances to support their applications in food, medicine and pharmaceuticals.
蒲公英（Taraxacum officinale Weber ex F. H. Wigg.）作为一种在全球范围内生长的园林杂草，长期以来一直被用作治疗草药。其民间用途包括治疗消化系统疾病（消化不良、厌食、胃部疾病、胃炎和肠炎）以及与子宫、肝脏和肺部疾病相关的复杂病症。
本研究旨在批判性地评估当前的研究现状，并总结蒲公英及其成分在胃肠道（GI）保护作用中的潜在作用。重点关注已报道的蒲公英产品/制剂及其衍生活性成分与GI保护相关的生物活性成分、药理活性和作用模式（包括分子机制以及生物活性物质之间的相互作用）。
通过SciFinder、科学网、谷歌学术、PubMed、爱思唯尔、Wiley在线图书馆和《植物名录》对2021年8月之前发表的可用信息进行了综述。搜索基于蒲公英用于GI保护的民族医学疗法、药理活性、生物活性化合物，以及蒲公英成分与肠道微生物群或生物调节剂以及其他摄入的生物活性化合物之间的相互作用。关键搜索词为“Taraxacum”和“dandelion”。
朝鲜蒲公英（T. coreanum Nakai）、蒙古蒲公英（T. mongolicum）和药用蒲公英（T. officinale）是民间最常用的品种，蒲公英的全草、叶子和根部使用更为频繁。蒲公英的GI保护物质包括蒲公英甾醇、蒲公英赛醇、咖啡酸、菊苣酸、绿原酸、木犀草素及其糖苷、多糖、菊粉和β-谷甾醇。蒲公英产品及其衍生成分对GI疾病具有药理作用，主要包括消化不良、胃食管反流病、胃炎、小肠溃疡、溃疡性结肠炎、肝脏疾病、胆结石、急性胰腺炎和GI恶性肿瘤。潜在的分子机制可能包括免疫炎症机制、凋亡机制、自噬机制和胆碱能机制，尽管蒲公英成分与GI健康相关生物实体（如GI微生物群和相关生物调节剂）或其他摄入的生物活性化合物之间的相互作用也不应被忽视。
该综述揭示了一些关于蒲公英衍生产品作为GI疾病的补充和替代药物/疗法潜力的体内和体外研究。由于含有丰富的抗炎和抗氧化活性物质，全草可能减轻一些与GI免疫炎症相关的症状。蒲公英根因其丰富的萜类化合物和多糖，可能是一种无毒且有效的抗癌替代品。然而，与蒲公英衍生产品GI保护相关的研究仍然有限。除了需要鉴定各种蒲公英品种中的生物活性化合物/复合物外，还需要对这些物质的代谢、生物利用度和安全性进行更多的临床研究，以支持它们在食品、医药和制药中的应用。
