Once the tumors were established, the mice were given dandelion root extract orally. This detail is important, as it mimics the most common way a person would take a supplement or medication.
The key questions were whether the extract could be absorbed effectively and if it would still work against the tumors.
The outcome was a powerful confirmation of the lab findings. The study reported that “oral administration of DRE retarded the growth of human colon xenograft models by more than 90%.”
Just as important as its effectiveness was its safety. Throughout the 75-day study, the mice were carefully monitored for any negative side effects. They found none. The animals showed no signs of organ damage or toxicity. This combination—high effectiveness against the cancer and a strong safety profile in the animal model—provided the scientific and ethical justification needed to consider the most important step: testing in humans.The journey from a successful animal study to an approved human therapy is the most difficult stage in medical research. This is where the exciting story of dandelion root extract takes a critical turn, and where the online hype separates from the scientific reality.