Genetic transformation technologies for the common dandelion, Taraxacum officinale

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale and T mongolicum)

Common Names The English name dandelion is a corruption of the French dent de leon, meaning “lion’s tooth.” The herb is similarly named in many Indo-European tongues, also being called “lion’s tooth” in German (Löwenzahn) and Spanish (diente de leon). The name refers to the toothed margins of the leaves. In both modern French and English, the name for dandelion reflects its diuretic nature—bein...

The potential for genetic assimilation of a native dandelion species, Taraxacum ceratophorum (Asteraceae), by the exotic congener T. officinale.

Exotic plant species can threaten closely related native congeners through asymmetric hybridization and subsequent backcrossing, the process known as genetic assimilation. I explore the initial stages of this process in Taraxacum ceratophorum (Asteraceae), the native alpine dandelion, and the invasive apomict T. officinale. In central Colorado, seven T. ceratophorum populations all occur in sym...

The Physiological Action of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid on Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale.

A new subtilisin-like proteinase from roots of the dandelion Taraxacum officinale Webb S. L.

A serine proteinase from roots of Taraxacum officinale Webb S. L. was isolated by affinity chromatography and gel-filtration on Superose 6R using FPLC. The enzyme is a 67-kD glycoprotein containing 54% carbohydrate which we have named taraxalisin. The substrate specificity of taraxalisin toward synthetic peptides and oxidized insulin B-chain is comparable with that of cucumisin from Cucumis mel...

Hypolipidemic and Antioxidant Effects of Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Root and Leaf on Cholesterol-Fed Rabbits

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), an oriental herbal medicine, has been shown to favorably affect choleretic, antirheumatic and diuretin properties. Recent reports have indicated that excessive oxidative stress contributes to the development of atherosclerosis-linked metabolic syndrome. The objective of this current study was to investigate the possible hypolipidemic and antioxidative effects o...