Pinyin name Ju Ju
Alias Kasny (Wei Ming)
The source is the whole grass of chicory in Compositae. Summer harvest.
Original perennial herb, 50 ~100 cm high. Stems are angular, erect, hollow and multi-branched. Rooted leaves are oblanceolate, sharp at the apex, narrow at the base, with sparse irregular teeth and long hair at the edge, and coarse hair at the midvein; Cauline leaves are few, small, oblong and lanceolate, with coarse hair. The head is axillary and terminal; Involucre 2 rows; The flowers are all ligulate, blue, the polyandry stamens are blue, the stigma is 2-lobed, and there are short bristles upward. The fruit is angular.
Habitat distribution is born in fields, roadsides, grasslands and ravines. Distributed in central China, Northeast China and Xinjiang.
The chemical composition of the whole grass contains bitter substances, such as horse chestnut bark, horse chestnut bark glycoside, wild lettuce glycoside, mountain lettuce essence and mountain lettuce bitter essence. The root contains lactucacin, α-lactucanol and lactucacin. The leaves contain monoccaffeoyl tartaric acid and cichoric acid. Fresh petals contain anthocyanins.
Pharmacological effects The infusion of wild chicory flowers injected into animals can excite the central nervous system and enhance the heart activity (the amplitude increases but the frequency slows down); The decoction has antibacterial and astringent effects. Roots can increase appetite and improve digestive function, and high concentration infusion can increase gastric secretion, but not smooth muscle tension. The ethanol or ether extract of root has antibacterial effect, and its effective component may be a sesquiterpene. Roots also have a laxative effect. The seeds have nonspecific phytohaemagglutinin. It has also been reported that chicory contains carcinogenic hydrocarbons, which is higher than other coffee drinks.
Indications: Manual of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Xinjiang: clearing liver and benefiting gallbladder. Treat jaundice hepatitis. Decoct chicory with San Qian water, and wash your body with appropriate amount of water.
Excerpt from * Dictionary