Objective To screen the active components and targets of dandelion extract using network pharmacology methods, and investigate its inhibitory effects and molecular mechanisms on the occurrence and development of colorectal tumors. Methods The active components of dandelion were screened through TCMSP, HERB, and BATMAN-TCM databases. SwissTargetPrediction was used to predict targets, and colorectal cancer-related targets were obtained from the GeneCards database. PPI network construction, KEGG and GO enrichment analyses were performed. In vitro cell experiments were conducted to verify the inhibitory effects of dandelion extract on colorectal tumors and to detect changes in AGE-RAGE signaling pathway-related protein expression. Results Network pharmacology analysis identified 10 active components in dandelion and predicted 233 drug targets, with 157 common targets shared with colorectal cancer-related targets. PPI network analysis screened out 10 core targets including TNF, IL6, CASP3, BCL2, and TP53. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that these targets were significantly enriched in the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway. In vitro experiments demonstrated that dandelion extract could dose-dependently inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and migration of colorectal tumor cells, and significantly reduce the expression levels of inflammatory factors such as RAGE, NF-κB, and IL-6.Conclusion Dandelion extract may primarily inhibit the occurrence and development of colorectal tumors by regulating the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, providing a theoretical basis for its potential clinical application