Chicory

Chicory

(Xinjiang Chinese herbal medicine manual)

[synonym] casni.

[source] it is the whole plant of Cichorium intybus.

[plant morphology] Cichorium intybus

Perennial herbs, 50-100 cm high. Stems angulate, erect, hollow, much branched. Root leaves long oblanceolate, apex acute, base narrow, margin with sparse irregular teeth and long hairs, midrib with coarse hairs; stem leaves few, small, oblong lanceolate, with coarse hairs. Inflorescence axillary and terminal; involucre 2-row; flowers all ligulate, blue, anther stamen blue, stigma 2-lobed, with upward short setae. The fruit is angular.

Born in the field, roadside, grassland, gully. It is distributed in Central China, Northeast China and Xinjiang.

[collection] harvest in summer.

[chemical constituents] the whole herb contains three bitter substances, namely, corioretin, corioretin, wild lettuce glycoside, kaempferol and kaempferol. The root contains kaempferol, α - kaempferol and wild lettuce glycoside. The leaves contain caffeoyl tartaric acid and cichoric acid. Fresh petals contain anthocyanins.

[pharmacological action] the extract of wild Cichorium intybus can stimulate the central nervous system and enhance the cardiac activity (the amplitude increases but the frequency slows down); the decoction has antibacterial and astringent effects. Root can increase appetite, improve digestive function, high concentration of extract can increase gastric secretion, but does not increase smooth muscle tension. The ethanol or ether extract of the root has antibacterial activity, and its active component may be a sesquiterpene. The root also has a laxative effect. The seed has non-specific hemagglutinin. It has also been reported that chicory contains carcinogenic hydrocarbons, which are higher than other coffee drinks.

[functions and indications] Xinjiang Chinese herbal medicine manual: "Qinggan Lidan. To treat icteric hepatitis. Take chicory three money decoction, and wash with appropriate amount of boiling water. "

Chinese PinYin : Ju Ju