Metabolic and Anti-Inflammatory Protective Properties of Human Enriched Serum Following Artichoke Leaf Extract Absorption: Results from an Innovative Ex Vivo Clinical Trial

The aging of our population is accompanied by an increased prevalence of chronic diseases. Among those, liver, joint and adipose tissue-related pathologies have a major socio-economic impact. They share common origins as they result from a dysregulation of the inflammatory and metabolic status. Plant-derived nutrients and especially polyphenols, exert a large range of beneficial effects in the prevention of chronic diseases but require clinically validated approaches for optimized care management. In this study, we designed an innovative clinical approach considering the metabolites produced by the digestive tract following the ingestion of an artichoke leaf extract. Human serum, enriched with metabolites deriving from the extract, was collected and incubated with human hepatocytes, human primary chondrocytes and adipocytes to determine the biological activity of the extract. Changes in cellular behavior demonstrated that the artichoke leaf extract protects hepatocytes from lipotoxic stress, prevents adipocytes differentiation and hyperplasia, and exerts chondroprotective properties in an inflammatory context. These data validate the beneficial health properties of an artichoke leaf extract at the clinical level and provide both insights and further evidence that plant-derived nutrients and especially polyphenols from artichoke may represent a relevant alternative for nutritional strategies addressing chronic disease issues.

Artichoke leaf extract supplementation lowers hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation and increases multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 in mice fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet

Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) leaf extract (ALE) contains many phytonutrients that may have antioxidant and anti-inflammation activities against many diseases including liver damage.

Correction: Artichoke leaf extract supplementation lowers hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation and increases multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 in mice fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet

Correction for ‘Artichoke leaf extract supplementation lowers hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation and increases multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 in mice fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet’ by Guo-Chen Liao et al., Food Funct., 2021, DOI: 10.1039/D1FO00861G.

Hepatoprotective and Reno-protective Effects of Artichoke Leaf Extract and Rosemary Extract against Paracetamol Induced Toxicity in Albino Rats

Background: Paracetamol overdose is a predominant cause of hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in both humans and experimental animals. There is an emerging focus on plant products to find a highly effective and reliable drug for the prevention of paracetamol –induced toxicity. Objective: In this study, we investigated the Hepatoprotective and Reno-protective Effects of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) Leaf extract and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) extract against paracetamol Induced toxicity in Albino Rats. Materials and Methods: Rats were divided into five groups: Negative control, paracetamol (1000 mg/kg dose) PCT, artichoke leaf extract “ALE” (1.5 g/kg, orally + paracetamol for 30 d), rosemary extract “RE” (125 mg/kg + paracetamol for 30 days) and the last group was treated with PCT+ ALE+ RE for 30 days. Results: Paracetamol caused marked liver damage as noted by significant increased activities of serum aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase and lactate dehydrogenase. Paracetamol also raised serum levels of urea, creatinine, and Cystatin-C. In addition, there was a significant decrease in serum total protein and albumin. Paracetamol caused an elevation in lipid peroxidation paralleled with significant decline in reduced glutathione (GSH) level and activities of glutathione-S- transferase (GST), glutathione (GPX) peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the liver and kidney. These results are confirmed in the histological examination of the liver and kidney. Conclusion: Treatment with artichoke leaf extract (ALE) and rosemary extract (RE) produced a potential protection of the liver and kidney against biochemical and histological alterations and oxidative stress induced by paracetamol.