What is Artichoke?
This post was written with Consensus AI Academic Search Engine – please read our Disclaimer at the end of this article. Artichoke, scientifically known as Cynara scolymus L. (Asteraceae), is a plant renowned for its rich content of natural antioxidants and its diverse pharmacological properties. This article delves into the protective effects of artichoke, particularly its potential to mitigate lead toxicity, as evidenced by recent scientific research. Other names include: Alcachofa, Alcaucil, ALE, Artichaut, Artichaut Commun, Artichoke Extract, Artichoke Fruit, Artichoke Leaf, Artichoke Leaf Extract, Artischocke, Cardo, Cardo de Comer, Cardon d’Espagne, Cardoon, Cynara, Cynara cardunculus, Cynara scolymus, Garden Artichoke, Gemuseartischocke, Globe Artichoke, Kardone, Tyosen-Azami, Wild Egyptian Artichoke.
Pharmacological Properties of Artichoke
Artichoke has been traditionally used for its medicinal properties, which include antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and antitoxic activities. The plant’s leaves are particularly noted for their high concentration of beneficial compounds, which contribute to its therapeutic effects.
Protective Effects Against Lead Toxicity
Lead (Pb) is a hazardous environmental pollutant known to cause a wide array of health issues in humans, including neurological, cardiovascular, and renal dysfunctions. Recent studies have explored the potential of artichoke leaf extract to counteract the adverse effects of lead exposure.
Study Overview
A study investigated the protective effect of hydroethanolic extract of artichoke on rats subjected to lead toxicity. The experiment involved thirty-two rats divided into four groups:
- Control group receiving a standard diet.
- Lead-intoxicated group receiving 500 mg lead/kg diet.
- Lead-intoxicated group receiving 500 mg lead/kg diet plus 300 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) artichoke extract daily.
- Lead-intoxicated group receiving 500 mg lead/kg diet plus 1 mg vitamin C/100 g b.w. daily for six weeks.
Key Findings
The study revealed significant improvements in several biochemical parameters in the artichoke-treated group compared to the lead-intoxicated group without treatment:
- Serum Lead Levels: Reduced by 35.85%.
- Triglycerides (TG): Reduced by 38.26%.
- Very Low-Density Lipoprotein (VLDL): Reduced by 38.38%.
- Alanine Transaminase (ALT): Reduced by 21.90%.
- Aspartate Transaminase (AST): Reduced by 12.81%.
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP): Reduced by 26.86%.
- Malondialdehyde (MDA): Reduced by 46.91%.
Additionally, the liver histopathology of rats treated with artichoke showed a mild degree of lymphocyte infiltration, which was relatively comparable to the control and vitamin C-treated groups, indicating a protective effect on liver tissue.
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Adverse Effects of Artichoke
Hepatotoxicity and Oxidative Stress
Artichoke leaf extract (ALE) has been shown to ameliorate oxidative stress and hepatorenal damage induced by cadmium toxicity in rats, suggesting a protective rather than adverse effect on liver and kidney function1.
Similarly, artichoke extract demonstrated protective effects against lead-induced hepatotoxicity, reducing oxidative stress markers and improving liver histopathology3.
Artichoke leaf powder (ArLP) reduced aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced hepatotoxicity, normalizing liver function enzymes and reducing oxidative stress4.
Herbicide Interaction
The application of certain herbicides (e.g., Pyridate and Phenmedipham) on artichoke crops resulted in adverse effects such as reduced leaf yield and chlorophyll fluorescence, indicating potential toxicity under specific agricultural conditions2.
Gastrointestinal Effects
Feeding Jerusalem artichoke to pigs resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in skatole levels in the hindgut and adipose tissue, which might be beneficial rather than adverse. However, changes in gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids were observed, which could have varying implications depending on the context5.
Metabolic Effects
Boiled wild artichoke reduced postprandial glycemic and insulinemic responses in normal subjects but had no effect on patients with metabolic syndrome, indicating a differential impact based on metabolic health status7.
Anticancer Activity
Artichoke extract exhibited cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on oral squamous carcinoma cell lines, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits rather than adverse effects in the context of cancer treatment6.
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How has Artichoke Improved Patient Outcomes?
Reduction of Dyspeptic Symptoms and Improved Quality of Life
Artichoke leaf extract (ALE) significantly reduces symptoms of dyspepsia and improves health-related quality of life in patients with mild dyspepsia1.
Glycemic and Insulinemic Responses
Boiled wild artichoke reduces postprandial glucose and insulin levels in normal subjects but does not affect patients with metabolic syndrome2.
Antioxidant and Hepatorenal Protective Effects
ALE shows protective effects against cadmium-induced oxidative stress, improving immune response, antioxidant systems, and hepatorenal function in rats3.
ALE supplementation in patients with metabolic syndrome decreases serum oxidized-LDL levels, indicating antioxidant benefits6.
Artichoke extract reduces oxidative stress markers and improves liver enzyme levels in rat models of NAFLD9.
Cholesterol Reduction
ALE consumption results in a modest but significant reduction in total plasma cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic adults4.
Artichoke extract improves hypercholesterolemic status in bile duct ligation rat models by reducing total cholesterol and LDL-C levels8.
Liver Health and NAFLD
Co-administration of ALE with metformin and vitamin E significantly reduces liver fat accumulation and improves liver enzyme levels in patients with NAFLD5.
Artichoke extract shows protective effects against hepatocellular carcinoma induced by diethylnitrosamine in rats, improving liver histology and biochemical parameters7.
Lead Toxicity
Artichoke extract reduces lead-induced biochemical alterations and oxidative stress in rats, showing potential as a protective agent against lead toxicity10.
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💆🏻♀️How has artichoke improved patient outcomes?
💉Does artichoke leaf extract reduce postprandial glucose and insulin levels in normal subjects?
Artichoke Mechanisms of Action
Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects
Artichoke leaf extract exhibits significant antioxidant activity, which contributes to its hepatoprotective effects by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in liver tissues1 3 4 5.
The extract enhances the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and catalase (CAT), and reduces malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, indicating reduced lipid peroxidation4 6.
Hepatoprotective Effects
Artichoke extract protects against various forms of liver damage, including those induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury, lead toxicity, cadmium toxicity, and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exposure. This protection is largely due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties1 3 4 5.
The extract also normalizes liver function enzyme levels and improves histopathological outcomes in liver tissues1 3 5.
Choleretic Action
Artichoke extract significantly increases bile secretion, which can aid in the treatment of dyspepsia and improve fat digestion and assimilation. This choleretic effect is attributed to the main ingredient, cynarin2.
Metabolic Effects
Supplementation with artichoke extract improves lipid and glucose metabolism, particularly in individuals with metabolic syndrome. It has been shown to reduce serum triglyceride levels, especially in carriers of specific genetic polymorphisms (FTO-rs9939609)7.
Anticancer Effects
Artichoke extract demonstrates cytotoxic, cell cycle arrest, and apoptotic effects on oral squamous carcinoma cell lines. It induces the expression of pro-apoptotic genes (Bax and caspase-9) and decreases the expression of anti-apoptotic gene (Bcl-2), leading to reduced cancer cell viability and growth8.
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Common Complaints Associated with Artichoke Use
Mild Liver Inflammation: Artichoke extract can cause mild lymphocyte infiltration in the liver, indicating a mild degree of liver inflammation1.
Herbicide Sensitivity: Artichoke crops are sensitive to certain herbicides, particularly Pyridate and Phenmedipham, which can cause significant damage to the plant, affecting its yield and health. This sensitivity might translate to concerns about herbicide residues in artichoke products2.
Learn more with Consensus:
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Disclaimer
The content presented in this blog is generated by Consensus, an AI-powered academic search engine, and is based on publicly available scientific literature. While every effort is made to provide accurate, up-to-date, and well-researched information, the content is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding medical conditions, treatments, or medications. The AI system’s analysis may not cover all perspectives, emerging research, or individual cases, and it is not a substitute for professional expertise. Neither the blog publisher nor the developers of the AI-powered search engine are responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided in this content. Use of this information is at your own risk. Citations to the original scientific studies are included for reference, but these studies should be reviewed in full and interpreted with the guidance of a healthcare or research professional.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please seek immediate attention from a healthcare provider.