Silva Henrique, Daia Avina Mahendra
Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal.
Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Health Technologies, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal.
Biology (Basel). 2025 Apr 10;14(4):397. doi: 10.3390/biology14040397.
Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, requiring both pharmacological and lifestyle-based preventive strategies. Artichoke ( L. var. scolymus) has gained attention for its health benefits, including choleretic and lipid-lowering activities. However, its cardiovascular effects remain underdiscussed. This paper provides a critical review of the current literature on the cardiovascular effects of artichoke, with a focus on its underlying mechanisms of action and clinical efficacy. Experimental studies assessing artichoke's effects on endothelial function, vascular smooth muscle relaxation, and modulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis were assessed. Additionally, clinical studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses investigating its antihypertensive effects were reviewed. Artichoke and its bioactive components, particularly flavonoids and caffeoylquinic acids, enhance endothelial-dependent and -independent vasorelaxation and inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme activity. Although clinical studies indicate improvements in flow-mediated dilation, they report only modest reductions in blood pressure, with high variability in formulations, dosages, and patient populations. While artichoke supplementation may support blood pressure regulation and endothelial health, current evidence suggests it should be considered an adjunct rather than a replacement for conventional antihypertensive therapy. Standardized formulations and well-controlled clinical studies will be required to clarify its therapeutic role.
心血管疾病仍然是全球发病和死亡的主要原因，需要药物治疗和基于生活方式的预防策略。洋蓟（L. var. scolymus）因其对健康的益处而受到关注，包括利胆和降脂活性。然而，其对心血管的影响仍未得到充分讨论。本文对目前关于洋蓟心血管作用的文献进行了批判性综述，重点关注其潜在的作用机制和临床疗效。评估了评估洋蓟对内皮功能、血管平滑肌舒张以及肾素-血管紧张素-醛固酮轴调节作用的实验研究。此外，还综述了研究其降压作用的临床研究、系统评价和荟萃分析。洋蓟及其生物活性成分，特别是黄酮类化合物和咖啡酰奎宁酸，可增强内皮依赖性和非依赖性血管舒张，并抑制血管紧张素转换酶活性。虽然临床研究表明血流介导的扩张有所改善，但它们报告的血压降低幅度仅为中等，在制剂、剂量和患者群体方面存在很大差异。虽然补充洋蓟可能有助于血压调节和内皮健康，但目前的证据表明，应将其视为传统降压治疗的辅助手段，而非替代品。需要标准化制剂和严格控制的临床研究来阐明其治疗作用。
