The Chemical Structures, Neuroprotective Effects, Structure–Activity Relationships, and Applications of Flavonoids, Phenolic Acids, Terpenoids, and Sterols in Dandelion: A Review

Dandelion, a plant belonging to the Compositae family, originated in Europe and is now widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. It is rich in bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, and sterols, and exhibits a range of pharmacological activities such as neuroprotective, antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, antibacterial, hypoglycemic, and hepatoprotective effects. The neuroprotective effects of its active constituents are primarily mediated through the inhibition of inflammatory responses, reduction of oxidative stress, and prevention of neuronal damage. This article further examines the structure–activity relationships of these compounds in relation to their neuroprotective effects. The analysis indicates that the pharmacological activities of dandelion components are largely determined by their core skeletons, while functional groups—such as hydroxylation patterns, glycosylation, and specific unsaturated bonds—fine‐tune their activity. As a non‐toxic plant, dandelion has been widely used in food and pharmaceutical applications. Therefore, this review summarizes current research on the chemical structures, neuroprotective effects, structure–activity relationships, and applications of flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, and sterols derived from dandelion in the medical and food industries, with the aim of promoting its further development and utilization.