Benefits of Chicory roots

Benefits of Chicory roots

Introduction

Chicory (Cichorium intybus L; family- Asteraceae) is a major crop in northwestern Europe. The roots of these plants are a rich source of dietary fiber inulin and its color varies from white to red. The benefits of chicory roots are due to inulin also uses as a substitute for dietary fat by decreasing calorie intake. The name is originated from Greek and Latin, Cichorium means field and intybus means hollow stem.

Geographical distribution

Predominantly cultivated in the Mediterranean area including northwestern Europe, India, South Africa, and Chile.

Historically, chicory was grown by the ancient Egyptians as a medicinal plant, coffee substitute, and vegetable crop. Traditionally chicory is used to treat malaria, diarrhea, pulmonary cancer, hangover, and purification of the biliary tract, liver disorders, diabetes, jaundice, blood purification, a mild laxative, a sedative in typhoid, kidney stones, etc.

What is chicory coffee?

Chicory coffee is a tasty natural healthy beverage obtained from chicory root when dried, roasted, ground and brewed into a coffee-like drink. Chicory root tea is caffeine-free, gluten-free, and good for the person who is allergic to caffeinated drinks with lots of health benefits than normal coffee. Nowadays Bru and Nescafe cut down on the caffeine content by blending up to 30% of chicory with coffee and very famous as a substitute for coffee in France and Japan.

Nutritional value of chicory

Chicory is a great source of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals, soluble fiber, trace elements, and bioactive phenolic compounds, which are responsible for the various nutritive, prophylactic, and therapeutic qualities of chicory.  Chicory root contains some phytochemicals such as inulin, coumarins, tannins, flavonoids, and sesquiterpene lactones (lactucin and lactucopicrin), alkaloids, and volatile oils. According to USDA nutrient value of chicory per 100 g is as follows (1).

Compound                                                                                     Amounts per 100 g.
Water 92 g
Energy 23 Kcal
Protein 1.7 g
Total lipid (fat) 0.3 g
Carbohydrate, by difference 4.7 g
Fiber, total dietary 4 g
Sugar 0.7 g
Calcium 100 mg
Iron, Fe 0.9 mg
Magnesium 30 mg
Phosphorus 47 mg
Potassium 420 mg
Sodium 45 mg
Zinc 0.42 mg
Copper 0.29 mg
Manganese 0.43 mg
Vitamin C 24 mg
Thiamin 0.06 mg
Riboflavin 0.1 mg
Niacin 0.5 mg
Pantothenic acid 0.16mg
Vitamin B-6 0.10 mg
Folate, DFE 110 µg
Vitamin A, RAE 286 µg
Vitamin A 5717 IU
Vitamin E 2.26 mg
Vitamin K 297.6 µg
Fatty acids, total saturated 0.07 g
Fatty acids, total monounsaturated 0.006 g
Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated 0.13 g

Health benefits of Chicory

1. Presence of anthocyanins

Red chicory leaves contain a high amount of total phenolics and anthocyanins which show antioxidant, cytoprotective, and antiproliferative activities thus improve intestinal health (2).

2. Presence of Protocatechuic acid and inulin 

A recent study proved that chicory (150 g) contains protocatechuic acid (248 μmol) which has multiple health benefits. Like anticancer, anti‐atherosclerosis, antioxidant activity, antibacterial activity, antiulcer activity, antidiabetic activity, antiageing activity, antiviral activity, anti-inflammatory activity, analgesic activity, cardiac activity, hepatoprotective activity, neurological and nephroprotective activity (3).

Furthermore, fructooligosaccharides (inulin) are a non-digestible carbohydrate obtained from chicory’s root which has low sweetness intensity, calorie-free, non-cariogenic, and is considered as soluble dietary fiber, low carcinogenicity, a prebiotic effect, improved mineral absorption and decreased levels of serum cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and phospholipids. Therefore regular consumption of chicory may exert health‐promoting effects in humans as well as infants (4).

3. Antimicrobial properties

Chicory seed extract than leaf and root extract contains bioactive compounds that fight against Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureusPseudomonas aeruginosaEscherichia coli,Candida albicans, Bacillus subtilis cereus, Salmonella typhiand Micrococcus luteus thus prevent dental biofilm and caries development. Chicory also exhibits antifungal properties against anthropophilic fungi Pseudomonas cichorii, Trichophyton tonsuransT. rubrum, and T. violaceum (5).

4. Effect on blood glucose

Chicory root extract contains inulin-type fructans that lower concentration of blood glucose and increase the antioxidant capacity thus chicory delay or prevent the early arrival of diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes) (6,7).

5. Treat Malaria

Lactucin and lactucopicrin (sesquiterpene lactones) found in chicory is act as an antimalarial compounds against Plasmodium falciparum (8).

6. Wound healing properties

β-sitosterol present in chicory root extract exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, as well as hyaluronidase (treat dehydration) and inhibit collagenase enzyme activities thus possess potent wound healing activity (9).

7. Treat osteoarthritis of the hip or knee

The chicory root extract is a good source of bioactive compounds that suppress the production of key cytokines and enzymes involved in inflammation. Thus intakes of chicory act as a therapeutic agent that reduce pain and inflammation as well as prevents osteoarthritis (10).

8. Healthy for heart

chicory coffee is caffeine-free and contains a rich amount of polyphenol such as caffeic acid which prevents blood clot formation by a reduction in the blood and plasma viscosity thus show antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory effects (11).

9. Helps to lose weight

Inulin-type fructans found in chicory are beneficial to reduce body weight therefore long-term intake of chicory may helpful to weight reduction (12).

10. Treat Hyperuricaemia

Hyperuricaemia is a metabolic disorder associated with an abnormally high uric acid level in blood which further leads to chronic kidney disease. However, intake of chicory extract is effective to reduce serum uric acid levels and delay the progression of the kidney thus prevents renal dysfunction or damage in hyperuricemia (13).

11. Lower cholesterol level

Intake of dry powder of celery leaves, chicory leaves (inulin; nondigestible carbohydrate), and barley grains combination (5% of each) for 4 weeks show a wonderful effect on lowering serum liver enzymes, total cholesterol, and triglycerides, and improves lipid profile thus protect the liver from injury and reduce the risk factors for atherosclerosis (14,15).

12. Improve digestion

Intake of chicory inulin (15g of the product/day for 2 weeks) increases stool frequency and stool consistency effect in healthy people. Moreover, daily consumption of inulin helps to promote bifidobacteria growth, may improve gut function and gastrointestinal complaints, therefore, treat constipation problems (16,17).

13. Analgesic and sedative properties

The presence of lactucin and its derivatives lactucopicrin obtained from chicory show wonderful analgesic and sedative effects (18).

Side effect of chicory

1. Risk of allergy

If you are allergic to birch pollen should not consume chicory because it causes the birch pollen-associated oral allergy syndrome due to cross-reactivity (19).

2. Risk of occupational rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma

The person who is working in a factory producing inulin from chicory has developed rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma to the dust of dry chicory roots and oral allergy syndrome to raw fruits and vegetables, therefore, precaution should be needed (20).

3. Presence of a high amount of plant secondary metabolites

As we know that chicory is a good source of a phytochemical compounds such as alkaloids, terpenes, saponins, lactones, glycosides, and phenolic compounds which has various health benefits however excessive consumption of these metabolites affect the health with symptoms like reduced feed intake, weight loss, toxicity, dry matter digestibility, and impaired rumen metabolism even death therefore high consumption of chicory should be avoided (21).

4. Risk of Gastrointestinal discomfort

High intake of inulin (more than 5 gm) rich chicory cause abdominal discomfort thus short- and long-term consumptions of chicory containing 5 g of inulin, are well tolerated by the healthy person (22). Whereas a study was done on rats in which chicory root extract 1000 mg/kg/day was administered orally for 28 consecutive days proved non-toxic and nonmutagenic thus useful as a  therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases (23).