Uso da alcachofra (Cynara scolymus L.) no tratamento da hipercolesterolemia: uma revisão integrativa da literatura

Abstract

The artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) is a medicinal plant commonly used to treat digestive disorders and help prevent atherosclerosis by controlling dyslipidemia. The objective of this work was to present the effects of artichokes in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia through an integrative literature review. For this, studies were selected in the databases: National Center Biotechnology Information (PubMed), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Virtual Health Library (VHL) and Google Scholar, using the health descriptors: artichoke, active ingredient, hypercholesterolemia, herbal medicine and statins, in Portuguese languages and English. Studies with publication dates between 1996 and 2023, in Portuguese and English, were included. 54 studies related to the topic were found, only 12 studies were used to integrate the results of this integrative review. The analysis of the works consulted revealed that the treatment of hypercholesterolemia with artichokes combined with non-drug measures, such as physical activity and a balanced diet, served to reduce LDL cholesterol and increase HDL, on the other hand, there was no reduction in triglycerides in some studies. The reduction of cholesterol by artichoke could be explained, at least partially, by its inhibitory action on the enzyme hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, which in turn blocks the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol and stimulates the oxidation of acids. fatty acids in the liver. Since Brazil is a country with a great biodiversity of plants, the medicinal use of herbal medicines in the treatment of cardiometabolic diseases would be of great value, reducing the costs of traditional treatments and waiting lists at health units. In relation to the risks associated with the prolonged use of statins, treatment with extracts obtained mainly from artichoke leaves, which is attributed with the activity of reducing cholesterol levels, being explained by its caffeic and chlorogenic acid metabolites, thus this plant appears as alternatives for more efficient treatment with few side effects for patients with hypercholesterolemia. However, more studies evaluating the safety of these extracts and also with active ingredients isolated from artichokes are needed.