Artichoke: Natural Support for the Liver and Lipid Metabolism
Laura Chrobok 15.09.2026
Most people know the artichoke primarily as a vegetable. Yet its leaves have interesting potential: they have traditionally been used for digestive complaints — and clinical studies are now also investigating their possible effects on cholesterol, lipid metabolism and the liver.
We take a look at why the artichoke is valued as a medicinal plant, what it can do for digestion, the liver and cholesterol, and which effects are supported by scientific research.
Artichoke: A Vegetable and Traditional Medicinal Plant
The artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. or Cynara scolymus L.) belongs to the Asteraceae family.
While we mainly eat parts of the flower head as a vegetable, it is primarily the artichoke leaves that are of interest in herbal medicine.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) also recognises artichoke leaf as a traditional herbal medicinal product for digestive complaints. These include, in particular, feelings of fullness and flatulence (European Medicines Agency, 2019).
Artichoke leaves contain various secondary plant compounds, including phenolic acids and flavonoids. Cynarin is one of the better-known constituents. However, the properties of an artichoke leaf extract cannot be attributed to a single constituent.
Artichoke for Digestion: Tradition Meets Research
As mentioned above, artichoke has traditionally been used for digestive complaints. Controlled clinical data are also available.
A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated 247 people with functional dyspepsia. This refers to recurring symptoms in the upper abdomen for which no sufficient organic cause can be identified.
The study participants received either artichoke leaf extract or a placebo for six weeks.
The result: symptoms improved significantly more with the extract than with placebo. There was also an advantage in disease-specific quality of life among those taking the extract (Holtmann et al., 2003).
Artichoke and Cholesterol: What the Studies Show
Research into artichoke and its possible effects on lipid metabolism is particularly interesting.
A systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated 14 randomised controlled trials with a total of 15 effect sizes. The analysis found significant reductions in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. LDL cholesterol was, on average, around 17.5 mg/dl lower than in the respective control groups. By contrast, artichoke leaf extract did not produce a significant change in HDL cholesterol (Shahinfar et al., 2021).
An artichoke preparation therefore cannot simply replace necessary cholesterol-lowering treatment, but it may be used as a complement.
Artichoke for the Liver: Interesting Results in Fatty Liver Disease
Another focus of research concerns the liver.
Fatty liver disease is often associated with obesity, insulin resistance and other metabolic disorders. Artichoke leaf extract has also been investigated in randomised controlled trials involving people with fatty liver disease.
For example, a systematic review and meta-analysis summarised five randomised trials involving a total of 333 patients: with artichoke leaf extract, the liver enzymes ALT and AST decreased significantly more than in the control groups. At the same time, significant reductions in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides were observed (Kamel & Farag, 2022).
The link between the liver and lipid metabolism makes these findings particularly interesting, as the two are often closely interconnected in metabolic diseases.
Meta-Analyses: Changes in Liver Enzyme Levels
A further systematic review and meta-analysis shows that the findings on liver enzyme levels do not come from just a single study.
It included seven randomised controlled trials investigating the effects of artichoke supplementation on liver enzymes.
In the overall analysis, both ALT and AST decreased significantly (Amini et al., 2022).
However, there were considerable differences between the individual studies in terms of participants, preparations, dosages and treatment duration. The results therefore do not show that artichoke extract can cure an existing liver disease.
They do, however, strengthen the evidence that artichoke preparations may have a beneficial effect on certain measurable liver parameters.
Not Quite the Same Thing: Artichoke and Its Extract
Eating an artichoke as a vegetable is not the same as taking a concentrated extract. Artichokes can, of course, be part of a varied diet. However, the study findings described above relate predominantly to extracts and corresponding preparations.
The clinical studies were largely conducted using specific extracts or preparations. These differed in terms of dosage, composition and duration of use, among other factors. Findings relating to a particular preparation therefore cannot automatically be applied to every other preparation.
Risks and Side Effects: When Caution Is Advised
Medicinal plants also contain biologically active substances and are therefore not automatically suitable for everyone.
People with a known hypersensitivity to artichoke or other plants in the Asteraceae family should not use such preparations.
Particular caution is also advised in certain diseases of the liver and biliary tract. Anyone with such pre-existing conditions should therefore seek medical advice before taking an artichoke preparation (European Medicines Agency, 2019).
Abnormal or elevated liver enzyme levels should also be medically investigated. They can have many different causes and should not be treated independently without a prior diagnosis.
Artichoke: More Than a Digestive Aid
The artichoke is a good example of how a traditional medicinal plant can become an interesting subject of modern research.
The findings relating to cholesterol, triglycerides and certain liver enzyme levels are particularly noteworthy. There are now not only individual studies, but also meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials.
This makes the artichoke an extremely interesting medicinal plant.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions About Artichoke
1. Which parts of the artichoke are used in artichoke preparations?
For medicinal use, it is primarily the leaves of the artichoke that are used. They contain various secondary plant compounds such as phenolic acids and flavonoids. (However, the composition of an extract also depends on the manufacturing process.)
2. At what time of day and for how long should artichoke extract be taken?
There is no general answer to this question, as artichoke preparations vary in their composition and dosage. With herbal medicinal products, the instructions for the respective preparation should therefore be followed.
In clinical studies, artichoke extracts have been used for varying periods of time. Anyone wishing to use a preparation over a longer term — particularly if they have an existing medical condition or regularly take medicines — should seek medical advice beforehand.
3. What should you look for when buying an artichoke preparation?
A high level of a single advertised substance such as cynarin does not automatically indicate how effective a preparation will be. It makes more sense to look for clear information about the part of the plant used or the amount of extract contained. It is also particularly important to distinguish between food supplements and authorised herbal medicinal products, as they are subject to different legal requirements.
Further information — for example on liver health, but naturally also on many other topics — can be found on our blog. You can also find our “Medizinskandale” book series and the “Codex Humanus”, the fifth volume of which was recently published, in our online shop. We look forward to your visit.
Sources:
· European Medicines Agency (2019): “Final European Union Herbal Monograph on Cynara cardunculus L. (syn. Cynara scolymus L.), Folium,” European Medicines Agency.
· Holtmann, G. et al. (2003): “Efficacy of Artichoke Leaf Extract in the Treatment of Patients with Functional Dyspepsia: A Six-Week Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Multicentre Trial,” Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics.
· Shahinfar, H. et al. (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.
· Kamel, A. M.; Farag, M. A. (2022): “Therapeutic Potential of Artichoke in the Treatment of Fatty Liver: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” Journal of Medicinal Food.
· Amini, M. R. et al. (2022): “Effects of Artichoke Supplementation on Liver Enzymes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials,” Clinical Nutrition Research.
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