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Artichoke leaf

Two meta-analyses and a Cochrane review found lower total and LDL cholesterol, about 15 to 18 mg/dL in pooled trials. Small trials in fatty liver disease reported lower liver enzymes, though one trial in people with obesity saw AST rise. A hangover trial found no difference from placebo. Side effects were mild and infrequent.

Add to Bio HackChecked 2026-11-09
Status
Dietary supplement in the US. Not FDA-approved for any condition.
Also called
artichoke leaf extract, ALE, Cynara scolymus, Cynara cardunculus, globe artichoke, cynarin
Taken for
cholesterol, liver health, fatty liver, liver detox, digestion, indigestion, hangover

Strong several reviews agree · Moderate one review or consistent trials · Limited one or a few small studies · Untested no study in people, listed with what it rests on

Shown to help4

Reported risks1

What people take it for, and what was found

Shown to help4

Strong

Cholesterol

Shown to lower LDL by about 15 to 17 mg/dL in adults with raised cholesterol over 6 to 12 weeks, with no change in HDL.

The numbers and sources
Effect
In 9 trials (702 subjects), total cholesterol fell 17.6 mg/dL (95% CI -22.0 to -13.3), LDL 14.9 mg/dL (95% CI -20.4 to -9.5) and triglycerides 9.2 mg/dL (95% CI -16.2 to -2.1). HDL did not change. LDL fell more in people with higher baseline LDL [1]. An update of 14 studies found LDL 17.48 mg/dL lower (95% CI -25.44 to -9.53), with no change in HDL [2]. A Cochrane review of 3 trials (262 people) found total cholesterol fell 4.2% on extract against a rise on placebo in one trial, and 18.5% against 8.6% in another [3].
Population
Adults with raised cholesterol, mostly in trials of 6 to 12 weeks [1][2][3].
Sources
[1], [2], [3]
Caveats
The meta-analyses draw on many of the same small trials. The Cochrane authors described the evidence as not yet convincing [3].
Moderate

Fatty liver and liver enzymes

Shown to lower the liver enzymes ALT and AST in adults with fatty liver disease, across small trials. One trial in people with obesity found AST rose.

The numbers and sources
Effect
In 5 trials (333 patients) with fatty liver disease, ALT fell (standardized mean difference 1.1, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.73), and LDL fell [4]. Across 8 trials, AST (p 0.001) and ALT (p 0.016) were lower than placebo, mostly in fatty liver disease [5]. In 90 patients completing 2 months of 600 mg a day, ALT, AST, liver size and bilirubin fell against placebo [6]. In 40 people with obesity before bariatric surgery, 6 weeks of extract reduced ultrasound-measured steatosis and liver size, but AST rose [7].
Population
Adults with fatty liver disease [4][5][6]. 40 adults awaiting bariatric surgery [7].
Sources
[4], [5], [6], [7]
Caveats
The two meta-analyses pool largely the same small trials. Liver enzymes and ultrasound are not biopsy outcomes.
Limited

Indigestion

One trial found artichoke extract improved functional dyspepsia symptoms a little more than placebo over 6 weeks in 247 adults.

The numbers and sources
Effect
Over 6 weeks, the overall symptom improvement score was 8.3 on extract and 6.7 on placebo, and disease-specific quality of life improved more [8]. A Cochrane review pooled this trial as SMD -0.34 (95% CI -0.59 to -0.09, low certainty) [9].
Population
247 adults with functional dyspepsia, 244 analyzed [8].
Sources
[8], [9]
Caveats
One trial of one commercial preparation [9].
Limited

Liver detox

One small trial found a single dose of artichoke extract raised bile flow over placebo. No study in people measured whether it clears toxins from the liver.

The numbers and sources
Effect
In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover pilot study, 1.92 g of extract given into the duodenum raised bile secretion by 127.3% at 30 minutes, 151.5% at 60 minutes and 94.3% at 120 minutes over baseline. Placebo peaked at 139.5% at 30 minutes and fell below baseline after 3 hours. The authors reported the differences from placebo as significant (p < 0.01), with more bile on extract at 120 and 150 minutes (p < 0.05). No side effects or lab changes were seen [11]. In rats, the extract raised bile flow and bile acid output [12]. In mice given a toxic dose of acetaminophen, the extract lowered ALT, AST and ALP and reduced liver damage on histology [13].
Population
20 people in a crossover pilot [11]. Wistar rats [12]. 40 male mice [13].
Sources
[11], [12], [13]
Caveats
One single-dose pilot, with the extract given by tube, not by mouth [11]. Bile flow is not a measure of toxin removal. The liver protection findings come from animals given a poison [13].

Not shown to help1

Limited

Hangover

One very small trial found artichoke extract did not change hangover severity, mood or thinking in 15 adults.

The numbers and sources
Effect
Hangover severity, mood and cognitive scores did not differ between artichoke extract and placebo after drinking [10].
Population
15 healthy adults in a crossover trial [10].
Sources
[10]
Caveats
Very small. Larger studies were not located.

Doses studied

The indigestion trial used 2 capsules of 320 mg three times a day for 6 weeks [8]. The fatty liver trial in [6] used 600 mg a day for 2 months. The hangover trial gave 3 capsules immediately before and after drinking [10].

Risks

Reported risks1

Limited

Rise in liver enzymes in people with obesity

One pilot trial found liver enzymes, mainly AST, rose over 6 weeks on extract in 40 adults with obesity awaiting bariatric surgery.

The numbers and sources
Effect
Transaminases, particularly AST, rose in the extract group over 6 weeks, unlike in earlier trials [7].
Population
40 adults with obesity and fatty liver awaiting bariatric surgery [7].
Sources
[7]
Caveats
One pilot trial.

Checked, no increase found1

Limited

Adverse events in trials

Limited evidence: adverse events were mild, short-lived and infrequent in trials of 12 weeks or less.

The numbers and sources
Effect
Limited data suggest only mild, transient and infrequent adverse events with short-term use [3]. Adverse events in the hangover trial were rare, mild and transient [10]. No side effects were reported in the 2-month fatty liver trial [6].
Population
Adults in short RCTs [3][6][10].
Sources
[3], [6], [10]
Caveats
Trials ran 12 weeks or less.

Claims tested and not found

  1. That artichoke extract prevents hangover. No outcome differed from placebo in a crossover trial [10].

Sources

  1. Sahebkar A, Pirro M, Banach M, et al. Lipid-lowering activity of artichoke extracts: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2017.1332572
  2. Shahinfar H, Bazshahi E, Amini MR, et al. Effects of artichoke leaf extract supplementation or artichoke juice consumption on lipid profile: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytotherapy Research. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.7247
  3. Wider B, Pittler MH, Thompson-Coon J, Ernst E. Artichoke leaf extract for treating hypercholesterolaemia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2013. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003335.pub3
  4. Kamel AM, Farag MA. Therapeutic Potential of Artichoke in the Treatment of Fatty Liver: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2022.0025
  5. Moradi S, Shokri-Mashhadi N, Saraf-Bank S, et al. The effects of Cynara scolymus L. supplementation on liver enzymes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Clinical Practice. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcp.14726
  6. Panahi Y, Kianpour P, Mohtashami R, et al. Efficacy of artichoke leaf extract in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial. Phytotherapy Research. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6073
  7. Holländer S, Marth E, Scherber PR, et al. Artichoke leaf extract reduces steatosis and decreases liver size in prebariatric patients: A randomized placebo-controlled pilot trial. The "SteatoChoke-Study". Journal of Clinical Lipidology. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacl.2025.10.063
  8. Holtmann G, Adam B, Haag S, et al. Efficacy of artichoke leaf extract in the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia: a six-week placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicentre trial. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 2003. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2036.2003.01767.x
  9. Báez G, Vargas C, Arancibia M, et al. Non-Chinese herbal medicines for functional dyspepsia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013323.pub2
  10. Pittler MH, White AR, Stevinson C, Ernst E. Effectiveness of artichoke extract in preventing alcohol-induced hangovers: a randomized controlled trial. CMAJ. 2003. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14662662/
  11. Kirchhoff R, Beckers C, Kirchhoff GM, et al. Increase in choleresis by means of artichoke extract. Phytomedicine. 1994. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0944-7113(11)80027-9
  12. Saénz Rodriguez T, García Giménez D, de la Puerta Vázquez R. Choleretic activity and biliary elimination of lipids and bile acids induced by an artichoke leaf extract in rats. Phytomedicine. 2002. https://doi.org/10.1078/094471102321621278
  13. Elsayed Elgarawany G, Abdou AG, Maher Taie D, Motawea SM. Hepatoprotective effect of artichoke leaf extracts in comparison with silymarin on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Journal of Immunoassay and Immunochemistry. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1080/15321819.2019.1692029

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