Awaiting clinical review. This entry is sourced but has not yet been signed off by a pharmacist or clinician.
Artichoke
Artichoke leaf extract lowers total and LDL cholesterol modestly in pooled trials (roughly 10–18 mg/dL), and one good placebo-controlled trial found it eased functional dyspepsia; for irritable bowel syndrome there are only uncontrolled studies. It is generally well tolerated, with mild stomach upset and rare allergy the main problems. The EU regulator lists gallstones, bile-duct obstruction and liver disease as contraindications, so people with those conditions should not take it without medical advice.
At a glance
Last reviewed 29 September 2026What it's used for
Evidence is rated per use. The same ingredient can be strong for one thing and traditional for another.
| Use | Evidence | What the research shows |
|---|---|---|
| Raised cholesterol | Moderate | A 2018 meta-analysis of 9 trials (702 people) found total cholesterol 17.6 mg/dL lower, LDL 14.9 mg/dL lower and triglycerides 9.2 mg/dL lower, with no change in HDL; a 2025 meta-analysis found smaller falls (total −12.3, LDL −10.3 mg/dL). The Cochrane review of the earliest three trials (262 people) called the evidence not convincing, and the EU regulator says more rigorous trials are needed. Effects are modest and the trials were short.1,2,3,8 |
| Functional dyspepsia (fullness, bloating, discomfort) | Limited | The main trial (244 people, 6 weeks, 640 mg extract three times daily) found greater symptom improvement than placebo (8.3 vs 6.7 points, P < 0.01) and better quality-of-life scores. A 2023 Cochrane review found only this one artichoke trial and graded the certainty as low. Uncontrolled surveillance studies point the same way but cannot rule out a placebo effect. We rate it 2 because it rests on one trial.4,5,7,8 |
| Irritable bowel syndrome | Limited | The only data are uncontrolled: in 208 people with dyspepsia who also had IBS symptoms, IBS incidence fell 26.4% over 2 months in an open study. Without a placebo group this cannot show the extract works. We found no placebo-controlled IBS trial.6 |
How much
Ranges below are what studies used and what supplements commonly contain. They are not a recommendation for you. Start at the low end.
How people take it
Safety
Who should avoid
- Gallstones, bile-duct obstruction, cholangitis or other biliary disorders — EU contraindication
- Liver disease — EU contraindication; ask a doctor first
- Allergy to artichoke or the daisy family (Asteraceae/Compositae)
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding — safety not established, use not recommended
- Children under 12 — not established due to lack of data
Known interactions
Questions people ask
Does artichoke extract lower cholesterol?
Modestly. Pooled trials show total cholesterol falling by about 12–18 mg/dL and LDL by about 10–15 mg/dL, with no change in HDL. The trials were short and small, and it is not a substitute for prescribed cholesterol treatment.
Is artichoke good for indigestion and bloating?
One good placebo-controlled trial in functional dyspepsia found it worked better than placebo over 6 weeks, and a Cochrane review rated the certainty low. The EU regulator recognises it as a traditional remedy for dyspepsia with fullness, bloating and flatulence.
Can artichoke extract help irritable bowel syndrome?
Possibly, but we do not know. The only IBS data are uncontrolled studies in people who had dyspepsia as well, so the improvement may be partly placebo. There is no placebo-controlled trial we could find.
Who should not take artichoke leaf extract?
The EU regulator lists bile-duct obstruction, gallstones, cholangitis, liver disease and other biliary disorders as contraindications, because the extract increases bile flow. It also advises against use in pregnancy and breastfeeding, and in anyone allergic to the daisy family.
Sources
- Meta-analysis Sahebkar A, Pirro M, Banach M, Mikhailidis DP, Atkin SL, Cicero AFG. Lipid-lowering activity of artichoke extracts: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2018.
- Meta-analysis Jafari A, Karimi MA, Mahmoudinezhad M, Razavi F, Mardani H, Musazadeh V. Artichoke and cardiometabolic health: A systematic and meta-analytic synthesis of current evidence. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2025.
- Cochrane review Wider B, Pittler MH, Thompson-Coon J, Ernst E. Artichoke leaf extract for treating hypercholesterolaemia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013.
- Randomised controlled trial Holtmann G, Adam B, Haag S, Collet W, Grünewald E, Windeck T. Efficacy of artichoke leaf extract in the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia: a six-week placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicentre trial. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2003.
- Cochrane review Báez G, Vargas C, Arancibia M, Papuzinski C, Franco JV. Non-Chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023.
- Uncontrolled study Bundy R, Walker AF, Middleton RW, Marakis G, Booth JC. Artichoke leaf extract reduces symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and improves quality of life in otherwise healthy volunteers suffering from concomitant dyspepsia: a subset analysis. J Altern Complement Med. 2004.
- Regulator monograph European Medicines Agency HMPC. European Union herbal monograph on Cynara cardunculus L. (syn. Cynara scolymus L.), folium (EMA/HMPC/194014/2017). 2018.
- Regulator assessment report European Medicines Agency HMPC. Assessment report on Cynara cardunculus L. (syn. Cynara scolymus L.), folium (EMA/HMPC/194013/2017).
Last reviewed 29 September 2026 · Next review March 2027 · How we rate evidence