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Globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus) is well known for its high content of biologically active metabolites, namely polyphenols and terpenoids. These compounds are believed to have hypolipidemic, antidyspeptic, hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties. Despite this, the number of good-quality clinical trials documenting the therapeutic effects of artichoke and its leaf extract is relatively small. The evidence gathered seems to confirm the positive effect of artichoke leaf extract in hypercholesterolemia and functional dyspepsia. They also suggest a possible therapeutic effect in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and irritable bowel syndrome. In all of these cases, further rigorous clinical trials are needed to quantify the observed effects and the doses of ELK required to induce them. The evidence seems to rule out any effect of ELK in the treatment of hepatitis C and alcohol hangovers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction. Patients with psoriasis develop nonalcoholic fatty liver disease more often than healthy subjects. Objective. To estimate the level of basic parameters of liver function, compare these values between groups of patients with psoriasis and healthy individuals, and refer these values to selected risk factors of developing atherosclerosis. Material and methods. A case-control study in the dermatology department included 66 patients with psoriasis and 30 healthy volunteers. The two groups were comparable as regards age, sex and body mass index as well as abdominal circumference. In all subjects we estimated the parameters of liver function and selected the risk factors of atherosclerosis. Results. γ-Glutamyltransferase activity in patients with psoriasis was significantly higher than in the reference group individuals (p = 0.002) and it applies to men only (p = 0.0003). In women γ-glutamyltransferase activity was higher in patients with positive family history of psoriasis (p = 0.03). γ-Glutamyltransferase activity was also higher in smoking patients (p = 0.02). Activity and concentration of other liver function markers (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and bilirubin) did not differ significantly between healthy individuals and patients with psoriasis. There were no differences between patients with severe, moderate and mild psoriasis. A negative correlation between bilirubin concentration and age of patients (p = 0.02) and bilirubin and C-reactive protein concentration (p = 0.03) was observed. Activity of alanine aminotransferase correlated positively with abdominal circumference (p = 0.001), uric acid concentration (p = 0.004) and body mass index (p = 0.001). Activity of aspartate aminotransferase correlated positively with abdominal circumference (p = 0.001), uric acid concentration (p = 0.03) and body mass index (p = 0.001). Additionally, the increase in alanine aminotransferase activity was proportional to the increase in cholesterol (p = 0.01) and apolipoprotein B concentrations (p = 0.03). γ-Glutamyltransferase activity correlated positively with the concentration of uric acid (p = 0.008), cholesterol (p = 0.04), triglycerides (p = 0.04) and apolipoprotein B (p = 0.03). Conclusions. In patients with psoriasis increased activity of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase parameters probably result from liver diseases since they accompany dyslipidemia and obesity whereas the increase of γ-glutamyltransferase activity is probably associated mainly with psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]