A review on natural bioactive compounds of Taraxacum officinale Weber: a potential anticancer plant

Abstract

Abstract Objectives This review analyzed available literature on traditional/ethnomedicinal knowledge, phytochemical composition, anticancer activity reported in vitro and in vivo studies, and the toxicological activity of Taraxacum officinale. The aim is to provide an in-depth analysis of existing research on the anticancer potential of T. officinale. Key findings The data was extracted using four search engines, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, and Pubmed, and systematically analyzed to identify effective plant-based substances for cancer treatment. The different parts of the plant are the source of different bioactive compounds that exhibit several pharmacological activities like antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, anticancer, analgesic, etc. Traditionally, it is used to treat various ailments such as migraines, cardiac complaints, jaundice, fever, liver and kidney disorders, and hepatitis. Different biologically active compounds isolated from T. officinale are widely investigated against various pharmacological activities, including cancer. Summary The available evidence on the bioactive potential of Taraxacum officinale provides direction for identifying and developing herbal agents to prevent different types of cancers in the future. However, there is a need to examine the clinical validation of pure compounds for drug development.