It reduces cholesterol and cholinesterase levels. In simplest terms, the net effect of artichoke extract appears to be the result of both an activation of and an interference with cholesterol metabolism. That is, it mobilizes fat stores from the liver and other tissues such as white adipose tissue, and these fats pour into the blood from which they are subsequently excreted from the body. Cynarin decreases the rate of cholesterol synthesis in the liver, enchances biliary excretion of cholesterol, and increases conversion towards the bile acids. Not only cholesterol but other blood fats such as triglycerides can be reduced through the use of artichoke.
Scientific evidence supports the use of artichoke as a liver remedy.
Cynarin is the active ingredient contained in the plant, and its highest concentration is in the leaves. Moreover earlier findings on a lipidlowering and hepatoprotective effect may be confirmed. Flavonoids and caffeoylquinic acids are mainly responsible for the observed actions. However, no direct inhibition of this enzyme could be detected and no other enzymic steps later in the biosynthetic pathway for cholesterol seemed to be affected. Instead, inhibition was found to occur in a time-dependent manner, to last for several hours even after washing out the extracts by fresh medium and to be fully reversible within 20 hr after removal of the extracts.