Artichoke Extract
Research reviewed: Up until 03/2026
Artichoke Extract (Cynara scolymus) is a dietary supplement with 20 published peer-reviewed studies involving 3,748 participants, researched for Cholesterol Management, Liver Health, Digestive Support and 2 more areas.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Cholesterol Management
ModerateLiver Health
StrongDigestive Support
ModerateClinical trials
ModerateSystematic reviews
WeakResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Cholesterol Management
To assess ALE on plasma cholesterol in hypercholesterolaemic adults
Study Type
Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled
Purpose
To assess ALE on plasma cholesterol in hypercholesterolaemic adults
Dose
1.8 g/day ALE
Participants
75 hypercholesterolaemic adults
Duration
12 weeks
Results
ALE significantly reduced total cholesterol by 4.2% and LDL-C by 6% compared to placebo. Well tolerated with no significant adverse effects. PMID: 18424099
How They Measured It
Total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides
To meta-analyze Cynara scolymus on cardiometabolic outcomes including cholesterol
Study Type
Meta-analysis
Purpose
To meta-analyze Cynara scolymus on cardiometabolic outcomes including cholesterol
Dose
Various
Participants
Multiple RCTs pooled
Duration
Various
Results
ALE significantly reduced total cholesterol, LDL-C, and fasting blood glucose. Greater effects in hypercholesterolaemic and diabetic subgroups.
How They Measured It
LDL-C, total cholesterol, blood glucose, pooled analysis
To evaluate ALE on lipid profile and oxidative stress in mixed dyslipidaemia
Study Type
Randomised controlled trial
Purpose
To evaluate ALE on lipid profile and oxidative stress in mixed dyslipidaemia
Dose
1.8 g/day
Participants
56 dyslipidaemic patients
Duration
8 weeks
Results
ALE significantly reduced total cholesterol, LDL-C, and MDA while increasing HDL-C and antioxidant enzyme activity. PMID: 23195590
How They Measured It
Lipid profile, MDA, antioxidant enzymes
Liver Health
To assess artichoke extract in NAFLD
Study Type
Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled
Purpose
To assess artichoke extract in NAFLD
Dose
600 mg/day
Participants
80 NAFLD patients
Duration
8 weeks
Results
ALE significantly reduced AST, ALT, total cholesterol, and triglycerides in NAFLD patients compared to placebo. PMID: 29520889
How They Measured It
AST, ALT, liver ultrasound, lipid profile
To evaluate ALE on liver enzymes in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Study Type
Randomised controlled trial
Purpose
To evaluate ALE on liver enzymes in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Dose
600 mg/day
Participants
90 NASH patients
Duration
2 months
Results
Artichoke extract significantly improved liver enzyme levels and reduced cholesterol and triglycerides in NASH patients. PMCID: PMC4879230
How They Measured It
AST, ALT, GGT, triglycerides, cholesterol
To investigate ALE hepatoprotective mechanisms including LDL oxidation inhibition
Study Type
In vitro study
Purpose
To investigate ALE hepatoprotective mechanisms including LDL oxidation inhibition
Dose
Various concentrations
Participants
Primary human hepatocyte cultures
Duration
N/A
Results
ALE inhibited cholesterol biosynthesis and LDL oxidation in hepatocytes. Anti-cholestatic and hepatoprotective effects confirmed through multiple pathways.
How They Measured It
Hepatocyte viability, antioxidant enzymes, LDL oxidation
Digestive Support
To evaluate artichoke extract on functional dyspepsia in real-world practice
Study Type
Observational clinical study
Purpose
To evaluate artichoke extract on functional dyspepsia in real-world practice
Dose
640 mg three times daily
Participants
247 patients with functional dyspepsia
Duration
6 weeks
Results
Artichoke leaf extract reduced dyspeptic symptom burden by 41%. 80% of patients rated it effective. PMID: 14653829
How They Measured It
Dyspepsia symptom severity index, quality of life
To evaluate ALE on IBS symptoms
Study Type
Randomised controlled trial
Purpose
To evaluate ALE on IBS symptoms
Dose
320 mg/day
Participants
208 patients with IBS
Duration
8 weeks
Results
ALE significantly reduced IBS symptom severity and improved bowel habit and quality of life vs placebo. PMID: 17127365
How They Measured It
IBS symptom score, bowel habit pattern
To investigate choleretic and anti-cholestatic activity of artichoke extract in rats
Study Type
Animal study
Purpose
To investigate choleretic and anti-cholestatic activity of artichoke extract in rats
Dose
200 mg/kg
Participants
Rats
Duration
7 days
Results
Artichoke extract dose-dependently increased bile flow and bile acid output, confirming choleretic activity relevant to fat digestion and liver detoxification.
How They Measured It
Bile flow, bile acid composition
To review artichoke effects on lipid metabolism, liver, and GI tract
Study Type
Systematic review
Purpose
To review artichoke effects on lipid metabolism, liver, and GI tract
Dose
Various
Participants
N/A
Duration
N/A
Results
ALE inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, provides choleretic and hepatoprotective effects, and improves GI symptoms in dyspepsia and IBS. Strong evidence base for multiple indications. PMID: 23195590
How They Measured It
Literature review of clinical and preclinical studies
Clinical trials
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in effect of dietary supplementation with eufortyn(®) colesterolo plus on serum lipids, endothelial reactivity, indexes of non-alcoholic fatty liver dise
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in effect of dietary supplementation with eufortyn(®) colesterolo plus on serum lipids, endothelial reactivity, indexes of non-alcoholic fatty liver dise
Dose
Artichoke Extract (dose not specified)
Participants
60 healthy subjects
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
-C, lipid accumulation product and fatty liver index compared to placebo. The study shows that dietary supplementation with standardized bergamot polyphenolic fraction phytosome, artichoke extracts, Q10 phytosome and zinc safely exerts significant improvements in serum lipids, systemic inflammation, indexes of NAFLD and endothelial reactivity in healthy subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in a new nutraceutical (livogen plus®) improves liver steatosis in adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in a new nutraceutical (livogen plus®) improves liver steatosis in adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Dose
Artichoke Extract (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
polyphenol fraction, artichoke leaf extract, black seed oil, concentrate fish oil, picroliv root, glutathione, S-adenosyl-L-methionine and other natural ingredients) have been associated with improved fatty liver disease. Starting from these evidences, our purpose was to evaluate the effects of a novel combination of abovementioned nutraceuticals as a treatment for adults with fatty liver disease.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in the effects of a novel nutraceutical combination on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and other markers of cardiometabolic health in adults with hyp
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in the effects of a novel nutraceutical combination on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and other markers of cardiometabolic health in adults with hyp
Dose
Artichoke Extract (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
nd artichoke leaf extract individually but their effect when combined is unknown. This study investigated the effects of a novel nutraceutical combining plant sterols, bergamot extract, artichoke leaf extract and hydroxytyrosol (referred to as 'Cholesterol Balance'), on serum LDL-cholesterol (primary outcome), other cardiometabolic and oxidative stress markers in adults with hypercholesterolaemia.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on the effect of a dietary supplement containing dry artichoke and bergamot extracts on
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on the effect of a dietary supplement containing dry artichoke and bergamot extracts on
Dose
Artichoke Extract (dose not specified)
Participants
90 participants
Duration
6 weeks
Results
ovements in TC, LDL-C, Non-HDL-C, TG, fatty liver index (FLI), hs-CRP, and endothelial reactivity were also detected compared to placebo ( p < 0.05 for all). Overall, these findings support the use of the tested dietary supplement containing dry extracts of bergamot and artichoke as a safe and effective approach for the prevention and management of a broad spectrum of cardiometabolic disorders.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in effects of inulin supplementation on body composition and metabolic outcomes in children with obesity.
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in effects of inulin supplementation on body composition and metabolic outcomes in children with obesity.
Dose
Artichoke Extract (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
#x2009;± 1.98 kg/m 2 , P = 0.009). There were no significant differences in the metabolic profiles between groups. Despite showing no substantial effect on adiposity, inulin may increase fat-free mass in obese children. Further research in the change of gut microbiota composition is needed to determine inulin's impact on host-microbe interaction in pediatric obesity.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in enhancing gut microbiota and microbial function with inulin supplementation in children with obesity.
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in enhancing gut microbiota and microbial function with inulin supplementation in children with obesity.
Dose
Artichoke Extract (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
iosis that resulted from the alteration between host-microbe interaction might worsen obesity-induced systemic inflammation. Gut microbiota manipulation by supplementation of prebiotic inulin may reverse metabolic abnormalities and improve obesity. This study aimed to determine whether inulin supplementation improved intestinal microbiota and microbial functional pathways in children with obesity.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in artichoke leaf extract reduces steatosis and decreases liver size in prebariatric patients: a randomized placebo-controlled pilot trial-the "steatocho
Study Type
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in artichoke leaf extract reduces steatosis and decreases liver size in prebariatric patients: a randomized placebo-controlled pilot trial-the "steatocho
Dose
Artichoke Extract (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
id-lowering properties. While ALE has been studied for its impact on liver metabolism, its specific effectiveness in individuals with obesity and MASLD remains unclear. This study investigates the effectiveness of ALE in reducing liver steatosis in patients scheduled for bariatric surgery. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine ALE's "antisteatotic" efficacy in this clinical context.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
Systematic reviews
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in effects of different natural products in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Study Type
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in effects of different natural products in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Dose
Artichoke Extract (dose not specified)
Participants
2509 participants
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
ls (SUCRA: 98.5%) compared with the placebo. The Ranking Plot of the Network indicated that artichoke leaf extract and naringenin performed better than the other natural products in facilitating patient recovery. Therefore, we propose that artichoke leaf extract and naringenin may exert a better therapeutic effect on NAFLD. This study may help guide clinicians and lead to further detailed studies.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in non-chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia.
Study Type
Systematic review
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in non-chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia.
Dose
Artichoke Extract (dose not specified)
Participants
Participants not specified
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
One-third of people with gastrointestinal disorders, including functional dyspepsia, use some form of complementary and alternative medicine, including herbal medicines.
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in therapeutic potential of artichoke in the treatment of fatty liver: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Study Type
Systematic review and meta-analysis
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Artichoke Extract in therapeutic potential of artichoke in the treatment of fatty liver: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Dose
Artichoke Extract (dose not specified)
Participants
333 participants
Duration
Duration not specified
Results
y lipoprotein (SMD: 0.96; 95% CI, 0.3-1.62; P < .001) and triglycerides (SMD: 0.95; 95% CI, 0.58-1.32; P < .001). The current review provides evidence from RCTs to support the use of ALE as a hepatoprotective agent in NAFLD patients. The study was registered on the PROSPERO database with the Registration No. CRD42020182502 ( https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero).
How They Measured It
See study for outcome measures
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Artichoke Extract research
There are currently 20 peer-reviewed studies on Artichoke Extract (Cynara scolymus), involving 3,748 total participants. Research covers Cholesterol Management, Liver Health, Digestive Support and 2 more areas. The overall evidence strength is rated as Strong.
The evidence is currently rated as "Strong Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (13 human studies, 1 animal study), and reported outcomes.
Artichoke Extract has been researched for: Cholesterol Management, Liver Health, Digestive Support, Clinical trials, Systematic reviews. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Yes, 13 out of 20 studies are human trials. The remaining 1 is an animal study. Human trials carry more weight in our evidence scoring system.
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