Burdock root contains high amounts of inulin and mucilage. This may explain its soothing effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Bitter constituents in the root may also explain the traditional use of burdock to improve digestion. Additionally, burdock has been shown to reduce liver damage in animal studies.⁵ This has not been confirmed in human studies, however. It also contains polyacetylenes that have demonstrated anti-microbial activity.⁶ Even though test tube and animal studies have indicated some anti-tumour activity in burdock root, these results have not been duplicated in human studies.⁷ A few animal and test tubes studies have also suggested an anti-inflammatory effect of unknown compounds in burdock root or seeds, including an ability to inhibit the potent inflammation-causing chemical platelet activating factor.^{8, 9}