Phyto-Pharmacology of Cichorium intybus as Hepatoprotective Agent - A Review

摘要

Cichorium intybus Linn. family Asteraceae is commonly known as chicory and is used in Indian System of Medicine as cardiotonic, anti-inflammatory, digestive, stomachic, liver tonic and diuretic. The chicory plant is used in Indian medicine as a tonic, curative in acne, opthlamia and inflamed throat. The plant is bitter, acrid, thermogenic, anti-inflammatory, appetizer, digestive, stomachic, cholagogue and cardiotonic. Historically, chicory was grown by the ancient Egyptians as a medicinal plant, coffee substitute, and vegetable crop and was occasionally used for animal forage. Its various plant parts have beneficial role in treating liver diseases, enlargement of spleen, as bitter tonic effective in jaundice, liver enlargement etc. The present review focuses on the constituents and phyto-pharmacological uses of the plant, particularly in imparting hepatoprotection against various types of liver toxicities.