More often presented as an alternative to coffee, chicory is nonetheless a plant whose roots are appreciated. This plant is of great interest to some European researchers.
In Europe, the roasted root of chicory has been consumed as an alternative to coffee for more than two centuries. However, this plant was already cultivated in ancient Egyptian times more than 5,000 years ago. Already at that time, the medicinal virtues of chicory had seduced.
Today, chicory is widely used to produce inulin obtained from its roots. Then this substance is incorporated into certain foods . In addition, this plant is considered to be prebiotic. Its dietary fibers contribute to a good intestinal microbiota and also help to strengthen the immune system. The plant also promotes weight management, diabetes control and the preservation of cardiovascular health.
A report broadcast by Euronews on October 14, 2019 mentions the fact that researchers are interested in chicory. It is more precisely a question of studying other compounds of the roots of this plant in order to discover other properties. According to scientists, chicory contains terpenes , a class of natural hydrocarbons produced by many plants. Although beneficial to health, terpenes are often overlooked due to their bitterness.
The CHIC European research project (see video at the end of the article) aims to develop new varieties of chicory. This is to avoid the bitterness of terpenes by getting the plant to produce leaves first and then the root tissue. To do this, the researchers want to modify the chicory genome using the famous CRISPR genetic scissors.
If this operation worked, the terpenes will then need to be analyzed to assess their quality. For the researchers, the goal is above all to obtain twenty different varieties of chicory. This could then allow farmers to make the choice to grow the variety of their choice based on need.
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