Hypercholesterolemia, or high cholesterol, is a serious problem as high levels of cholesterol in the blood can lead to arterial plaques and eventually stroke or heart attack. A study that can be found in the Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences has put the spotlight on the humble artichoke as a possible way to ameliorate hypercholesterolemia.
Rodents were divided into several groups. While all the populations began with a base diet, some had induced hypercholesterolemia. Certain sub-groups were fed various artichoke extracts. The testing showed that the rodents with hypercholesterolemia had lowered levels of the condition. Moreover, the artichoke extract had a protective effect on the rodent’s livers.
Key Takeaways:
- One study showed that both artichoke leaf extract and artichoke pulp extract were effective in lowering cholesterol levels in rats.
- Artichoke leaf extract was found to be more effective in reducing triglyceride and serum cholesterol levels.
- The study also showed that artichoke extract helps protect the liver.
“The plant world has long been viewed as a source of viable remedies for hypercholesterolemia or high cholesterol.”
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