Artichoke: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Other name(s)
Artichoke leaf
Scientific name(s)
Cynara scolymus, Cynara cardunculus
Family or group:
Plants
Active ingredients:
Terpene lactones
Inulin
Cynarine
Chlorogenic acid
Indications
Scoring methodology
EFSA approval.
Hypercholesterolemia ✪✪✪✪✪
Meta-analyses and double-blind clinical studies have demonstrated the ability of artichoke extract to increase HDL levels (the "good" cholesterol) and to inhibit LDL oxidation (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol). The studies involved healthy subjects or patients with hyperlipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or metabolic syndrome and all show that daily intake of artichoke leaf extracts for 4 to 24 weeks reduces total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL). It appears that artichoke has pronounced effects only in people with high cholesterol levels. Doses used range from 200 mg (in combination with other active ingredients such as bergamot) to 500 mg or more, divided into 2 to 3 doses per day.
Posologie
Oral: leaf
200 - 1920 mg
8 - weeks
liquid extract, dry extract
Synergies
A Nutraceutical Containing Chlorogenic Acid and Luteolin Improves Cardiometabolic Parameters in Subjects with Pre-Obesity: A 6-Month Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
Beneficial effects of artichoke leaf extract supplementation on increasing HDL-cholesterol in subjects with primary mild hypercholesterolemia: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Artichoke and bergamot extracts: a new opportunity for the management of dyslipidemia and related risk factors
Artichoke leaf extract for treating hypercholesterolemia.
The role of artichoke leaf tincture (Cynara scolymus) in the suppression of DNA damage and atherosclerosis in rats fed an atherogenic diet
Artichoke leaf extract for treating hypercholesterolemia.
Therapeutic Potential of Artichoke in the Treatment of Fatty Liver: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
[Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and biliary sludge in people with metabolic syndrome]
Hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic activity of bergamot polyphenols: from animal models to human studies
Efficacy of Artichoke dry extract in patients with hyperlipoproteinemia.
Artichoke and Bergamot Phytosome Alliance: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial in Mild Hypercholesterolemia
Digestive disorders ✪✪✪✪✪
Artichoke leaf extract appears to reduce digestive symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, flatulence, and abdominal pain in patients with functional dyspepsia and dyspepsia of hepatic origin. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study followed 244 patients with functional dyspepsia. Over 6 weeks, 129 took 1920 mg of artichoke leaf extract per day, divided into three doses, and 111 were treated with placebo. Improvement in dyspepsia symptoms, such as flatulence and bloating, was significantly greater with artichoke leaf than with placebo. Combining it with ginger may strengthen these results, according to other research.
Posologie
Oral: leaf
320 - 2100 mg
liquid extract, dry extract
Synergies
The Effect of Ginger (Zingiber officinalis) and Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus) Extract Supplementation on Functional Dyspepsia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.
Efficacy of artichoke leaf extract in the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia: a six-week, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter trial.
Artichoke leaf extract - Recent findings reflecting effects on lipid metabolism, liver and gastrointestinal tracts.
E/S/C/O/P: 2nd Edition of the ESCOP Monographs
Artichoke leaf extract reduces mild dyspepsia in an open study.
Flatulence ✪✪✪✪✪
Artichoke leaf extract appears to significantly reduce digestive symptoms such as flatulence and abdominal pain in patients with functional dyspepsia associated with biliary disease. nnSome clinical research has evaluated artichoke extract in combination with ginger extract. Results show that daily intake of artichoke and ginger extracts markedly improves symptoms.nnArtichoke is rich in inulin (a group of dietary fibers), cynarin and flavonoids. It may aid digestion and intestinal transit by promoting the growth of bifidobacteria in the colon.nn
Posologie
Oral: leaf
320 - 1920 mg
liquid extract, dry extract
Synergies
The Effect of Ginger (Zingiber officinalis) and Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus) Extract Supplementation on Functional Dyspepsia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.
Efficacy of artichoke leaf extract in the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia: a six-week placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter trial.
Artichoke leaf extract - Recent findings reflecting effects on lipid metabolism, liver and gastrointestinal tracts.
E/S/C/O/P: 2nd Edition of the ESCOP Monographs
Artichoke leaf extract reduces mild dyspepsia in an open study.
Hepatic steatosis ✪✪✪✪✪
A randomized clinical trial showed that the use of artichoke leaf extracts together with metformin and vitamin E may have beneficial effects on improving complications in patients with fatty liver disease. The artichoke leaf extract used was standardized to provide 20 mg of chlorogenic acid. Another small clinical trial in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease shows that taking a leaf extract standardized to contain 2% cynarin improves disease severity, reduces liver size, and increases hepatic vein flow compared with placebo.
Posologie
Oral: leaf
600 - 800 mg
liquid extract, dry extract
Synergies
The effects of co-administration of artichoke leaf extract supplementation with metformin and vitamin E in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized clinical trial
Therapeutic Potential of Artichoke in the Treatment of Fatty Liver: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
[Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and biliary sludge in people with metabolic syndrome]
Effects of Artichoke Supplementation on Liver Enzymes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Irritable bowel syndrome ✪✪✪✪✪
Clinical studies have shown that taking a specific artichoke leaf extract reduces abdominal pain, cramps, bloating, flatulence and constipation associated with irritable bowel syndrome after 6 weeks of treatment compared with baseline. In other clinical research, another artichoke leaf extract reduced the incidence of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms compared with baseline in patients suffering from concomitant dyspepsia. Patients taking this extract also had an improved quality of life after 2 months of treatment. However, the validity of these results is limited by the absence of a control group.
Posologie
By mouth: leaf
320 - 640 mg
liquid extract, dry extract
Biliary disorders ✪✪✪✪✪
Artichoke extracts have a stimulatory effect on hepatobiliary functions. They promote bile elimination, which gives them a biliary anti-lithiasic (anti-stone) effect. Artichoke is therefore recommended in cases of biliary and hepatic functional insufficiency; biliary insufficiency due to gallstones (without obstruction) and for the prevention of gallstone disease. Care should be taken not to consume it in the case of obstruction or inflammation of the biliary tract (see contraindications).
Posologie
By mouth: leaf
400 - 2100 mg
liquid extract, dry extract
Metabolic syndrome ✪✪✪✪✪
A clinical study demonstrated that an aqueous artichoke extract, chophytol® (a medicinal product), normalizes lipid levels and biochemical indicators in patients with metabolic syndrome. Another small study conducted in patients with metabolic syndrome highlighted the action of artichoke leaf extracts on triglyceride levels, but did not produce a notable positive effect on other metabolic syndrome indicators such as blood glucose or blood pressure.
Posologie
Oral route: leaf
1800 mg
liquid extract, dry extract
TCF7L2-rs7903146 polymorphism modulates the effect of artichoke leaf extract supplementation on insulin resistance in metabolic syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
[Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and biliary sludge in people with metabolic syndrome]
Hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic activity of bergamot polyphenols: from animal models to human studies
Detoxification ✪✪✪✪✪
Artichoke leaf extracts are traditionally used to detoxify the liver in cases of multiple medication use. Results from animal studies have shown that artichoke extracts have antioxidant activity, which is reflected by a reduction in the number of peroxides and free radicals in cells.
Posologie
Oral route: leaf
320 - 640 mg
liquid extract, dry extract
The antioxidant activity of artichoke (Cynara scolymus): A systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies
Antioxidative and protective properties of extracts from leaves of the artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) against hydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress in cultured rat hepatocytes
Properties
Hepatoprotective
The extract from artichoke leaves may protect liver cells thanks to its content of cynarine. Indeed, cynarine is among the compounds that stimulate bile, thereby facilitating the elimination of toxins in the digestive tract. In addition, it exerts in vivo hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride. In a rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the aqueous extract of artichoke was able to improve lipid profiles by increasing hepatic antioxidant activity, reducing hepatic inflammation and increasing the expression of genes essential for lipogenesis and fatty acid oxidation.
Usages associés
Water extract from artichoke ameliorates high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats
Hepatoprotective activity of polyphenolic compounds from Cynara scolymus against CCl4 toxicity in isolated rat hepatocytes
Cholagogue
The activity of artichoke is based on the stimulation of the secretion and elimination of bile acids. It has been shown, in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes, that administration of an extract of artichoke leaves regulates the excretion of bile from the liver into the bile ducts and into the intestine. This action is mainly exerted by its flavonoids (the flavonol luteolin).
Usages associés
Choleretic
The choleretic activity of artichoke is due to cynarine. This activity increases the secretion and elimination of bile by the liver.
Usages associés
Digestive effect
Artichoke is rich in inulin (a group of dietary fibers), cynarine and flavonoids. Artichoke can facilitate digestion and intestinal transit by promoting the growth of bifidobacteria in the colon.nn
Usages associés
Hypolipidemic
The hypolipidemic activity is due in part to an inhibition of hepatic cholesterol synthesis, through inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase activity (an enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis). This action is due to the artichoke component cynaroside and its derivative, luteolin. Artichoke also reduces LDL-cholesterol concentration in patients with hyperlipoproteinemia.nn
Usages associés
Diuretic
The components of artichoke, notably potassium and inulin which have diuretic effects, can lead to an improvement in diuresis and urine concentration, without changes in blood potassium and sodium levels.nnThe resulting enhanced urea clearance leads to a normalization of blood urea levels.nn
Usages associés
Safe dosage
Adults aged 12 years and older: 600 mg - 1800 mg (powder)
The recommended daily dose (ESCOP/EMA) is equivalent to 5 to 10 g of dried leaves.nn- Dried leaf in infusion or decoction: 20 g per 1 liter of water, 10 minutes;nn- 1:5 tincture: 20 to 25 drops before the three meals;nn- Mother tincture: 3 times 50 drops;nn- Concentrated dry extract: 600 mg to 1800 mgnn
Interactions
Médicaments
Cytochrome P450 substrate: weak interaction
Research indicates that artichoke leaf extract inhibits the activity of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2B6 and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 in vitro. This could theoretically increase the levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2C19 and CYP2B6 and this includes bupropion (Wellbutrin), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), efavirenz (Sustiva), methadone (Dolophine), sertraline (Zoloft), nevirapine (Viramune), tamoxifen (Nolvadex), valproic acid (Depakote), omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), pantoprazole (Protonix), diazepam (Valium), carisoprodol (Soma), nelfinavir (Viracept)...
Precautions
Pregnant women: avoid
In the absence of sufficient data, the use of artichoke during pregnancy at doses higher than those found in the diet is not recommended.nn
Breastfeeding women: avoid
In the absence of sufficient data, the use of artichoke during breastfeeding at doses higher than those found in the diet is not recommended.nn
Children up to 12 years: avoid
In the absence of sufficient data, the use of artichoke at doses higher than those found in the diet is not recommended for children under 12 years of age.nn
Contraindications
Biliary tract obstruction: contraindicated
Theoretically, artichoke may worsen biliary tract obstruction by increasing bile flow.nn
Intestinal obstruction: contraindicated
Theoretically, artichoke may worsen the obstruction.nn
