The Globe Artichoke is much valued at the table as a nutritious vegetable, but it is also an important aid to digestion and has been used to prevent arteriosclerosis.  Artichoke extracts are said to be helpful for kidney, gallbladder and liver insufficiency, postoperative anemia; and in some countries, Artichoke is considered a fine aphrodisiac.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

History:
The Globe Artichoke is a perennial, thistle-like plant that is native to the Mediterranean countries, but appears to have it origins in parts of Asia.  It is one of the world's oldest cultivated vegetables, grown by the Greeks and Romans at the height of their power. Globe Artichokes were first cultivated in Naples around the middle of the fifteenth century, and are said to have been introduced to France by Catherine de Medici in the sixteenth century.  During the same century, the Dutch introduced Artichokes to England, and the plants were then brought to the United States in the nineteenth century Louisiana by French immigrants and to California by Spanish immigrants.  The name appears to have originated with the Aribic words, ardi shauk, meaning "ground-thorn," via an Italian word, articiocco.  The Artichoke is now widely cultivated in many places worldwide, but it is not easily grown, since it is exacting in its soil and climatic requirements and thrives in deep, rich, well-drained soil in sun.   It requires good soil, regular watering and feeding, plus frost protection in winter.   The leaves are cut just before flowering for use fresh or dried in liquid extracts, syrups and capsules.  Its tuberous root produces a stem that grows from three to five feet high, and its leaves, flower heads and root are used medicinally.  In recent years the globe Artichoke has become important as a medicinal herb, following the discovery of its cynarin content.  The Artichoke is highly valued as an epicurean delight:  The unopened flower heads are boiled and eaten hot with sauce or melted butter, or cold with vinaigrette; the hearts are marinated, baked or fried.   Artichoke leaves contain a wide number of active constituents, including 1- and 3-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3-caffeoylquinic acids (including cynarin and cholorogenic acid), flavonoids (including luteolin and derivatives, such as glucosides), scolymoside and bitters (sesquiterpene lactones, including cynaropicrin).

Beneficial Uses:
The Artichoke has been used as an aid to good digestion and a means to improve liver health.   It

is a "cholagogue," and due to its cynarin content, it stimulates the flow of bile from the liver into the intestines, assisting the body in blood fat metabolism. The choleretic (bile stimulating) action of the plant has been well documented and in clinical tests, administration of standardized artichoke extract directly into the duodenum increased liver bile flow significantly.  This choleretic effect has led to the popular use of Artichoke extract in Europe for the treatment of mild indigestion, particularly following a meal high in fat.  Artichoke extracts are commercially available in Germany and Switzerland as a remedy for indigestion and iin the U. K. as over-the counter digestive supplements.  The cynarin compound, which is found in the leaves, stimulates the gallbladder and improves liver function.   Artichoke has been used traditionally and in alternative medicine for treating dyspepsia, indigestion, nausea, flatulence, as well as liver and gallbladder ailments, including jaundice and hepatitis.

By helping the body to metabolize blood fat, the cynarin content in Artichoke is also believed to reduce blood lipids, serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and is thought to be helpful in controlling arteriosclerosis. While scientists are not certain how Artichoke lowers cholesterol, test tube studies have suggested that the action may be due to an inhibition of cholesterol synthesis and/or the increased elimination of cholesterol because of the plant’s choleretic action.  In test tube studies, the flavonoids from the artichoke (e.g., luteolin) have been shown to prevent LDL cholesterol oxidation, an effect that may reduce risk of arteriosclerosis.  In 2008, U.K. research confirmed that Artichoke leaf extract can reduce cholesterol levels in healthy adults. The studies determined that when Artichoke leaf extract was administered to otherwise healthy adults with raised cholesterol, levels dropped six percent.  The university researchers concluded that the study provided further evidence that Artichoke leaf extract may help reduce plasma total cholesterol in adults with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia.

This highly nutritious plant is considered a diuretic, promoting the flow of urine and appears to be effective in improving kidney function.  Artichoke is also frequently used to relieve excess water weight.

Artichoke is said to possess hypoglycaemic properties and may assist in lowering blood glucose levels.

Tradition in some countries speaks of the Artichoke as an aphrodisiac food.

Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) capsules, two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Contraindications:
Artichoke is not recommended for those who are allergic to artichokes or other members of the compositae (daisy) family. At the recommended amount and according to the German Commission E Monograph, there are no known side effects or drug interactions. Those who have any obstruction of the bile duct (gallstones) should not take Artichoke.

Capsule Size:
We use only 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose "00" capsules for all of our encapsulated products. (click here for size comparison)

• Artichoke - Standardized Extract -- Approximately 600 mg. each.