Goes to show that there is some truth in folklore around herbal/plant usage. So it comes at no surprise that dandelion root, which is prescribed by herbalists for liver healing has been found to prevent alcohol damage to mice liver.
This is good news as dandelion root can be made into a cup of "tea".
Also when the mice were fed a dandelion root extract of 0.02 grams a day (1 g/kg bw/day) their livers showed no damage from alcohol, that is "complete protection from alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity". Where as the alcohol group did have liver damage.
Scaling this up linearly a 100 kg adult would need 100 grams of dandelion extract a day. Unfortunately the method of creating this extract is currently unavailable.However I think I am going to make some dandelion tea - and see if I can drink it.
Reference: Yanghee, Y., et al In vitro and in vivo hepatoprotective effects of the aqueous extract from Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) root against alcohol-induced oxidative stressFood and Chemical Toxicology Volume 48, Issue 6, June 2010, Pages 1632-1637 doi:10.1016/j.fct.2010.03.037
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