Artichoke
FAMILY: Asteraceae.
HABITAT: Native to the Mediterranean basin and the Middle East. It is now extensively cultivated in many temperate climate countries.
PART USED: The basal leaves, whole or reduced to fragments.
RECOMMENDED PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS: dry extract nebulised and titrated in caffeoylquinic acids calculated as chlorogenic acid min. 13% and max. 18% (Italian Pharmacopoeia X), whose daily dose ranges from 9 to 12 mg./kg, divided into two administrations preferably 30 minutes before the two main meals.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION: is a plant rich in phenolic and organic acids. It also contains sesquiterpene lactones, kinaropicrin and its derivatives, which give it its characteristic bitter taste, and flavonoids.
THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES:
Hepatoprotective and anti-dyspeptic action: is a remedy that has been used for centuries for its properties of stimulating bile production and protecting the liver. In fact, artichoke extract is capable of protecting the liver from damage caused by substances toxic to this organ such as alcohol, carbon tetrachloride, amanita phalloide toxin etc. The most important mechanism to explain this action is related to the ability of the phenolic acids in artichoke to inhibit lipid peroxidation processes caused by free radicals in liver cells. An important mechanism for the occurrence of choleretic action is due to the synergistic action of citric, malic and succinic acids and cynaropicrin.
Controlled clinical trials have evaluated the effect of dry artichoke extract in patients with functional dyspepsia (difficulty in digestion). They received titrated artichoke dry extract by mouth or a placebo for 1 to 2 months. The assessment was made by measuring the intensity of dyspepsia using a special scale, the scores of each dyspeptic symptom and the quality of life using appropriate tests. It was seen that patients taking artichoke extract had a statistically significant improvement in symptoms. No notable side effects were reported. The study concludes that artichoke extract is more effective than placebo in relieving the symptoms of functional dyspepsia.
A clinical study evaluated the effect of an artichoke extract administered at a dose of 3200 mg daily by mouth in patients with viral hepatitis type C with elevated transaminases for 3 months. At the end of the study, none of the patients showed a normalisation of transaminases nor a decrease in viral load. Moreover, the symptoms of these patients had significantly improved by the end of the trial. Tolerability of the artichoke extract was excellent. The study indicates that an artichoke extract is effective in improving symptoms in patients with viral hepatitis type C, but does not reduce transaminases and viral load.
SIDE EFFECTS: Allergy to artichoke has been demonstrated, with the presence of specific IgE antibodies. However, they are very rare.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: not known to date.
CONTRAINDICATIONS: It should be used with caution in patients with gallstones, especially if the stones are small, due to the risk of causing biliary colic. It can be used during pregnancy but not during breastfeeding, because it can give the milk an unpleasant bitter taste.
It can be found in cinarepa®