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Sources and physiological effects

Dietary sources
The artichoke belongs to the family of composite plants (Asteraceae). Besides being eaten as cooked vegetables, the leaves are used in juices, teas and extracts. Only artichoke leaves from cultivated artichokes are used for the production of high-quality extracts in order to ensure consistent quality through controlled growing conditions.
Physiological effects
Liver metabolism	Promotes liver regeneration by stimulating cell division Stimulation of of primary bile formation
Fat metabolism	Lowers cholesterol levels by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis
Antioxidant	Protects cells from toxic damage

Detailed information

Protection of cells against toxic damage

Extracts of artichoke (Cynara scolymus), containing the primary compound cynarine are used to protect and regenerate liver cells, and also have choleretic and antidyspeptic effects. By promoting the formation of bile in liver cells and bile excretion, artichoke extract is an effective therapy for dyspeptic complaints and for improving fat digestion. Increases in bile acid production has been obseverved from 1 hour and lasting up to 3 hours after ingestion of artichoke extracts (1).
Artichoke increases the metabolic performance of the liver, stimulates cell growth and cell division and protects against many cell-toxic substances through an antioxidant effect. Lipid metabolism is also influenced by artichokes. Clinical studies have shown a significant reduction in total cholesterol and a tendency to increase the HDL fraction (2). This is because the bioactive ingredients of artichoke slow down the biosynthesis of cholesterol in cell metabolism (1).

Indications

Effect	Indication	Dosage
Physiological effects at low a low intake	Preventive and support Liver function	300 mg/d
	Adjuvant therapy for chronic inflammatory Liver diseases	600 – 900 mg/d
	to support liver metabolism and improvement of liver regeneration	600 – 900 mg/d
	To stimulate bile flow in dyspeptic complaints and to stimulate pancreatic secretion	600 – 900 mg/d
	Therapeutic treatment of bile duct complaints in the context of a dyspeptic symptom complex	600 – 900 mg/d

Administration

General mode of administration
When	Artichoke extract should be taken between meals. Notes: To stimulate bile secretion, artichoke extract should be taken 1 hour before meals.
Side effects
Currently, there are no known side effects.
Contraindications
No contraindications are known to date.

Interactions

Drug interactions
None	No known drug interactions according the current state of knowledge.
Nutrient interactions
None	No relevant interactions are known to date.

References

1) Wegener, T., Fintelmann, V. 1999. Pharmakologische Eigenschaften und therapeutisches Profil der Artischocke. WMW: Themenheft: Phytotherapie. 8/9/19.

2) Englisch, W. et al. 2011. Efficacy of Artichoke Dry Extract in Patients with Hyperlipoproteinemia. Arzneimittelforschung 50(03):260–265. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1300196.

References Interactions:

Stargrove, M. B. et al. Herb, Nutrient and Drug Interactions: Clinical Implications and Therapeutic Strategies, 1. Auflage. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Health Sciences, 2008.

Gröber, U. Mikronährstoffe: Metabolic Tuning –Prävention –Therapie, 3. Auflage. Stuttgart: WVG Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Stuttgart, 2011.

Gröber, U. Arzneimittel und Mikronährstoffe: Medikationsorientierte Supplementierung, 3. aktualisierte und erweiterte Auflage. Stuttgart: WVG Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Stuttgart, 2014.