Traditional Uses, Phytochemicals, and Pharmacological Effects of Cichorium intybus: A Narrative Review

Background: Medicinal plants remain an important source of therapeutic agents worldwide. The review compiles the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological effects of Cichorium intybus to serve as a valuable guide for researchers and healthcare professionals. This review fills important gaps by bringing together scattered information on C. intybus, offering a clearer and more comprehensive reference than previous studies.
Methods: Data were collected from 2000 to 2025 through extensive searches across multiple databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Springer Nature, following PRISMA guidelines.
Results: Traditionally, different parts of the C. intybus were used to cure conditions like gallstones, jaundice, fever, and diarrhea. Previous literature studies have revealed that multiple pharmacological activities have been explored in different parts of the plant, including antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcerative, and antioxidant activities. Fiftyone studies met the inclusion criteria, including seventeen on traditional uses and phytochemistry, twenty-eight preclinical investigations, and six clinical trials. The phytochemical analysis indicates that the majority of sesquiterpene lactones found in C. intybus are lactucin and lactucopicrin. Moreover, C. intybus contains several important caffeic acid derivatives, most notably caftaric acid, along with isochlorogenic acid, cichoric acid, and chlorogenic acid. Cichorium intybus has been shown to contain additional pharmacologically active compounds, such as proteins, sugars, terpenoids, hydroxycoumarins, alkaloids, sugars, flavonoids, inulin, steroids, and volatile chemicals.
Conclusion: C. intybus is a rich source of various phytochemicals, which are responsible for its therapeutic effects. Future research is necessary to confirm the plant’s efficacy, safety, and its potential in therapeutic applications.