Chicory is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family, naturally found in the Mediterranean and widely distributed across Europe, Asia, America, and Africa. In cuisine, its leaves play the primary role and can be consumed raw or boiled, while the root is most often used to prepare beverages, such as caffeine-free coffee.
Dried chicory root has a number of therapeutic properties: it dilates blood vessels, improves liver function, stimulates gut microbiota, and boosts immunity. Due to its content of beta-carotene, vitamins E, thiamine, choline, pyridoxine, riboflavin, and folic acid, chicory is often included in weight-loss diets and as an additive to drinks.
Glycole solution extract from plant parts is valued in the cosmetic industry for its high concentration of active substances. It is soluble in water, alcohol, and propylene glycol, suitable for sensitive skin, and can be used in anti-aging products in a concentration range of 0.05–5%. Such a comprehensive approach makes chicory a universal product for both nutrition and health care.