Carbohydrates 70% including inulin 40 – 50%, tannins (astringent), volatile oils which are commonly called EOs.
Inulin in natural form in burdock root is excellent pre-biotic. With the addition of tannins and volatile oils, burdock root is an excellent prebiotic that also affects the pathogenic microflora of the body and improves its microbiome.
By the way people who are struggling with weight and are obese or overweight, have prevalence or bad gut microbes and decreased concentration of good gut microbes. By taking burdock root as herbal medicine may possibly help to improve gut microbiota and decrease excess weight.
Other benefits are viscous fibre, it absorbs toxins from bowel, balances intestinal microbiota, has demulcent action on GIT, bacteriostatic (EOs), fungistatic (EOs),, lowers bowel transit time and can improve bowels release.
Burdock root was also used in cooking as a spice centuries ago.
Burdock root is one of many other medicinal herbs which people of the past were applying on the regular basis and medicinal herbs were as common on dinning table as other vegetables.
By the way Chinese chefs still use medicinal herbs to cook their meals, as did Europeans centuries ago.
Considering Michelin star chefs say that there are two famous kitchens in the world, the French and Chinese, perhaps it is a good time to remember our roots and other medicinal herbs that were once used in cooking in Europe.
You may agree or not agree to what Michelin start chiefs say but there are many medicinal herbs that were used in the past in cooking and they are completely forgotten now.
Burdock has very bitter taste, so a very tiny bit of burdock could be used in cooking. It will go well with ginger, mint, lemon and turmeric in a souse over red meat.
If with would like to try it as herbal medicine I can make for you bespoke herbal capsules with burdock and other herbs, so that they best suit your goals.