Dandelion may seem like a troublesome weed, but researchers are studying it as a treatment for a variety of ailments and diseases—and now that includes evaluating its effects on the COVID-19 virus. A study out this past spring in the journal Pharmaceuticals explored how the plant interacted with SARS-CoV-2 virus variants. They didn’t test this in humans, though—only in vitro (in a test tube). But they do believe the positive results should “encourage” more research on the relevance and practicality of dandelion extract as a preventative strategy. Exploring Dandelion and the COVID-19 Virus The variants contained numerous mutations in the virus’s spike protein’s Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor recognition site in comparison to the original virus. The spike protein of the virus is what lets it bind to ACE2, a protein in human cells. A team looked at whether common dandelion (the scientific name is Taraxacum officinale) could block the interaction …