Plant Comparison
Artichoke vs Purple coneflower
A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.
At a glance
Artichoke and Purple coneflower: both belong to the Asteraceae family.
Key Constituents
The principal choleretic, hepatoprotective and antioxidant constituents.
Antioxidant constituents of the leaf.
The bitter principle that stimulates digestion.
Lipophilic alkamides are considered key immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory constituents, particularly concentrated in the root.
Antioxidant phenolic compounds contributing to the plant's immunomodulatory activity.
Water-soluble polysaccharides associated with immune-stimulating activity, particularly from the aerial parts.
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
inferred from hepatoprotective action
inferred from lipid-lowering action
Supports irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms
Digestive aid for dyspeptic complaints - indigestion, bloating and fullness
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from immunomodulator action
inferred from antimicrobial action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
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.
Generally considered safe, but caution advised for those with autoimmune conditions. Not recommended for long-term use (more than 8 weeks continuously).
Duke (2002) rates echinacea as +++ — among the most thoroughly documented herbal immunostimulants. It notes experimental and clinical evidence for immunostimulant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory activities. Multiple species have been studied (E. purpurea, E. angustifolia, E. pallida), and Duke emphasizes that species identification in commercial products is often unreliable. Commission E approves E. purpurea for supporting immune function during colds and flu. Dose: 900 mg standardized extract daily in acute use; use should be limited to 8 weeks continuous. Contraindicated in autoimmune diseases (MS, lupus, HIV/AIDS), tuberculosis, and with immunosuppressive drugs (cyclosporine) (Duke, 2002).
External Ids
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]
Robust perennial herb with a basal rosette of coarse, hairy, lance-shaped leaves and tall, sturdy flowering stems. Each stem bears a single large, daisy-like flower head with drooping (reflexed), rose-purple to pink ray florets surrounding a prominent, spiny, orange-brown central cone of disc florets.[4]
Habitat
Native to the Mediterranean region; cultivated widely as a vegetable and medicinal crop in warm-temperate climates on rich, well-drained soil.[3]
Native to the tallgrass prairies, open woodland and dry meadows of central and eastern North America; widely cultivated worldwide as a garden and medicinal plant.[4]
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]
The flower heads are picked as they open, in summer; the root is dug in autumn from plants at least two to three years old, when its content of bioactive alkamides and caffeic acid derivatives is highest, then cleaned and dried.[4]
Traditional Uses
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]
Echinacea root was widely used by Native American peoples as a remedy for infections, wounds, snakebite and toothache, and entered nineteenth-century Eclectic medicine as a broad anti-infective. It remains best known today, in standardised aerial-part or root extracts, as a supportive remedy for preventing and shortening the common cold and supporting immune function.[1, 4]
Preparations
Dried leaf extract standardised to caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid/cynarin) content, taken as capsules or tablets for digestive and lipid support.
Fresh-pressed juice or standardised extract of the aerial parts or root, taken as tablets, drops or capsules at the first sign of a cold; the best-studied clinical form.
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.
Clinical trials for the common cold commonly use around 300-900 mg of standardised extract daily, started at the first sign of symptoms and continued for up to 7-10 days; continuous use beyond about 8 weeks is not recommended. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
References
Lookalikes Review
Drug Class Interactions
Not documented
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 - 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
- Karsch-Völk, M., Barrett, B., Kiefer, D., Bauer, R. et al (2014) 'Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2(2), pp. CD000530. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000530.pub3 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD000530.pub3 - Kamin, W., Seifert, G., Zwiauer, K., Bonhoeffer, J. et al (2025) 'Phytotherapy for acute respiratory tract infections in children: a systematically conducted, comprehensive review', Frontiers in Pediatrics, 13, pp. 1423250. doi:10.3389/fped.2025.1423250 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2025.1423250 - Fashner, J., Ericson, K. and Werner, S (2012) 'Treatment of the common cold in children and adults', American Family Physician, 86(2), pp. 153-159. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22962927/ Traditional / reference
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22962927/ - Manayi, A., Vazirian, M. and Saeidnia, S (2015) 'Echinacea purpurea: Pharmacology, phytochemistry and analysis methods', Pharmacognosy Reviews, 9(17), pp. 63-72. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.156353 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.156353 - Burlou-Nagy, C., Banica, F., Jurca, T., Vicas, L.G., Marian, E., Muresan, M.E., Bacskay, I., Kiss, R., Feher, P. and Pallag, A (2022) 'Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench: Biological and Pharmacological Properties. A Review', Plants, 11(9), pp. 1244. doi:10.3390/plants11091244 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11091244 - Hall, H., Fahlman, M.M. and Engels, H.J (2007) 'Echinacea purpurea and mucosal immunity', International Journal of Sports Medicine, 28(9), pp. 792-797. doi:10.1055/s-2007-964895 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-964895 - Ross, S.M (2016) 'Echinacea purpurea: A Proprietary Extract of Echinacea purpurea Is Shown to be Safe and Effective in the Prevention of the Common Cold', Holistic Nursing Practice, 30(1), pp. 54-57. doi:10.1097/HNP.0000000000000130 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1097/HNP.0000000000000130 - Hudson, J.B (2011) 'Applications of the phytomedicine Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) in infectious diseases', Journal of Biomedicine & Biotechnology, 2012, pp. 769896. doi:10.1155/2012/769896 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/769896 - Mishima, S., Saito, K., Maruyama, H., Inoue, M., Yamashita, T., Ishida, T. and Gu, Y (2004) 'Antioxidant and immuno-enhancing effects of Echinacea purpurea', Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 27(7), pp. 1004-1009. doi:10.1248/bpb.27.1004 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1248/bpb.27.1004 - Saunders, P.R., Smith, F. and Schusky, R.W (2007) 'Echinacea purpurea L. in children: safety, tolerability, compliance, and clinical effectiveness in upper respiratory tract infections', Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 85(11), pp. 1195-1199. doi:10.1139/Y07-103 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1139/Y07-103 - Micheli, L., Maggini, V., Ciampi, C., Gallo, E., Bogani, P., Fani, R., Pistelli, L., Ghelardini, C., Di Cesare Mannelli, L., De Leo, M. and Firenzuoli, F (2022) 'Echinacea purpurea against neuropathic pain: Alkamides versus polyphenols efficacy', Phytotherapy Research, 37(5), pp. 1911-1923. doi:10.1002/ptr.7709 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7709 - Gholami, M., Amri, J., Pazhoohan, S. and Sadegh, M (2021) 'Anticonvulsive and anti-epileptogenesis effects of Echinacea purpurea root extract, an involvement of CB2 receptor', Journal of Complementary & Integrative Medicine, 19(4), pp. 879-886. doi:10.1515/jcim-2020-0219 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2020-0219 - Awortwe, C., Bruckmueller, H., Kaehler, M. and Cascorbi, I (2021) 'Interaction of Phytocompounds of Echinacea purpurea with ABCB1 and ABCG2 Efflux Transporters', Molecular Pharmaceutics, 18(4), pp. 1622-1633. doi:10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c01075 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c01075 - Perry, N.B., van Klink, J.W., Burgess, E.J. and Parmenter, G.A (1997) 'Alkamide levels in Echinacea purpurea: a rapid analytical method revealing differences among roots, rhizomes, stems, leaves and flowers', Planta Medica, 63(1), pp. 58-62. doi:10.1055/s-2006-957605 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-957605 - Linde, K., Barrett, B., Wölkart, K., Bauer, R. and Melchart, D (2006) 'Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Echinacea%20for%20preventing%20and%20treating%20the%20common%20cold - Sharma, M., Schoop, R., Suter, A. and Schoop, W (2010) 'The possibility of prophylactic treatment of streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis with a standardized Echinacea preparation', 29(8), pp. 1025--1035. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=The%20possibility%20of%20prophylactic%20treatment%20of%20streptococcal%20pharyngotonsillitis%20with%20a%20standardized%20Echinacea%20preparation - World Health Organization (1999) 'WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=WHO%20Monographs%20on%20Selected%20Medicinal%20Plants - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition - Gorski, J.C., Huang, S.M., Pinto, A., Hamman, M.A., Hilligoss, J.K., Zaheer, N.A., Desai, M., Miller, M. and Hall, S.D (2004) 'The effect of echinacea (Echinacea purpurea root) on cytochrome P450 activity in vivo', Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 75(1), pp. 89-100. doi:10.1016/j.clpt.2003.09.013 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clpt.2003.09.013
Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.