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Chicory Details & Specifications |
| Useful
Link |
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| Botanical Name |
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Cichorium intybus Linn |
| English Name |
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Chicory |
| Hindi Name |
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Kasni |
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| CATEGORY |
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Digestive |
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| SOURCE |
| Part used |
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State of the part used |
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Flowers |
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Root |
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Dried |
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| FAMILY |
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Compositae |
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| GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCE |
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The plant is indigenous to France and is found in following countries:-
Britain
Denmark
France
Germany
India
Iran
Iraq
Italy
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Venezuela
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| IDENTIFICATION |
| Organoleptic characteristics |
| Colour |
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| Odour |
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Odourless |
| Taste |
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Bitter |
| Size |
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N/A |
| Physical
Standards |
| Total Ash |
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N/A |
| Moisture |
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Not more than 8.0% |
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| CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS |
| Major |
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Major chemical constituents responsible for physicochemical and therapeutic action of the herb are:-
Bland oil
Sugar
Cellulose
Nitrogenous matter
Fat
Nitrate and sulphate of potash
Mucilage
Enulin.
Crystalline glucoside
/p>
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| Minor |
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Minor chemical constituents of this herb are :-
Glucoside
Cichoriin
Bitter substance lactucin
Intybin.
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| CULTIVATION |
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It is wild perennial growing plant and its seeds are sown in May or Jun. In Europe it is often cultivated for its edible leaves and for its roots that are used to make a coffee substitute. Cultivars sow seeds in April for a summer crop or in June/July for a winter crop. Seeds are sown in situ or in pots and seedlings when large enough to handle are planted outside. The plant flowers from July to October and the seeds ripen from August to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile and is noted for attracting wildlife.
The leaves can be harvested if required during the winter and the plants will then usually make some new growth that can be harvested in late winter or early spring. The plants run to flower in the following summer and fail to make an over wintering rosette of leaves for that winter.
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| STORAGE |
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To maintain physicochemical properties and medicinal values of the herb it is recommended to maintain following storage conditions:-
Air tight containers
Protection from light
Protection from moisture
Microbial contamination
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