Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) is an important crop and medicinal plant frequently grown in Mediterranean countries. Extract from the leaves is a widely used supplement to support liver health, and improve cholesterol and digestion.
Artichoke contains polyphenolic compounds, fibers, inulin, minerals and vitamin C. The major bioactive compounds include caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, cynarin and luteolin. Several studies have reported beneficial health effects of artichokes including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, and hepatoprotective effects.
Poultry Specific Studies
| Type | Plant Part | Dosage | Specific use | Results | Ref |
|---|
| Chickens | | | Egg quality | improved egg, yolk, and albumen weight, eggshell thickness, and the total polyphenol content, with an enhancement of yolk antioxidant capacity. | V Serra et al 2025 |
| Quail | powder | 0.75-1.50% of diet | GI health | Improved intestinal morphology, quality of meat, immunity, erythropoiesis, intestinal microbial population, and decreased bad cholesterol. | R Khazaei et al., 2024 |
| Rodents | | 10 g/kg | Eggs, performance, liver protection | improved the performance, shell weight, breaking strength, thickness of shell, egg yolk color and reduced to serum triglyceride, LDL and VLDL concentration, liver fat ratio and increased the serum antioxidants enzymes (GSH, CAT and GPx) in laying hens. | Urusan H 2023 |
| Chickens | | 3 g/kg diet | egg quality | Significantly increased calcium content in the blood of laying hens that was reflected in the changes of expression of the eggshell gland genes involved in the mineralization of eggshell. | D Abadjieva et al., 2021 |
| Chickens | | | Immunity | Exhibited a statistically significant protective effect on humoral immune response (increase of haemaglutination inhibiting antibody titer), relative organ weight as well as on pathomorphological, haematological and biochemical changes induced by ochratoxin A. | S Stoev et al 2000 |
References
- Nasser, Saad Naji, et al. "Effect of dietary inclusion of artichoke (Cynara scolymus) leaf powder and astaxanthin on productive performance, hematological and biochemical profiles, hepatic and antioxidant enzyme activities, and gut microbiota in broiler chickens" PLoS One 20.10 (2025)
- Serra, Valentina, et al.. "New association of milk thistle and artichoke extracts enhances egg quality in caged-laying hens" Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12 (2025)
- Ürü?an, H. "Hepatoprotective effect of Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) in laying hens" Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society, 74(1), 5249–5258. (2023)
- Abadjieva, Desislava, Desislava Ankova, and Svetlana Grigorova.. "Effect of feeding artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) on reproductive performance of laying hens" J Ento Zoo Studies 8.6 (2020)
- Salem, Maryem Ben, et al.. "Pharmacological studies of artichoke leaf extract and their health benefits" Plant foods for human nutrition 70.4 (2015)
