Artichoke Benefits, Usage, Medicinal Properties, Nutrition, Dosage, Preparations, safety, science backed and traditional view

Artichoke - Cynara scolymus (L.) also known as Globe Artichoke, Yang Ji, Karczoch

 

Globe artichoke belongs to the thistle family (Asteraceae). Chinese artichoke is a perennial root vegetable in the mint family. Globe artichoke has arching, deeply lobed, silvery-green leaves and beautiful light pink or purple flowers with large heads developing from the edible buds. The bud is composed of compactly arranged triangular scales in a whorl-fashion around a center “choke.” The plants can grow to be over three feet tall.

Native to the Mediterranean, globe artichoke is now cultivated in many other areas of the world. In the U.S. nearly 100% of artichoke cultivation is found in Monterey County, in the town of Castroville, claiming to be “The Artichoke Capital of the World.”

 

Part used: herb, leaf, root, heart, stem, flower​

 

Constituents: Cynarine Sesquiterpene-lactones ( guaianolides cynaropicrin and costuslactone), Silymarin, Caffeic acid, Gallic acid, Ferulic acid, Anthocyanins, Protides, Quercetin, Rutin, Vitamin K and C, lipids, Alkaloids, Potassium, Sugars ( mainly Inulin 11%)Folic acid, Manganese, Copper, Calcium, Phosphorous, Flavonoids, Zinc, Iron, enzymes (oxydases, catalases, cynarase, peroxydases, ascorbinase), Vit A, B, C

 

Flavor/Temps: somewhat Salty, Bitter, Sweet, Neutral Cool, Moist

Nourishing, Dissolving, Restoring, Decongesting, Softening

 

Tropism: Digestive, Urinary, Cardiovascular, Liver, Warm/Fluid bodies

 

Meridians: Gallbladder, Liver, Heart, Stomach, Bladder

 

Key actions in western medicine: Liver tonic, Anticancer, Antispasmodic, Diuretic, Antioxidant, Digestive, Anti-inflammatory, Liver detoxification

 

Indications: improves cognitive abilities, metabolic disorders, thyroid deficiency, pancreas deficiency, nausea, bloating, gas, prevents cancer, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, supports liver health, promotes regularity, premature aging, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), treats oedema, anorexia, ascites, hyperlipidaemia, gallstones, urinary stones, atherosclerosis, bad breath, uric acid diathesis, diabetes, anaemia, obesity, cellulitis, hangovers, skin, lowers blood sugar levels, biliary and gastric dyspepsia

 

Key actions in eastern medicine: Tonifies the Stomach, Clears Liver Heat, Nourishes Liver and Blood

 

Indications: Blood deficiency, Liver Yin deficiency, Liver and Stomach Qi stagnation, Liver water congestion, metabolic toxicosis, lowers blood pressure, hangovers, anemia, Headaches, digestive disorders, diarrhoea, constipation, liver tonic, promotes healthy digestive cycle.

 

Preparations: Infusion, Decoction, Tincture, Powder

 

Dosage 3 times a day unless instructed otherwise by Herbalist:

Infusion 2-14g

Decoction 2-14g

Tincture 2-6 ml, 1:2, 35% ethanol

Powder 2-14g

 

Note: clinical studies shows that doses need to be quite high to achieve medicinal actions, especially for relevant reduction in cholesterol level, however for other application lover doses will have therapeutic actions.

 

Synergy examples: Cynara scolymus combined with Chelidonium majus and Peumus Boldus for non-ulcer dyspepsia.

Cynara scolymus with Achillea millefolium and/or Matricaria chamomilla for allergy.

 

Cautions: Artichoke is mild herbal remedy with minimal chronic toxicity and can be taken safety continuously. Artichoke may clog up breast milk in new mothers. Use only under provisional supervision if cholelithiasis.

 

Contradictions: closure of gallbladder

 

Interactions with drugs:  None known

 

Side effects: Non expected for oral use. Contact with fresh plant may cause dermatitis. No allergy reaction reported for oral use.

 

History folklore:

The Ancient Greek and Romans recommended them as a medicine and healthy food. According to legend the Greek god Zeus turned his object of affection into a thistle, the family of plants that artichokes belong to. Despite their prickly appearance they used the plants as an aphrodisiac, diuretic, breath freshener and deodorant.

In Ethiopia, artichoke leaves are often used to relieve dyspepsia or indigestion.

The Dutch introduced artichokes to England, where they grew in the garden of Henry VIII’s home in Newhall.

Spanish immigrants brought them to California in the 19th century.

In China, globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus) is also enjoyed as a food and medicine, but Chinese artichoke (Stachys affinis) is the more commonly used plant. Chinese artichoke is a perennial herbaceous plant, native to China whose rhizomes and roots can be eaten as a root vegetable. The tubers are pale beige to ivory-white in color and full of convulsions and indentations. They are harvested in the fall season.

These tubers have a nutty flavor, and can be boiled and sauteed as a side dish. In China and Japan they are primarily pickled. The Chinese artichoke exhibits antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-anoxia properties that support immune function, heart, health, and prevent stomach ulcers. In Japan and China, the plant’s tubers are popularly pickled.

Artichokes are low in calories. A medium sized artichoke contains only 60 calories and is super high in antioxidants and dietary fiber. The high dietary content not only improves digestion, but helps aid the body to naturally detox, fighting off the dangerous visceral fat that accumulates around your organs and leads to various diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and heart-related illnesses.

Artichoke makes the top 10 list for foods rich in antioxidants, helping to prevent cancers and prevent inflammation that can cause aging, heart and other disorders. It is considered to have the highest level of antioxidants of any vegetable. The powerful antioxidant silymarin found in artichoke has been shown to positively influence liver health, boosting liver function by stimulating cell regeneration and clearing free radicals from the system.

Preliminary research suggests that artichoke leaf extract might protect liver cells from damage. A mixture of antioxidant polyphenols and flavonoids including caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, cynarin, luteolin-7-O-glycoside (cynaroside), and luteolin might contribute to hepatoprotective activity. Artichoke has also demonstrated protective activity against the hepatitis C virus in vitro, possibly due to the sesquiterpene lactones cynaropicrin and grosheimol. Further, in a rat model of NAFLD, water extract of artichoke appears to exert a variety of hepatoprotective effects by improving lipid profiles, increasing hepatic antioxidant activity, reducing hepatic inflammation, and increasing the expression of genes central to lipogenesis and fatty acid oxidation.

The globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus) should not be confused with the Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus, aka sunchoke or wild sunflower roots) or with Chinese artichoke (Stachys affinis, aka crosne, chorogi, or knotroot). There are over 140 different varieties of artichoke, with only 40 grown commercially to be sold as food. The edible parts of the artichoke are the leaves and the “heart” which is actually the bud of the artichoke flower.

Artichoke's therapeutic benefit in dyspepsia has centered around its choleretic effects, or ability to stimulate bile flow, which has been demonstrated in several studies. This might also explain its use as a hangover remedy. Constituents responsible for this effect are thought to be cynarin, chlorogenic acid, and scolymoside. Antiemetic, spasmolytic, and carminative effects of artichoke have also been described. These effects may be responsible for the potential beneficial effects in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Artichokes contain more antioxidants than dark chocolate, blueberries or cranberries. They are higher in dietary fiber than beans, peas, or oats, making them an excellent food for improving digestive health and maintaining regular bowel movements.

Some animal research shows that artichoke leaf extract has renoprotective effects. In rats fed a high-fat diet, administration of artichoke leaf extract decreased kidney weight and markers of kidney function, including urea, uric acid, and creatinine. The antioxidant effects of artichoke are thought to explain these findings

Following oral intake of artichoke leaf extract, caffeoylquinic acid metabolites caffeic acid, its methylated derivatives ferulic acid and isoferulic acid, and hydrogenation products dihydrocaffeic acid and dihydroferulic acid, have been identified in plasma, mainly as sulfates or glucuronides. Peak plasma concentrations of caffeic acid, and its methylated derivatives ferulic acid and isoferulic acid, were reached within one hour; peak levels of dihydrocaffeic acid and dihydroferulic acid occurred after 6-7 hours.

Artichoke boosts the production of digestive bile and nourishes the digestive tract. Artichoke leaf has been shown to relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, and upset stomachs.

Some studies shows that Artichoke might reduce cholesterol synthesis, possibly related to direct inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase by the constituents cynaroside and its derivative, luteolin. Artichoke extract also appears to reduce LDL oxidation in laboratory research.

Clinical trials shows that artichoke extract improves endothelial dysfunction, a marker of the onset of atherosclerosis. It is thought that artichoke extract may improve endothelial dysfunction by improving the vasodilatory responses of endothelial cells. Artichoke also decreases carotid inter-media thickness in overweight adults, further suggesting that artichoke may protect against cardiovascular disease

Artichoke is the primary flavour in the 33-proof Italian liqueur called Cynar, produced exclusively by the Campari Group as an aperitif served over ice, or mixed with orange juice.

The name artichoke derives from the word ciocco, meaning “stump”.

Artichokes are a symbol of peace, hope, and prosperity.

The constituent cynarin found in artichoke, inhibits the taste receptors, making water, and other foods and drinks, seem sweet.

 

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