Artichoke

Artichoke/Drug Interactions:

  • Anticoagulant or antiplatelet agentsAnticoagulant or antiplatelet agents: Artichoke may increase the risk of bleeding, based on a case report of significantly reduced platelet aggregation (both spontaneous and ADP-induced) in 62 men taking an artichoke extract (Cynarex?) for two years (dose not reported), who were also chronically exposed to carbon disulfide (8). It is not clear whether artichoke or other medications were the cause of this reaction.
  • Cholesterol-lowering agentsCholesterol-lowering agents: There are multiple published reports of cholesterol-lowering effects of artichoke (9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 6; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21), although the quality of most studies is not sufficient to form a clear conclusion in this area. There is a report that cholesterol synthesis may be inhibited by the artichoke constituent luteolin via inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase, the same action as statin drugs such as atorvastatin (Lipitor?) (13). Therefore, artichoke may add to the cholesterol-lowering effects of other agents.

    • Artichoke/Herb Interactions:

  • Anticoagulant or antiplatelet herbs/supplementsAnticoagulant or antiplatelet herbs/supplements: Artichoke may increase the risk of bleeding, based on a report of significantly reduced platelet aggregation (both spontaneous and ADP-induced) in 62 men taking an artichoke extract (Cynarex?) for two years (dose not reported), who were also chronically exposed to carbon disulfide (8). It is not clear whether artichoke or other medications were the cause of this reaction.
  • Cholesterol-lowering herbs/supplementsCholesterol-lowering herbs/supplements: There are multiple published reports of cholesterol-lowering effects of artichoke (10; 15; 17; 16; 14; 19; 18; 12; 11; 21; 6; 20; 13; 9), although the quality of most studies is not sufficient to form a clear conclusion in this area. There is a report that cholesterol synthesis may be inhibited by the artichoke constituent luteolin via inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase (13). Therefore, artichoke may add to the lipid-lowering effects of other agents, such as fish oil, garlic, or niacin.

    • Artichoke/Food Interactions:

  • Although artichoke increases bile secretion, there are no known interactions between artichoke and food (25; 31).

    • Artichoke/Lab Interactions:

  • BilirubinBilirubin: Based on a case series, use of artichoke extracts and products containing artichokes may alter bilirubin levels (25).
  • TransaminasesTransaminases: Based on a case series, use of artichoke extracts and products containin artichokes may alter levels of transaminases (25).