Chicory: Understanding the Effects and Effectors of This Functional Food

Abstract

Industrial chicory has been the subject of numerous studies, most of which provide clinical observations on its health effects. Whether it is the roasted root, the flour obtained from the roots or the different classes of molecules that enter into the composition of this plant, understanding the molecular mechanisms of action on the human organism remains incomplete. In this study, we were interested in three molecules or classes of molecules present in chicory root: fructose, chlorogenic acids, and sesquiterpene lactones. We conducted experiments on the murine model and performed a nutrigenomic analysis, a metabolic hormone assay and a gut microbiota analysis, associated with in vitro observations for different responses. We have highlighted a large number of effects of all these classes of molecules that suggest a pro-apoptotic activity, an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic effect and also an important role in appetite regulation. A significant prebiotic activity was also identified. Fructose seems to be the most involved in these activities, contributing to approximately 83% of recorded responses, but the other classes of tested molecules have shown a specific role for these different effects, with an estimated contribution of 23–24%.

Assessment of biosecurity traits and in situ antibacterial activities of Weissella cibaria strains isolated from Campos das Vertentes, Minas Gerais, Brazil focused for a potential probiotic and food application

“…For the cytotoxicity test, we utilized a mix of human cell lines composed of 80% of human colon adenocarcinoma Caco2 and 20% of HT-29. The preparation of the mix of human cell culture was realized according to Pouille et al [23]. The mix of Caco2 cell and HT-29 line were cultured in Dulbecco's Modi ed Eagle Medium (DMEM, Gibco, Thermo Fisher Scienti c), supplemented with 10% (v/v) of heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS) (Biowest, Nuaillé, France), 100 units/mL penicillin, 100 µg/mL streptomycin (Gibco, Life Technologies, Grand Island, NY, USA) and 10 mM nonessential amino acids (Gibco, Life Technologies, Paisley, UK).…”

“…To investigate the in ammatory and anti-in ammatory effects of Weissella strains, we used the promonocytic human cell line U937 according to the protocol described by Pouille et al [23]. The cell line U937 was cultured in Roswell Park Memorial Institute 1640 Medium (RPMI, Gibco, Thermo Fisher Scienti c) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 100 U/mL penicillin, 100 µg/mL streptomycin, and 2 mM glutamine in a humidi ed 5% CO 2 atmosphere at 37°C.…”

Re-Visiting Antioxidant Therapy in Murine Advanced Atherosclerosis with Brussels Chicory, a Typical Vegetable in Mediterranean Diets

“…Chicory is currently an important part of the human diet as a substitute for coffee and also as a major source of inulin, as well as use as a vegetable with its cultivated types, such as Brussels chicory, radicchio, and puntarelle [ 11 ]. Modern experimental studies have shown that chicory possesses a variety of pharmaceutical properties, ranging from antiulcerogenic, diuretic, analgesic, and wound-healing effects to an anti-metabolic disease potential (e.g., anti-diabetes, lowering blood pressure, and immunomodulatory effect) [ 9 , 11 , 12 ]. Moreover, our groups found that, in spite of no change in advanced atherosclerotic plaque size at the site of the brachiocephalic artery, Brussels chicory did elicit a “clinically favorable” stable-plaque phenotype with a reduction in necrotic size and an increase in collagen content and also the thickness of thin fibrous cap in Apoe −/− mice [ 3 ].…”

Dietary Inclusion of Dried Chicory Root Affects Cecal Mucosa Proteome of Nursery Pigs

“…In addition, chicory root contains other phytochemicals that are collectively known to have antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties [16]. These bioactive substances include coumarins, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, vitamins, minerals and essential oils [16].…”

“…In addition, chicory root contains other phytochemicals that are collectively known to have antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties [16]. These bioactive substances include coumarins, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, vitamins, minerals and essential oils [16]. One of our recent studies also demonstrated that the inclusion of chicory in a cereal-based diet could significantly influence kidney and liver mineral contents and antioxidant capacity in nursery pigs [17].…”