Taraxacum officinale extract shows antitumor effects on pediatric cancer cells and enhance mistletoe therapy

Abstract Objectives While Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) extracts showed antitumor effects on adult cancer cells, effects on pediatric tumor cells as a single agent or in combination with mistletoe extracts are hitherto unknown. Material and methods The anti-proliferative effects of an aqueous fermented Taraxacum officinale extract ( Taraxacum ) on a pediatric cancer cell line panel were assessed by cell viability assays (MTT). In two neuroblastoma cell lines, SH-SY5Y and Kelly, the effects on cell cycle distribution (PI staining), mitochondrial integrity (MitoTracker staining), invasion (Boyden chamber assay) and migration (Scratch-assay) as well as the synergistic effects of the co-treatment of Taraxacum and mistletoe preparations ( Iscucin ® Tiliae or Iscucin ® Pini) were investigated. Results All tested cancer cell lines were more susceptible to Taraxacum than the normal human fibroblast cell line, NHDF-C. In neuroblastoma cell lines Taraxacum caused apoptosis and loss of mitochondrial integrity as well as an inhibition of invasion and migration. The simultaneous therapy of Taraxacum and the mistletoe extracts revealed synergistic effects. Conclusion This preclinical data support the use of Taraxacum as a potential adjuvant application in pediatric oncology.