Common Dandelion Prevents SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro

Extracts from the common dandelion plant can prevent infection of various SARS-CoV-2 variants.

That is the result of in vitro studies from two institutions in Germany, the Molecular Preventive Medicine of the University of Freiburg and the Food Chemistry and Molecular Sensory Science of the Technical University of Munich.

In the study, extracts from the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) were effective against the most prominent Omicron variant.[1]

They used A549 human cell lines with hACE2–TMPRSS2 receptors. The SARS-CoV-2 virus must attach before gaining entry into the cell and beginning replication.

In humans, the COVID-19 virus uses the ACE2 and TMPRSS2 receptors in the airways and intestines to start an infection. Then they use the same receptors in the other organs like the heart, kidneys, liver, and blood vessels to spread the disease.

In the experiment, the dandelion extract prevented viral transduction at 0.15 mg/mL by 24% and reached 99% inhibition at 2.5 mg/mL. 

Viral transduction is the process where the genetic material from the virus is transferred to a host cell after attaching to the receptors.

To know if the dandelion leaf extracts could work as a preventive therapy, they incubated the cell lines with the Omicron variant and then added the extract.

The extract showed how rapidly it works by blocking 80% virus receptor interaction at 10 mg/ml in 30 minutes.

Their previous work showed that dandelion extracts are stable in human saliva at normal body temperature for 30 minutes.

In that study, they used the spike proteins of the D614 variant and its four mutations, including the Delta variant. [2]

The D614 was one of the earliest SARS-CoV-2 variants in the COVID-19 pandemic, memorable for its high mortality rate.

In that study, the protection against the D614 was 85% at 20 mg/mL. And 72% against the Delta variant at 20 mg/mL. Recall that the Omicron attachment was prevented with greater efficacy at 99% at a lower dose of 10 mg/ml.

It is impressive that even as the SARS-CoV-2 mutates to a more infectious variant, the dandelion increases its effectiveness.

In comparison, the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines wanes as the SARS-CoV-2 mutates into a more infectious variant like the Omicron.

• The rise and rapid decline of 3 COVID vaccines’ effectiveness against severe disease and deaths
• Moderna’s study shows the ineffectiveness of their shots against the Omicron and why they recommend a booster
• Breakthrough infections after two shots: 50% in 1 month, 75% in 3 months

In their discussion, the authors cited the German Commission E and the European Scientific Cooperative for Phytotherapy (ESCOP) recommend that the daily intake of the dandelion is up to 8 g (i. e. 20 –30 mg/mL).[3]

The study for the Omicron just came out today as a preprint at BioRxiv. Still, the study regarding the D614G and the Delta variant has been peer-reviewed and published in Pharmaceuticals.

Amazon offers dandelion leaf extracts from Hawaii Pharm. I prefer taking supplements with no other combination.

According to drugs.com, adverse effects may include allergies and gastric discomfort. It is a diuretic, meaning it can make you urinate more, which is why another name for dandelion is “piss in bed.” 

No contraindications have been identified, and acute toxicity is considered low. I recommend learning more about dandelion extracts, including drug interactions, at examine.com.

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