Artichoke Leaf Extract
Also known as: Cynara scolymus extract, Cynarin
Artichoke leaf extract is commonly discussed for digestive comfort and appears in cholesterol-support research, though the evidence base is limited. Some of its traditional use centers on bile flow, which is why people with gallstones or bile-duct concerns are commonly advised to talk to a professional before using it.
Snapshot
Evidence level is outcome-specific; a supplement can have stronger evidence for one use and limited evidence for another.
What this page can tell you: Commonly discussed timing, food notes, caution categories, and an honest note on how much source review this entry still needs.
What it cannot: Whether this is appropriate for you personally, or that it treats, prevents, or cures any condition. Informational only — discuss with a clinician or pharmacist.
🕒 Timing
When: With a meal
Food: With food
Commonly taken with meals, in line with its digestive-comfort use.
💊 Common use range
320–640 mg
Follow product guidance; extracts vary in concentration.
Ranges are informational, not a recommended dose. Talk to a professional about what is right for you.
⚠️ Commonly noted interactions (supplements)
None listed.
Often about absorption or timing rather than danger — separating doses is common. This list is not exhaustive.
🧭 Baseline caution
General caution for ordinary, common use — before accounting for your specific dose, medications, health history, or procedures.
No general caution factors flagged for ordinary use. See context alerts below for situations that may still apply to you.
Caution level is an informational summary of commonly discussed caution categories and doses — not a safety rating, approval, or medical advice. Low caution does not mean safe for you.
🔎 Context alerts to review
Context alerts may matter depending on your dose, medications, health history, or procedure plans — they do not mean the supplement is generally risky at ordinary use.
Health conditions
- Higher caution if you have a liver condition
Evidence still under review
- Evidence not fully source-reviewed yet
🩺 Medication caution categories
- Liver conditions (health condition)
🏥 Surgery & procedure caution
Not a well-established surgical concern; share your full supplement list with your care team.
If you have a procedure scheduled, bring your full supplement list to your surgical and anesthesia team. Do not stop prescribed medication unless your clinician tells you to. Do not start or stop supplements based only on this app.
✅ Quality checklist
- Prefer products with third-party testing or a certificate of analysis (COA).
- Check the label for the exact form and the elemental or active amount per serving.
🧩 Commonly paired with
None listed.
🔁 Alternatives
🗣️ Questions for a professional
- I have (or have had) gallbladder or liver issues — is artichoke extract something to avoid?
🔬 Evidence snapshot
Artichoke leaf extract has been studied for high cholesterol/lipids and for functional dyspepsia. A Cochrane review found a possible cholesterol-lowering signal but concluded the evidence is limited and not convincing (a few small trials); dyspepsia evidence is likewise limited. It is not a treatment for high cholesterol or a substitute for prescribed therapy.
🧪 Forms & quality
Needs evidence review — no source-reviewed information yet. We only show dose and monitoring details after they have been checked against reputable sources.
See the supplement glossary for what form names like "L-", chelated, or standardized extract mean.
📏 Dose & monitoring
Needs evidence review — no source-reviewed information yet. We only show dose and monitoring details after they have been checked against reputable sources.
Evidence vs. burden: Not yet reviewed
😐 Commonly reported side effects
- Mild digestive effects such as gas
- Allergy possible in people sensitive to the daisy (Asteraceae) family
Non-exhaustive and individual.
🔄 Cycling & breaks
No established cycling pattern.
📅 Daily use notes
Because bile flow is part of the traditional discussion, people with gallstones or bile-duct concerns should talk to a qualified professional first.
📋 Source review status
Partially reviewed — last reviewed 2026-07-12
Partially reviewed 2026-07-12: Cochrane review + a PMC overview. Cholesterol signal exists but evidence is limited/not convincing; well tolerated (mild GI); Asteraceae/ragweed allergy caution. The gallstone/bile-duct caution is mechanism-based (verified choleretic effect) — kept as a precaution. Dyspepsia rests on a single trial, so partially (not fully) reviewed.
📚 References
- Cochrane review — artichoke leaf extract for cholesterolPubMed review — 3 RCTs, 262 participants; cholesterol-lowering indication but 'the evidence is, as yet, not convincing'; adverse events mild, transient, infrequent.
- Review — globe artichoke, by-products & supplementsPubMed review — Global tolerability excellent (95.7%); mild GI effects; rare Asteraceae-family allergy cases described.
Verified against the source shown. See the research-status page for how review works.
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