Omnia SanaCommon names in 2 European languages →
The complete database record: 3 documented constituents, 4 pharmacological actions, 7 traditional / indicated uses, with 16 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Tall, thistle-like perennial herb with large, deeply lobed, silvery-green leaves, spiny in wild forms but usually spineless in cultivated globe artichoke. The plant produces a large, edible immature flower bud (the 'artichoke heart' of cuisine) which, left to mature, opens into a striking violet-blue thistle flower.[3]
Habitat & Distribution
Native to the Mediterranean region; cultivated widely as a vegetable and medicinal crop in warm-temperate climates on rich, well-drained soil.[3]
Harvesting
For medicinal use, the leaves are picked before flowering, when caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid/cynarin) content is highest, and dried; the edible flower bud is separately harvested young, before the flower opens.[3]
Key Constituents
The principal choleretic, hepatoprotective and antioxidant constituents.
Antioxidant constituents of the leaf.
The bitter principle that stimulates digestion.
Pharmacological Actions
Hepatoprotective / liver support (protects liver cells and may aid their regeneration)
Traditional & Indicated Uses
Digestive aid for dyspeptic complaints - indigestion, bloating and fullness
inferred from lipid-lowering action
more plants for cardiovascular / heart health →detailed sources →
inferred from hepatoprotective action
inferred from lipid-lowering action
Supports irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms
more plants for irritable bowel syndrome (ibs) →detailed sources →
Digestive aid for dyspeptic complaints - indigestion, bloating and fullness
Hepatoprotective / liver support (protects liver cells and may aid their regeneration)
Traditional Use & History
Artichoke leaf has a long Mediterranean folk history as a bitter digestive and liver remedy, used to stimulate bile flow and ease dyspeptic complaints such as indigestion, bloating and fullness, and as a traditional hepatoprotective 'liver tonic'; modern standardised leaf extracts are also studied for supporting healthy cholesterol levels.[3]
Preparations
Dried leaf extract standardised to caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid/cynarin) content, taken as capsules or tablets for digestive and lipid support.
Dosage
Clinical studies commonly use extracts providing around 300-640 mg dried leaf extract, up to three times daily. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Because it stimulates bile flow, artichoke is contraindicated in bile-duct obstruction and should only be used under medical supervision if you have gallstones.
As a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae), it can cause allergic reactions in sensitive people; use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended.
Harvest Readiness
[13]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Porro, C., Benameur, T., Cianciulli, A., Vacca, M. and others (2024) 'Functional and Therapeutic Potential of Cynara scolymus in Health Benefits', Nutrients, 16(6), pp. 872. doi:10.3390/nu16060872 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16060872 - Salekzamani, S., Ebrahimi-Mameghani, M. and Rezazadeh, K (2019) 'The antioxidant activity of artichoke (Cynara scolymus): A systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies', Phytotherapy Research, 33(1), pp. 55-71. doi:10.1002/ptr.6213 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6213 - Ben Salem, M., Affes, H., Ksouda, K., Dhouibi, R., Sahnoun, Z., Hammami, S. and Zeghal, K.M (2015) 'Pharmacological Studies of Artichoke Leaf Extract and Their Health Benefits', Plant Foods for Human Nutrition. doi:10.1007/s11130-015-0503-8 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-015-0503-8 - Gotardo, A.T., Mattos, M.I.S., Hueza, I.M. and Gorniak, S.L (2019) 'The effect of Cynara scolymus (artichoke) on maternal reproductive outcomes and fetal development in rats', Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 102, pp. 74-78. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2019.01.004 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2019.01.004 - Ben Salem, M., Affes, H., Dhouibi, R., Charfi, S. and others (2019) 'Preventive effect of Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) in kidney dysfunction against high fat-diet induced obesity in rats', Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry, 128(3), pp. 586-592. doi:10.1080/13813455.2019.1703755 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1080/13813455.2019.1703755 - Dominguez-Fernandez, M., Ludwig, I.A., De Pena, M.P. and Cid, C (2021) 'Bioaccessibility of Tudela artichoke (Cynara scolymus cv. Blanca de Tudela) (poly)phenols: the effects of heat treatment, simulated gastrointestinal digestion and human colonic microbiota', Food & Function, 12(5), pp. 1996-2011. doi:10.1039/d0fo03119d Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1039/d0fo03119d - Ahmadi, A., Heidarian, E. and Ghatreh-Samani, K (2019) 'Modulatory effects of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) leaf extract against oxidative stress and hepatic TNF-alpha gene expression in acute diazinon-induced liver injury in rats', Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology, 30(5), pp. 20180180. doi:10.1515/jbcpp-2018-0180 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp-2018-0180 - Grazina, L., Batista, A., Amaral, J.S., Costa, J. and Mafra, I (2021) 'Botanical authentication of globe artichoke-containing foods: Differentiation of Cynara scolymus by a novel HRM approach', Food Chemistry, 366, pp. 130621. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.130621 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.130621 - Sahebkar, A., Pirro, M., Banach, M., Mikhailidis, D.P., Atkin, S.L. and Cicero, A.F.G (2017) 'Lipid-lowering activity of artichoke extracts: A systematic review and meta-analysis', Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 58(15), pp. 2549-2556. doi:10.1080/10408398.2017.1332572 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2017.1332572 - Shahinfar, H., Bazshahi, E., Amini, M.R., Payandeh, N., Pourreza, S., Noruzi, Z. and Shab-Bidar, S (2021) 'Effects of artichoke leaf extract supplementation or artichoke juice consumption on lipid profile: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials', Phytotherapy Research, 35(12), pp. 6607-6623. doi:10.1002/ptr.7247 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7247 - Kamel, A.M. and Farag, M.A (2022) 'Therapeutic Potential of Artichoke in the Treatment of Fatty Liver: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis', Journal of Medicinal Food, 25(10), pp. 931-942. doi:10.1089/jmf.2022.0025 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2022.0025 - Santos, H.O., Bueno, A.A. and Mota, J.F (2018) 'The effect of artichoke on lipid profile: A review of possible mechanisms of action', Pharmacological Research, 137, pp. 170-178. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2018.10.007 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2018.10.007 - Fern, Ken 'Cynara cardunculus (Useful Temperate Plants)'. Available at: https://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Cynara+cardunculus Traditional / reference
https://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Cynara+cardunculus - European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (n.d.) 'European Union herbal monograph on Cynara cardunculus L. (syn. Cynara scolymus L.), folium (Cynarae folium)'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/cynarae-folium Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/cynarae-folium - Wider, B., Pittler, M.H., Thompson-Coon, J. and Ernst, E (2013) 'Artichoke leaf extract for treating hypercholesterolaemia', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003335.pub3 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003335.pub3 - Rondanelli, M., Giacosa, A., Opizzi, A., Faliva, M.A., Sala, P. and others (2012) 'Beneficial effects of artichoke leaf extract supplementation on increasing HDL-cholesterol in subjects with primary mild hypercholesterolaemia: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial', International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 64(1), pp. 7--15. doi:10.3109/09637486.2012.700920 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.3109/09637486.2012.700920
Selected studies & references
All 15 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.