MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE OF CHICHORIUM INTYBUS - A REVIEW

Jyoti Devi*, Dr. R.B. Sharma, Ashish Kumar and Ajay Kumar

ABSTRACT

Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) is a perennial herb from the Cichorium genus, Asteraceae family, and is worldwide cultivated. The aim of this review is to consolidate the nutritional composition and bioactivity of the chicory plant, describe its health beneficial properties and demonstrate Cichorium intybus L. plant as a potential food ingredient. Cichoric acid was found to be the main component of the methanolic extract from C. intybus L. Aliphatic compounds and their derivatives are the main fraction, with terpenoids slightly less abundant in the plant Further more, this review collects literature regarding the relationship between nutritional components and their health-related bioactivity, which is the main point of food functionality. The phytochemical or plant constituents are distributed throughout the whole chicory plant, but the main contents are present in the root. Analysis of fresh roots of chicory gave water 77%, gummy water 7.5%, cellulose, inulin and fibre 9% and ash 7.8%. However, further studies, including in vitro and in vivo studies, are needed to confirm this antiviral property of chicory.

Keywords: Chicory, Xylem, Bilirubin, Periocular, Infusion.