Herb library · Herb · Cynara cardunculus (C. scolymus)
Artichoke leaf
The bitter leaves of the globe artichoke plant, taken as tea or extract. EU regulators accept it for indigestion and bloating on long tradition, and pooled trials of artichoke extracts show modest drops in cholesterol.
Traditional use
The flower buds are the familiar Mediterranean vegetable; the bitter leaves have been used in European herbal medicine for digestion. The European Medicines Agency recognizes artichoke leaf teas and extracts as traditional herbal medicines for indigestion with fullness, bloating and wind, for adults and adolescents over 12.
What studies show
- Limited
Indigestion: the EMA reviewed clinical studies in people with indigestion that suggested artichoke leaf may help, but found them small, short and poorly designed, so it accepts the use on tradition.
- Limited
Cholesterol: a 2018 meta-analysis of 9 randomized trials (702 people) found artichoke extracts lowered total cholesterol by about 18 mg/dL and LDL by about 15 mg/dL, with no change in HDL. A 2025 meta-analysis reported similar modest changes in several heart and metabolic markers.
Be careful of
Cautions
- ConditionEU guidance: do not use it if you have a blocked bile duct, gallstones, liver disease or another bile-duct problem that needs medical care.
- AllergyDo not use it if you are allergic to artichoke or other daisy-family plants (Asteraceae).
- NoteSide effects reported with artichoke leaf medicines include mild diarrhea with belly cramps, nausea and heartburn.
- PregnancyEU guidance: safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established, so use then is not recommended.
- Ask a clinicianTalk with a clinician or pharmacist before using this if you take prescription medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are giving it to a child.
Sources
- Artichoke leaf: summary for the public (EMA/268161/2018) (opens in a new tab) · EMA · read September 25, 2026
- European Union herbal monograph on Cynara cardunculus L. (syn. Cynara scolymus L.), folium (opens in a new tab) · EMA · read September 25, 2026
- Lipid-lowering activity of artichoke extracts: A systematic review and meta-analysis (Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2018) — PubMed record (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026
- Artichoke and cardiometabolic health: A systematic and meta-analytic synthesis of current evidence (Diabetes Metab Syndr, 2025) — PubMed record (opens in a new tab) · NIH · read September 25, 2026
- Cynarae folium — herbal medicinal product (EMA) (opens in a new tab) · EMA · read September 25, 2026
Reviewed September 25, 2026.