Artichoke Extract for Liver Health

Research suggests that artichoke leaf extract may support liver health through several mechanisms, including antioxidant activity, reduction of liver enzyme levels, anti-inflammatory effects, and bile-stimulating properties that have been documented across multiple study types. The evidence base includes a small number of randomized controlled trials in humans — notably in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis — which generally reported improvements in blood-based liver markers such as ALT and AST, as well as favorable changes on ultrasound imaging, compared to placebo groups. These human trial findings are supported by a broader body of animal studies and narrative reviews that describe liver-protective effects against various toxic agents and point to the polyphenols in artichoke as the likely active contributors. However, the overall evidence remains preliminary: the clinical trials are small, of short duration, and largely self-described as pilot studies, meaning larger and longer trials would be needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.