Artichoke extract: capsules, tablets and what to look for

Short answer: Artichoke extract is made from the leaves of the artichoke (Cynara scolymus), a thistle-like plant from the Mediterranean. You take it as a capsule or tablet with water at a meal, 1 to 2 capsules a day according to our label. Do not use it if you have bile duct problems, an allergy to plants of the daisy family, if you are under 12, or during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Last updated: 5 November 2026 · Written by Florian Fermin

You may know artichoke from your plate: the fleshy base of the flower bud. Supplements are about something else, namely an extract of the bitter leaves. At GOYU we sell Artichoke Extract Capsules 500 mg ourselves. That is why we are upfront about it: no health claim has been approved for artichoke in the EU. Here you can read what artichoke extract is, what the numbers on the label mean, how to use it, what has been studied and who it is not suitable for.

What is artichoke extract?

The artichoke (Cynara scolymus, also called Cynara cardunculus) is a thistle-like plant from the Mediterranean. It belongs to the daisy family (Asteraceae), like milk thistle, chamomile and marigold. In the kitchen you eat the fleshy base of the flower bud. For an extract, mainly the leaves are used, and they taste bitter.

Cynarin is one of the characteristic plant substances of artichoke and partly responsible for that bitter taste. In the French list of plants allowed in food supplements, the leaf and the flower head of artichoke are listed as allowed, with cynarin as a known substance (Compl'Alim). In Dutch artichoke is called artisjok, in German Artischocke and in French artichaut.

What do 10:1 and 2.5% cynarin mean?

10:1 means that 10 grams of artichoke were used for 1 gram of extract. 2.5% cynarin means the extract is standardised to that content. For our 500 mg capsules, that works out at 5 grams of artichoke and 12.5 mg of cynarin per capsule.

Why is that useful? A ratio like 10:1 tells you something about how concentrated an extract is, but not how much cynarin it contains. A standardised content does. When you compare products, look at both.

Artichoke capsules, tablets or pills: what is the difference?

All three contain artichoke extract or ground leaf; the difference is the form. A tablet is pressed powder and may contain additives to hold it together. A capsule is a shell with powder inside. "Pills" is usually just a general word for both.

We chose capsules. The capsule masks the bitter taste, and the ingredient list contains only the artichoke extract and the plant-based HPMC capsule shell. There are no fillers.

How do you take artichoke capsules?

Take 1 to 2 capsules a day with water, preferably during or just after a meal. That is what it says on the label and on our product page.

1. Take 1 capsule with a glass of water at a meal.
2. If you like, take 1 more at another meal, but no more than 2 a day.
3. Do not use it if any of the warnings below apply to you.
4. If you take medication or have a medical condition, talk to your doctor first.

A pack of 60 capsules lasts 60 days at 1 capsule a day, and 30 days at 2 a day.

Artichoke extract effects: what does research say?

No health claim has been approved for artichoke in the EU. That is why we make no statement about what artichoke extract does in your body. What we can do is show what has been studied.

Research in humans has looked at blood lipids such as cholesterol, among other things. In a 2018 meta-analysis, researchers pooled 9 randomised studies with a total of 702 participants (Sahebkar et al., 2018). We do not list the outcomes here. No health claim has been approved for artichoke, and study results are easily read as a promise about our product.

No research has been done on our capsules themselves. If you are concerned about your cholesterol, discuss it with your GP.

Side effects: who should avoid artichoke?

Do not use artichoke extract if you have a blocked bile duct, gallstones or other bile problems, or if you are allergic to plants of the daisy family. It is also not for children under 12, or during pregnancy or breastfeeding. That is what our label says.

• Bile ducts and gallstones: do not use. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) lists a blocked bile duct, gallstones, a liver condition and other bile problems that require medical supervision as reasons not to use artichoke leaf (EMA, 2018).
• Allergy to the daisy family: do not use if you are allergic to plants of the daisy family (Asteraceae), such as artichoke, chamomile or marigold.
• Children under 12: do not use. According to the EMA, use under the age of 12 has not been studied.
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding: do not use. The EMA advises against use because safety has not been established. The French list Compl'Alim gives the same advice for artichoke leaf, as well as the advice on bile problems and cross-allergy to the daisy family (Compl'Alim).
• Known side effects: the EMA lists mild diarrhoea with abdominal cramps, nausea, heartburn and allergic reactions. How often this happens is not known.
• Medication or a medical condition: talk to your GP or pharmacist first.

If you get any complaints, stop and contact your GP.

Choosing the best artichoke supplement: what to look for?

There is no single best artichoke supplement for everyone. But you can compare products fairly on plant part, extract and content, dosage, ingredients, warnings and testing.

• Plant part: leaf. That is also the part the EMA assessment is about.
• Extract and content: an extract ratio (such as 10:1) and a standardised cynarin content (such as 2.5%) together tell you more than milligrams alone.
• Dosage: how much extract you take per day should be clear on the label.
• Ingredients: the shorter the list, the clearer. Ours lists artichoke extract and the capsule shell.
• Warnings: a good label mentions bile problems, an allergy to the daisy family, children, pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Tested: we have our artichoke extract independently tested for quality and purity.
• Status in the EU: artichoke is not listed as a novel food in the European Commission's Novel Food Catalogue, and the French Compl'Alim list states "novel food: no" for artichoke.

You can order our capsules with 500 mg of 10:1 artichoke extract online: buy artichoke extract. Other plants and extracts can be found in our herbs and superfoods. Artichoke is not in our supplements for gut and digestion. That collection only includes products for which a claim on your gut or digestion applies, or that are high in fibre, such as psyllium and baobab.

Artichoke and milk thistle: what is the difference?

Artichoke and milk thistle are both thistles from the daisy family, but they are different plants. With artichoke it is about the leaves, with milk thistle about the seeds.

If you want to use both, follow the dosage and warnings on both labels and talk to your doctor if in doubt. You can read more about milk thistle in milk thistle: what is it and what to look out for?

Summary in 3 points

• Artichoke extract comes from the leaves of Cynara scolymus. Our extract is 10:1 and standardised to 2.5% cynarin.
• According to the label, take 1 to 2 capsules a day with water at a meal. No health claim has been approved for artichoke in the EU.
• Do not use it with bile problems, an allergy to the daisy family, under 12 or during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Frequently asked questions

What does artichoke extract do?

No health claim has been approved for artichoke in the EU, so we make no statement about it. Research in humans has looked at blood lipids, among other things; you can read more about that above. No research has been done on our own product.

How many artichoke capsules per day?

According to our label, 1 to 2 capsules a day, with water and preferably during or just after a meal. That is 500 to 1,000 mg of 10:1 artichoke extract.

Are artichoke tablets better than capsules?

Not necessarily. Look at what is in them: the plant part, the amount of extract, the cynarin content and the additives. A capsule has the advantage that you do not taste the bitterness.

Who should not use artichoke extract?

People with a blocked bile duct, gallstones or other bile problems, people allergic to the daisy family, children under 12 and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you take medication, talk to your doctor first.

Is artichoke extract a novel food?

No. Artichoke is not listed as a novel food in the European Commission's Novel Food Catalogue. In the French list Compl'Alim, the leaf and the flower head of artichoke are listed as allowed in food supplements.

Sources

1. Sahebkar A, Pirro M, Banach M, Mikhailidis DP, Atkin SL, Cicero AFG. Systematic review and meta-analysis of 9 randomised studies (702 participants) on artichoke extract and blood lipids. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2018;58(15):2549-2556. doi:10.1080/10408398.2017.1332572. PubMed 28609140
2. European Medicines Agency (HMPC). European Union herbal monograph on Cynara cardunculus L. (syn. Cynara scolymus L.), folium (EMA/HMPC/194014/2017), 27 March 2018: when not to use, children, pregnancy, breastfeeding and side effects. ema.europa.eu
3. Ministère de l'Agriculture (France). Compl'Alim, Cynara scolymus L.: allowed in food supplements (leaf and flower head), novel food no, ANSES/EMA advice on bile problems, cross-allergy to the daisy family, children under 12, pregnancy and breastfeeding, accessed 5 November 2026. compl-alim.beta.gouv.fr
4. European Commission. Novel Food Status Catalogue: no novel food entry for Cynara scolymus, accessed 5 November 2026. food.ec.europa.eu
5. GOYU, product page and packaging text for Artichoke Extract Capsules 500 mg (ingredients, 10:1 extract with 2.5% cynarin, directions and warnings), accessed 5 November 2026.

This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. If in doubt, pregnant or taking medication, talk to your GP or pharmacist.