Artichoke Extract: Antioxidant Activity to Decrease LDL Cholesterol

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Artichoke: Antioxidant Activity

JoAnn Guest

Jul 30, 2003 20:45 PDT

 

Artichoke

- Anti-inflammatory- Antioxidant

- Bile Stimulant- Biliary Deficiency

- Bitter Tonic Herb- Cellular Regeneration

- Cleansing- Detoxifying

- Digestive Disorders

- Diuretic

- Dyspepsia

- Gastrointestinal Disorders

- Lowering LDL Cholesterol- Vascular Disorders

 

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

used traditionally 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 complaintsstemming 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

of7.3 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 fluid extract,

dry extract, fresh pressed juice and tincture.

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

of 0.5g.

The fluid extract 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. Other brand name extracts may indicate dosages

based on known levels of active ingredients based on successful

clinical trials with humans.

 

Drug Interactions: None

 

Contraindications:

 

Artichoke leaf is contraindicated in cases of bile duct blockage,

gall bladder empyrema, ileus or bowel obstruction of any kind.

 

 

Side Effects: None

 

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/encyclope

dias/Artich\

 

 

 

JoAnn Guest

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DietaryTi-

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