114 This work is under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. ISSN: 2349-8889 Volume-8, Issue-2 (March 2021) https://doi.org/10.31033/ijrasb.8.2.14 International Journal for Research in Applied Sciences and Biotechnology www.ijrasb.com Kasani beej (Cichorium intybus): Ayurvedic View, Folk View, Phytochemistry and Modern Therapeutic Uses Shailja Choudhary 1 , Hemlata Kaurav 2 and Gitika Chaudhary 3 1 Research and Development Department, Shuddhi Ayurveda, Jeena Sikho Lifecare Pvt. Ltd., Zirakpur 140603, Punjab, INDIA. 2 Research and Development Department, Shuddhi Ayurveda, Jeena Sikho Lifecare Pvt. Ltd., Zirakpur 140603, Punjab, INDIA. 3 Research and Development Department, Shuddhi Ayurveda, Jeena Sikho Lifecare Pvt. Ltd., Zirakpur 140603, Punjab, INDIA. 3 Corresponding Author: shuddhi.research@jeenasikho.co.in ABSTRACT Cichorium intybus is commonly known as Chicory, kasani. It is a recognized medicinal plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. This plant is a well-known traditional herb used in various medicinal systems like Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha medicinal system to treat variety of diseases ranging from wounds to diabetes. The species is native to the European region (Mediterranean region) but can also grow in the temperate and semi-arid regions. The juice extracted from this plant is used as a traditional remedy to cure uterus cancer and tumors. The plant is well- known for its roots that are used as an additive in coffee as it provides bitterness in taste without the caffeine. It is also reported that the roots of the plant contain 40% inulin and acts as an anti-diabetic agent. Historically, the plant was cultivated by ancient Egyptians as a medicinal plant, vegetable crop, coffee substitute and also used as animal forage. Cichorium intybus contains various phytochemical constituents mainly sesquiterpene lactones, caffeic acid derivatives, inulin flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, steroids terpenoids and many more. The reported pharmacological properties of the C. intybus plant include hepatoprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-cancerous, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, cardiovascular, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antimalarial, anti-allergic and gastroprotective activities. In this review article, the medicinal and ayurvedic importance of C. intybus plant along with its phytochemicals are briefly explained. Keywords- Chicory, Hepatoprotective, Antidiabetic, Rasapanchak, Ayurveda. I. INTRODUCTION From ancient times, plants are used for medicinal purposes. The medicinal use of herbal plants is used for 400 years before the common era. It has been reported that almost 400 diverse species of plants were used by Hippocrates for medicinal purposes. The natural products extracted from the plants are used in a traditional medicinal system like Ayurveda, Unani, Chinese and Egyptian since ancient times [1]. Various modern medicines are originated from botanical sources [2]. Plants are also studied in the food sector in order to improve the health of people. The various phytochemicals extracts isolated from the plants are used in pharmaceutical sciences to prepare modern drugs [3]. India is referred as the Medicinal Garden of the world. In Indian Vedas, the clinical use of herbal plants is well described to cure number of ailments [4,5]. In the 21st century, natural products derived from herbal plants represent more than 50% of all drugs that are used clinically. It is also reported that almost 7500 plant species are used by local and rural communities of India to treat variety of diseases. Herbal treatment is considered as the primary treatment in the traditional medicinal system of India [6]. Cichorium intybus is commonly known as chicory, kasani is a perennial herb that belongs to the family Asteraceae and is cultivated world widely. The species is native to the European region (Mediterranean region) but can also grow in the temperate and semi-arid regions [7]. The name Cichorium intybus is derived from Greek and Latin. Cichorium means 'field' and intybus meaning 'to cut', because of the leaves, and partly from Latin tubus to indicate the hollow stem [8]. C. intybus is grown for its wide applications and is divided into four categories as per its use: (1)'industrial' or 'root' chicory, which is grown in India, South Africa, northwestern Europe and Chile that produces strong taproot for inulin extraction or coffee substitute. (2) 'Brussels' or 'witloof' chicory that is mainly grown in the European region as industrial chicory for etiolated buds (chicons) by force. (3) 'leaf' chicory is utilized as cooked as fresh or cooked vegetables. (4) 'forage' chicory which is commonly found along roadside and waste areas is used since the mid- 1970s as a forage for livestock [9]. It is considered as the most important herbal plant in the Ayurveda, Unani and Siddhamedicinal system to treat variety of diseases. The plant is well-known for its roots that are used as an additive in coffee as it provides bitterness in taste without the caffeine. It is also reported that the roots of the plant contain 40% inulin and acts as an anti-diabetic agent [10]. C. intybus is used as an appetizer and is also used to treat diseases like fever, hepatic failure, diarrhea, cough, cancer, hangover, liver disorders, jaundice, gallstones, mild state of chronic skin diseases and other digestive