Artichoke Extract: Improved Digestion, Liver Function, & Cholesterol Levels

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ARTICHOKE EXTRACT: Improves Digestion, Liver Function, and Cholesterol Levels

 

 

http://www.doctormurray.com/articles/old/artichoke.htm

 

The globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus) is not only a delicious nutritious food it

is also a valuable medicine. It’s historical and folk-use as a digestive aid and

liver remedy is being validated by detailed scientific investigation including

double-blind clinical studies. The modern use of artichoke as a medicine

utilizes extracts of the leaves of the plant standardized for key components

known as caffeoylquinic acids.

 

How does artichoke extract work?

 

Its basic mechanism of action centers around its affect on the liver. First of

all, artichoke extract has been shown to enhance detoxification reactions as

well as protect the liver from damage.1-3 This combination of effects is very

important to healthy liver function. During detoxification of toxic substances

in the liver the toxic substance is often initially converted to an even more

toxic form. Without adequate protection, every time the liver neutralizes a

toxin, it is damaged in this process. Artichoke extract has been shown to

provide this valuable protection.

 

Once the liver has modified a toxin, it needs to be eliminated from the body as

soon as possible. One of the primary routes of elimination is through the bile.

However, when the manufacture of bile is reduced or the excretion of bile is

inhibited (a condition called cholestasis), toxins stay in the liver and body

longer. Another beneficial effect of artichoke is that is acts as a choleretic.

 

What is a choleretic?

 

A choleretic is a substance that increases the formation and flow of bile to and

from the liver. Bile is a thick, yellowish-green fluid excreted from the liver,

stored in the gallbladder, and released into the intestine to aid in the

digestion and absorption of fats. Bile contains more than 97% water. Its most

important components, however, are bile acids (also referred to as bile salts).

Bile acids are natural emulsifying compounds that form complexes with fatty

materials in the gut to aid in their assimilation. Bile also plays an important

role in making the stool soft by promoting the incorporation of water into the

stool. Without enough bile, the stool can become quite hard and difficult to

pass. Bile also helps to keep the small intestine free from microorganisms

(parasites).

 

In experimental animal and human studies, artichoke extract has increased the

flow of bile by 90 to 150%!1 In one study, artichoke extract administered as a

single dose of 1.92 g produced a 127.3% increase in bile secretion after 30

minutes; after 60 minutes, 151.5%; and after another 60 minutes, 94.3%.4

 

Why is artichoke extract’s choleretic effect important?

 

Decreased bile flow is a common cause of digestive disturbance including fat

malabsorption, excessive flatulence (gas), bloating after eating, and

constipation (or diarrhea). Increasing bile flow is also very important in

treating a condition of the liver known as cholestasis.

 

Cholestasis has several causes, including obstruction of the bile ducts and

impairment of bile flow within the liver. The most common cause of obstruction

of the bile ducts is the presence of gallstones. Currently, it is conservatively

estimated that 20 million people in the U.S. have gallstones. Nearly 20% of the

female and 8% of the male population over the age of 40 are found to have

gallstones on biopsy and approximately 500,000 gallbladders are removed because

of stones each year in the U.S. The prevalence of gallstones in this country has

been linked to the high-fat, low-fiber diet consumed by the majority of

Americans.

 

Impairment of bile flow within the liver can be caused by a variety of agents

and conditions, as listed in Table 1. These conditions are often associated with

alterations of liver function in laboratory tests (serum bilirubin, alkaline

phosphatase, SGOT, LDH, GGTP, etc.) signifying cellular damage. However, relying

on these tests alone to evaluate liver function is not adequate, since, in the

initial or subclinical stages of many problems with liver function, laboratory

values remain normal. Among the symptoms people with enzymatic damage may

complain of are fatigue, general malaise, digestive disturbances, allergies and

chemical sensitivities, premenstrual syndrome, and constipation. Artichoke

extract may ultimately be shown to be helpful in all of these conditions via

improved liver function. Table 1. Causes of Cholestasis

 

Presence of gallstones

Alcohol

Endotoxins

Hereditary disorders such as Gilbert's syndrome

Hyperthyroidism or thyroxine supplementation

Viral hepatitis

Pregnancy

Certain chemicals or drugs:

Natural and synthetic steroidal hormones:

Anabolic steroids

Estrogens

Oral contraceptives

Aminosalicylic acid

Chlorothiazide

Erythromycin estolate

Mepazine

Phenylbutazone

Sulphadiazine

Thiouracil

 

 

 

 

Perhaps the most common cause of cholestasis and impaired liver function is

alcohol ingestion. In some especially sensitive individuals, as little as 1 oz

of alcohol can produce damage to the liver, which results in fat being deposited

within the liver. All active alcoholics demonstrate fatty infiltration of the

liver.

 

How does artichoke extract compare with milk thistle extract?

 

Artichoke extract is very similar to milk thistle extract - a popular herbal

liver remedy and detoxification enhancer. First of all, both plants are members

of the thistle family. Their active compounds, cynarin and silymarin,

respectively, are also quite similar. As far as which is better, it really

depends upon the patient. For patients with viral hepatitis (acute or chronic),

I think silymarin is a better choice.

 

Milk thistle extract standardized for silymarin content (e.g., 70%) have been

shown to be effective in both acute and chronic viral hepatitis in double-blind,

controlled studies. Recently, a new form of silymarin has emerged that may

provide even greater benefit. The new form binds silymarin to

phosphatidylcholine (referred to as silymarin phytosome). A growing body of

scientific research indicates that silymarin phytosome is better absorbed and

produces better clinical results than unbound silymarin.5-8 These benefits were

demonstrated in one study involving 232 patients with chronic hepatitis (viral,

alcohol, or chemically-induced) treated with silymarin phytosome at either 120

mg twice daily or 120 mg three times daily for up to 120 days.8 Liver function

tests were compared to a group of controls (49 treated with a commercially

available unbound silymarin; 117 untreated or given placebo). Liver function

returned to normal faster in the patients given silymarin phytosome in all

patients and in all subtypes compared to both the commercially available

silymarin or placebo.

 

I also think that phosphatidylcholine bound silymarin is a better choice in

patients with gallstones. In regards to artichoke extract, I think it is a

better choice as a general tonic to improve liver function and detoxification. I

also think artichoke extract is a better choice as a digestive aid in patients

with digestive disturbance such excessive flatulence, bloating after eating, and

constipation (or diarrhea).

 

Can artichoke extract really help improve digestion?

 

Absolutely. The evidence is provided by the results of a study evaluating a

standardized artichoke extract in 553 patients with various digestive

disorders.9 The average patient age was 54.7 years old in the study. The average

duration of use was 43.5 days. The most prominent diagnoses were dyspeptic

discomforts (gas, bloating, intestinal cramping), functional biliary colic

(gallbladder attacks), and severe constipation. The associated digestive

disturbances had been present on average for 155 weeks prior to inclusion in the

study - obviously these symptoms were of a chronic nature. The standardized

artichoke preparation was typically taken at a dosage of one to two of the 320

mg capsules three times daily.

 

The digestive disturbances regressed after six weeks of treatment on average by

70.5%; the most pronounced regression was found for vomiting (88.3%), nausea

(82.4%), abdominal pain (76.2%), loss of appetite (72.3%), constipation (71.0%),

flatulence (68.2%), and fat intolerance (58.8%). In 85% of patients the

therapeutic efficacy of artichoke extract was judged by the physicians as

excellent or good, in 12% as moderate and in 3% as insufficient or minimal.

 

In another study of patients suffering from abdominal pain, bloating,

constipation, lack of appetite, and nausea, artichoke extract produced

improvements in 65 to 72% of patients after one week and 80 to 92% after 6

weeks.

 

Can artichoke extract help with the irritable bowel syndrome?

 

The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the large intestine

Characterized by some combination of: (1) abdominal pain, (2) altered bowel

function, constipation, or diarrhea, (3) hypersecretion of colonic mucus, (4)

dyspeptic symptoms (flatulence, nausea, anorexia), and (5) varying degrees of

anxiety or depression. IBS has been referred to in the past as nervous

indigestion, spastic colitis, mucous colitis, and intestinal neurosis.

 

Artichoke extract can help with IBS, but I would recommend giving enteric-coated

peppermint oil a try first. Several double-blind studies have shown

enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules to be a very effective treatment of the

irritable bowel syndrome. Enteric coating involves coating the capsule in a

manner that will not allow the capsule to break down until after it has passed

through the stomach and into the small intestine. Enteric coating is necessary,

as menthol (the major constituent of peppermint oil) and other volatile

compounds in peppermint oil would cause relaxation of the sphincter separating

the esophagus and the stomach. Without enteric coating, a significant amount of

heartburn that can be produced.

 

The most recent, and perhaps the best-designed, study with enteric-coated

peppermint oil involved 110 patients with symptoms of IBS.10 The patients took

one capsule of either enteric-coated peppermint oil (0.2 ml) or a placebo three

to four times daily, 15-30 minutes before meals, for one month. The results on

the major symptoms of IBS are given below:

 

 

Parameter ECPO Placebo

Abdominal pain 79% 79%

Abdominal distension 83% 29%

Stool frequency 83% 33%

Borborygmi 73% 31%

Flatulence 79% 22.5%

 

 

These results are quite impressive, especially given the safety of

enteric-coated peppermint oil. Only two cases of side effects were reported –

one patient developed heartburn (because of chewing the tablet) and one patient

developed a transient skin rash.

 

Enteric-coated peppermint oil is thought to work by improving the rhythmic

contractions of the intestinal tract and relieving intestinal spasm. An

additional benefit of peppermint oil is its effectiveness against Candida

albicans. This action is important in the IBS as an overgrowth of C. albicans

may be an underlying factor, especially in cases that do not respond to dietary

advice and for those who consume large amounts of sugar.

 

If you have IBS, I would recommend giving artichoke a try only if the

enteric-coated peppermint oil does not provide relief after a one-month trial.

 

What about lowering cholesterol?

 

Artichoke extract exerts a dual effect on cholesterol metabolism. First of all,

it decreases the manufacture of cholesterol in the liver.11 Approximately 80-90%

of the cholesterol in the blood is manufactured by the liver and is not derived

from the diet. The other way in which artichoke extract effects cholesterol

levels is by increasing the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids.1,11 One of

the functions of cholesterol is to be the building block of bile acids. I think

in many people one of the reasons that their cholesterol levels are high is

because there is impaired conversion of cholesterol to bile acids. In this

scenario, I believe the low bile acid levels result in sending a powerful signal

to the liver to provide more cholesterol.

 

In the study evaluating artichoke extract in 553 patients with various digestive

disorders in addition to improving digestion, the artichoke extract

significantly lowered blood cholesterol levels.9 In spite of the relatively

short duration of therapy (6 weeks on average), the study showed an 11.5%

reduction in the average serum cholesterol from an initial average of 264 mg/dl

to 233 mg/dl. Serum trigylcerides were also reduced from initially 214.97 mg/dl

to 188.07 mg/dl, corresponding to a decrease of 12.5%.

 

What is the proper dosage for artichoke extract?

 

The first thing you need to look for is to make sure that the extract provides

13-18% caffeoylquinic acids calculated as chlorogenic acid. The dosage for such

a preparation is 160 to 320 mg three times daily with meals.

 

Is artichoke extract safe?

 

Absolutely - it is a food-based extract. In a large safety study only one out of

one hundred subjects reported mild side effects (e.g., transient increase in

flatulence). In other words, 99 out of 100 experienced absolutely no side

effect.9

 

References:

 

Kraft K: Artichoke leaf extract – Recent findings reflecting effects on lipid

metabolism, liver and gastrointestinal tracts. Phytomedicine 4:369-78, 1997.

Gebhardt R: Antioxidative and protective properties of extracts from leaves of

the artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) against hydroperoxide-induced oxidative

stress in cultured rat hepatocytes. Toxicol Appl. Pharmacol. 144:279-286, 1997.

Gebhardt R: Hepatoprotection through artichoke extracts. Pharmazeutische Zeitung

140:34-37, 1995.

Kirchoff R, et al.: Increase in choleresis by means of artichoke extract.

Phytomedicine 1:107-115, 1994.

Vailati A, et al.: Randomized open study of the dose-effect relationship of a

short course of IdB 1016 in patients with viral or alcoholic hepatitis.

Fitoterapia 44(3):219-28, 1993.

Mascarella S, et al.: Therapeutic and antilipoperoxidant effects of

silybin-phosphatidylcholine complex in chronic liver disease: Preliminary

results. Curr Ther Res 53(1):98-102, 1993.

Buzzelli G, et al.: A pilot study on the liver protective effect of

silybin-phosphatidylcholine complex (IdB1016) in chronic active hepatitis. Int J

Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol 31:456-60, 1993.

Marena C and Lampertico: Preliminary clinical development of silipide: A new

complex of silybin in toxic liver disorders. Planta Medical 57(S2):A124-5, 1991.

Fintelmann V: Antidyspeptic and lipid-lowering effects of artichoke leaf extract

- Results of clinical studies into the efficacy and tolerance of Hepar-SL® forte

involving 553 patients. J Gen Med 2:3-19, 1996.

Liu JH, et al.: Enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules in the treatment of

irritable bowel syndrome: A prospective, randomized trial. Gastroenterol

32:765-8, 1997.

Gebhardt R: Artichoke extract- - In-vitro proof of cholesterol biosynthesis

inhibition. Medwelt 46:348-350, 1995.

_________________

 

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjoguest

DietaryTipsForHBP

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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