Artichoke

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Artichoke JoAnn Guest Jul 30, 2003 20:45 PDT

 

Artichoke

 

- Anti-inflammatory

- Antioxidant

- Appetite Stimulant

- Bile Stimulant

- Biliary Deficiency

- Bitter Tonic Herb

- Cellular Regeneration

- Cleansing

- Detoxifying

- Digestive Disorders

- Diuretic

- Gastrointestinal Disorders

- Lowering LDL Cholesterol

- Nausea

- Vascular Disorders

 

Overview:Artichoke, Cynara scolymus L. [Fam. Asteraceae], has been

usedtraditionally as a food and medicine since early Greco-Roman times.

In ancient

Rome, artichoke leaf was employed as a diuretic and digestive herb.

 

The GermanPharmacopoeia lists artichoke leaf for treating

gastrointestinal complaints

stemming from bile deficiency, as well as to stimulate appetite and

diuresis.

 

German authorities recognize that 'bitters' stimulate bile flow,

increase bile solubility and cleanse the liver of fatty deposits. The

results of several clinical investigations also showed the efficacy and

safety of artichoke

extracts in the treatment of hepato-biliary dysfunction and digestive

complaints, such as sensation of fullness, loss of appetite, nausea

andabdominal pain.

 

A recent double blind, randomized, placebo controlled,

multi-center clinical trial demonstrated the efficacy of artichoke dry

extract for treating hyper-lipoproteinemia in patients with high

cholesterol.

 

Patients received 1,800 mg artichoke dry extract per day or placebo over

6 weeks; the drug tested was an aqueous extract (25-35:1) taken as

coated tablets containing 450 mg extract and compared with placebo.

 

The trial involved 143 adult patients with initial total cholesterol of

7.3 mmol/l (> 280 mg/dl). Changes of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol from

baseline to the end of treatment

showed a statistically significant superiority (p = 0.0001) of artichoke

dry extract

over placebo.

 

The decrease of total cholesterol in the artichoke extract group

was 18.5% compared to 8.6% in the placebo group. LDL-cholesterol

decreased 22.9% with artichoke extract compared to only 6.3% with

placebo.

 

The LDL/HDL ratio decreased 20.2% with artichoke extract and only 7.2%

with placebo. Therewere no drug related adverse events during the study

indicating an excellent

tolerability of artichoke dry extract.

 

Researchers concluded that artichoke dry

extract could be safely recommended to patients for treating

hyperlipoproteinemia and, thus, prevention of vascular disease.

Artichoke also has powerful antioxidant activity.

 

Active Ingredients:Artichoke leaf contains: 0-4% bitter compounds of the

sesquiterpene lactone type including cynaropicrin; up to 2% phenolic

acids,mainly 3-caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid) and

1,5-di-O-caffeoylquinicacid (cynarin); caffeic acid; 0.1-1.0% flavonoids

including scolymoside andluteolin glucosides; phytosterols including

taraxasterol; sugars; inulin;enzymes; and a volatile oil consisting

mainly of the sesquiterpenes

beta-selinene and caryophyllene.

 

Suggested Amount:Artichoke leaf is generally taken as an extract or

tincture oras cut and powdered leaf taken three times per day. The

recommended dosage is 2g of finely chopped or coarsely powdered

artichoke leaf taken three times per day for a daily dosage of 6 grams.

 

Other preparations are taken correspondingly, such as fluidextract, dry

extract, fresh pressed juice and

tincture. The dry extract 12:1 (w/w) is taken in one single dosage of

0.5g. Thefluidextract 1:1 (g/ml) is taken at the dosage of 2ml three

times daily and thetincture 1:5 (g/ml) is taken at the dosage of 6ml,

three times daily. Otherbrand name extracts may indicate dosages based

on known levels of active

ingredients based on successful clinical trials with humans.

 

Drug Interactions:None known

 

Contraindications:Artichoke leaf is contraindicated in cases of bile

ductblockage, gall bladder empyrema, ileus or bowel obstruction of any

kind.

 

 

Side Effects:None known

 

References:Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J 2000. Herbal Medicine:

Expanded Commission E Monographs. Copyright American Botanical Council.

Publ.

by Integrative Medicine Communications, 1029 Chestnut Street, Newton, MA

02464.

Pp. 10-12.

 

Englisch W, Beckers C, Unkauf M, Ruepp M, Zinserling V. 2000. Efficacy

of

Artichoke dry extract in patients with hyperlipoproteinemia.

Arzneimittelforschung. 2000 Mar; 50(3): 260-5.

 

Gebhardt R. 1998. Inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis in primary

cultured

rat hepatocytes by artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) extracts. J Pharmacol

Exp

Ther. 1998 Sep; 286(3): 1122-8.

 

Gebhardt R. 1997. Antioxidative and protective properties of extracts

from

leaves of the artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) against

hydroperoxide-induced

oxidative stress in cultured rat hepatocytes. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol.

1997 Jun;

144(2): 279-86.

 

Wegener T, Fintelmann V. 1999. [Pharmacological properties and

therapeutic

profile of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.)]. Wien Med Wochenschr. 1999;

149(8-10): 241-7. Review. German.

 

 

http://www.florahealth.com/flora/home/usa/healthinformation/encyclopedias/Artich\

\

 

oke.asp

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Botanicals.html

 

 

 

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