Dandelion beats the flu!?
 

I know that it is just one study, but spreade this around anyway[-


1. Virol J. 2011 Dec 14;8:538. doi: 10.1186/1743-422X-8-538.

Anti-influenza virus effect of aqueous extracts from dandelion.

He W, Han H, Wang W, Gao B.

Author information:
CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology (CASPMI), Institute
of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Beijing
100101, PR China.

BACKGROUND: Human influenza is a seasonal disease associated with significant
morbidity and mortality. Anti-flu Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has played a
significant role in fighting the virus pandemic. In TCM, dandelion is a commonly
used ingredient in many therapeutic remedies, either alone or in conjunction with
other natural substances. Evidence suggests that dandelion is associated with a
variety of pharmacological activities. In this study, we evaluated anti-influenza
virus activity of an aqueous extract from dandelion, which was tested for in
vitro antiviral activity against influenza virus type A, human A/PR/8/34 and WSN
(H1N1).
RESULTS: Results obstained using antiviral assays, minigenome assay and real-time
reverse transcription-PCR analysis showed that 0.625-5 mg/ml of dandelion
extracts inhibited infections in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells or Human
lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549) of PR8 or WSN viruses, as well as inhibited
polymerase activity and reduced virus nucleoprotein (NP) RNA level. The plant
extract did not exhibit any apparent negative effects on cell viability,
metabolism or proliferation at the effective dose. This result is consistent with
the added advantage of lacking any reported complications of the plant's utility
in traditional medicine over several centuries.
CONCLUSION: The antiviral activity of dandelion extracts indicates that a
component or components of these extracts possess anti-influenza virus
properties. Mechanisms of reduction of viral growth in MDCK or A549 cells by
dandelion involve inhibition on virus replication.

PMCID: PMC3265450
PMID: 22168277 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Full text is available

Do you know if they were making a water extract from the aerial parts (leaves/ flowers) of the dandelion or root?

No, Aunt Bean, and I really couldn't tell from my initial reading. Most commercial products seem to be the root but I see no reason to not do a whole plant approach. A lot of nutrients there.

Remember when we used to laugh at the old Italian couple by the side of the highway digging out dandelions? I guess I could have learned a thing or two from my ancestors.