Rondanelli Mariangela, Monteferrario Francesca, Perna Simone, Faliva Milena Anna, Opizzi Annalisa
Department of Applied Health Sciences, Section of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine, Azienda di Servizi alla Persona di Pavia, University of Pavia, Istituto di Cura "Santa Margherita", Via Emilia 32, I-27100 Pavia, Italy.
Monaldi Arch Chest Dis. 2013 Mar;80(1):17-26. doi: 10.4081/monaldi.2013.87.
The artichoke, Cynara scolymus, is one of the most ancient plants grown in the world, and its extracts, obtained from different parts of the plant (leaves, fruits and roots), have been used as medicaments from time immemorial. The pharmacological and therapeutic effects of the artichoke on the liver had already been well known in the 17th century. Modern studies started in the last century confirmed the stimulating properties of artichoke extracts on the liver and gallbladder. The ensuing wave of research was initially focused on the patent liver-stimulating, diuretic and choleretic effects exerted by artichoke preparations on both animals and man, then discovering such other therapeutic properties as the hypolipemizing activity, antioxidant activity and hypoglycemizing activity. This review enumerates the most significant studies that have highlighted these therapeutic properties. Complementary medicine information needs to be incorporated into clinical practice and patient and professional education, in addition to adequate education about proper nutrition. Awareness of the widespread use of complementary and alternative medicine by people with metabolic disorders is crucial for healthcare professionals in order to prevent cardiovascular disease.
洋蓟（Cynara scolymus）是世界上种植历史最悠久的植物之一，其从植物不同部位（叶子、果实和根部）提取的提取物自古以来就被用作药物。洋蓟对肝脏的药理和治疗作用在17世纪就已广为人知。上世纪开始的现代研究证实了洋蓟提取物对肝脏和胆囊的刺激特性。随后的研究热潮最初集中在洋蓟制剂对动物和人类产生的显著的肝脏刺激、利尿和利胆作用上，接着又发现了其他治疗特性，如降血脂活性、抗氧化活性和降血糖活性。这篇综述列举了突出这些治疗特性的最重要研究。除了对合理营养进行充分教育外，补充医学信息还需要纳入临床实践以及患者和专业人员教育中。了解代谢紊乱患者广泛使用补充和替代医学对于医护人员预防心血管疾病至关重要。
