Artichoke

What is artichoke?

The globe artichoke is a thistle-like Mediterranean plant whose flower buds are eaten as a vegetable. Its leaves, rather than the edible buds, are used to make supplements. Artichoke leaf contains compounds such as cynarin and chlorogenic acid, and in European herbal tradition it has been used to support bile flow, digestion and the liver.

What the research says

Cholesterol. This is the best-studied use. A 2018 meta-analysis of 9 randomized trials with 702 participants found that artichoke extract supplementation lowered total cholesterol by about 17.6 mg/dL, LDL cholesterol by about 14.9 mg/dL and triglycerides by about 9.2 mg/dL, with no significant change in HDL cholesterol. The LDL-lowering effect was larger in people who started with higher LDL. A 2021 updated dose-response meta-analysis of 14 studies reached similar conclusions for total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides.

These are modest effects compared with prescription medications, and many of the trials were small or used proprietary extracts, so artichoke should not replace treatment prescribed by a doctor.

Digestion and liver. Artichoke leaf extract has also been tested for indigestion and fatty liver, with some positive small studies, but the evidence is less consistent than for cholesterol.

Oral health. We found no research linking artichoke supplements to teeth, gums or breath.

How it’s used in supplements

Artichoke leaf extract is sold in capsules and tablets, usually standardized to cynarin or caffeoylquinic acids, and lipid trials generally used standardized extracts or juice at amounts much larger than a 50 mg pinch of leaf powder.

Artichoke is generally well tolerated, with occasional digestive upset or gas. Because it belongs to the daisy (Asteraceae) family, people allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds or daisies may react to it. Since artichoke is thought to stimulate bile flow, people with gallstones or bile duct obstruction should check with their doctor before using it. If you take cholesterol-lowering medication, talk to your doctor before adding artichoke, so your lipid levels can be monitored.

For people interested in artichoke’s potential heart benefits, eating artichokes as part of a Mediterranean-style diet is a reasonable, food-first approach.

In an oral health product, artichoke’s inclusion is hard to justify on the evidence. It reflects the traditional idea that supporting the liver and digestion benefits the whole body, rather than any study on teeth or gums. We found no such studies. If your goal is healthier gums, artichoke is not a meaningful tool.