A viral post on X has attracted approximately 1.7 million views within a day, making bold claims about the health benefits of dandelion root. Chief among them is the assertion that dandelion root can “kill 98% of cancer cells within 48 hours.” The post also describes the plant as a “powerful anti-inflammatory, immune booster, antioxidant, and organ detoxifier”.
Despite its popularity, the post provides no citations from scientific studies or credible medical sources. Instead, it tags a commercial supplement shop, suggesting a promotional motive rather than evidence-based information.
Dandelions and traditional remedies
Dandelions are flowering plants found widely across many regions, and their roots and leaves have long been used in traditional remedies, such as to support digestion and stimulate appetite. The plant contains vitamins A, C, and K, as well as minerals like iron and magnesium. It also possesses antioxidant compounds that may help neutralise harmful free radicals in the body. While these nutritional and traditional uses are well established, the sweeping cancer-related claims circulating online appear to go far beyond what current research can support.
Studies on dandelion root extract
The viral claim appears to originate from a 2016 article titled “Scientists Find Root That Kills 98% Of Cancer Cells In Only 48 Hours.” The article references a 2012 CBC News report from Canada, which profiled a Canadian man whose aggressive leukaemia reportedly went into remission four months after he began drinking dandelion root tea. The report also highlighted that Dr. Caroline Hamm from Windsor Regional Hospital in Canada was involved in pre-clinical research on the effects of dandelion root extract on cancer cells. She expressed hope for future clinical trials after initial findingsshowed that the extract induced cancer cell death in chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia cells.
The 2016 article also claims that “within 48 hours of coming into contact with the extract, cancerous cells begin to disintegrate.” However, there are no scientific studies cited to support this claim.
In a 2017 clarification, Dr. Hamm stated that the research on dandelion root extract was still in its early stages and that no definitive conclusions could be drawn. The study had recently been approved to proceed to clinical trials.
Moreover, Dr. Siyaram Pandey, a biochemist at the University of Windsor, Canada who also studies the effects of dandelion root on cancer, noted that while dandelion root extract caused over 95% (not 98%) of colon cancer cells in a petri dish to die within 48 hours, this should not be interpreted as a cancer cure. The dandelion root formula used in Dr. Pandey’s lab was also approximately five times more concentrated than commercially available over-the-counter extracts.
In a 2021 statement to USA Today, in response to similar claims circulating online, he emphasised that based on the research, “most of the (cancer) cells are dead within 48 hours, but that does not mean a patient who takes dandelion root will be cured in 48 hours.”
Other preliminary laboratory studies have also explored the potential anti-cancer properties of dandelion root extract, particularly in cell cultures and animal models. A 2022 study in Frontiers in Pharmacology reported that dandelion extract disrupted lipid metabolism in triple-negative breast cancer cells, reducing their growth and migration.
While promising, these studies are primarily pre-clinical and were conducted in tightly controlled laboratory settings. They do not prove that dandelion root extract is effective in treating cancer in humans, nor that 98% of all types of cancer cells will die within 48 hours. As of mid-2025, there is no approved clinical use of dandelion root for cancer prevention or treatment. Based on current evidence, the claim that dandelion root kills 98% of cancer cells within 48 hours, suggesting that it is an effective cancer cure, is false.
The dandelion root case illustrates a broader problem: the distortion of early-stage scientific findings into viral miracle-cure claims. The phrase “kills 98% of cancer cells in 48 hours” is a striking headline, but was drawn inaccurately from a lab study that reported 95% cell death in a petri dish, not in humans. While such pre-clinical results are a valuable starting point in research, they do not reflect the complexity of the human body, including metabolism, immune responses, and the tumour environment.
Despite being repeatedly debunked, similar claims have circulated widely over the years and continue to resurface. Bad actors or marketers may cherry-pick information to promote products, misleading people who might take such claims at face value. In a 2018 interview, Dr. Hamm expressed concern about misleading online claims about the cancer-curing abilities of dandelion root extract, noting that such misinformation gives patients false hope and may lead some to abandon proven treatments, potentially with fatal consequences.
Hence, it is important to verify health claims against peer-reviewed research and be cautious of “miracle cures”, especially when linked to a product for sale. It is also essential to consult a medical professional before using supplements or alternative remedies, particularly for serious conditions like cancer.
