Liver...The Largest Gland in the Body!

    The liver is the largest solid organ in the body.  A lot of people probably know that, but they may not know that it is also the largest gland in the body. You see, the liver is also considered a gland because, among its various functions, it makes and secretes bile. (Just for your reference, the stomach and intestine are large hollow organs. Glands are organs or parts of organs that make and secrete substances. And bile is a fluid that both aids in digestion and transports fats as well as waste products into the intestine.)

    The liver is an organ in vertebrates, including humans. It plays a major role in metabolism and has a number of functions in the body including glycogen storage, plasma protein synthesis, and drug detoxification. It also produces bile, which is important in digestion. It performs and regulates a wide variety of high-volume biochemical reactions requiring specialized tissues. Medical terms related to the liver often start in hepato- or hepatic from the Greek word for liver.

Liv-Zymes is a flavonoid-rich complex created from extracts of the edible part of the hybrid artichoke, Cynara floridanum, and sarsaparilla, Smilax aristolochiaefolia.  The patented extraction process, obtaining the water and fat-soluble principles, is responsible for high concentrations of active ingredients without using artificial additives, preservatives, stabilizers, or dangerous solvents. A partial analysis has revealed a complex contains the active flavonoids; quercetin, kaempferol, isorhanmetin, (+) – catechin, silymarin, cynarin, and polyphenols as caffeic and chlorogenic acids.

History 

Liv-Zymes was developed by a group of three researchers including a biochemist specializing in pharmacology, a physician whose specialty is liver disease, and a chemist specializing in plant research.  It has been used in clinical setting for over 20 years.

Artichoke has had traditional uses in the Americas and Spain for treating digestive and liver conditions as well as diabetes.  Sarsaparilla has been used during this last century as a blood purifier and anti-toxin.  Flavonoids including quercetin, silymarin, isorhanmetin, and (+) – catechin have been used for their anti-hepatoxic activity.  However, this research has found that a combination of concentrated extracts of the buds of this particular artichoke and sarsaparilla shows a highly synergistic effect when addressing various conditions relation to liver pathology. 

Artichoke Plant – Method of Action

Artichoke medicinal parts contain aromatic bitters, tannins, numerous enzymes (caalases, oxydases, peroxydases, cynarase, ascorbinase), provitamin A, and a crystalline substance called cynarine.  With that compliment of constituents, it would be surprising if the plant did not possess significant medicinal action.  The enzymes, in the past, were used to curdle milk for cheese-making.  In Europe, many over-the-counter, as well as prescription drugs contain artichoke, for liver disease, jaundice, dyspepsia, as a diuretic, chronic albumin urea, post-operative anemia, and arteriosclerosis.

Artichoke has Anti-Cholesterol Properties Cholagogue Action

The choleretic, cholekinetic diuretic and significant serum lipid lowering properties of artichoke have been substantiated in animal and clinical studies.  Artichoke increases the rate of bile flow by 20 – 10%.  It is also very effective in eliminating dyspeptic symptoms, including pain, nausea, retching, meteorism and the feeling of being stuffed. 

Artichoke has Hepatatonic Action

Artichoke has also been found to promote regeneration of the liver, and stimulates the flow of blood to the traumatized area.

 Artichoke Extract and  Cholesterol

Artichoke extract exerts a dual effect on cholesterol metabolism.  First, it decreases the manufacture of cholesterol in the liver.  Approximately 80% to 90% of cholesterol in the blood is manufactured by the liver and is not derived from the diet.  The other way in which artichoke extract affects cholesterol levels is by increasing the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids._1,2  One of the functions of cholesterol is to be the building block of bile acids.  In this scenario, low bile acid levels result in sending a powerful signal to the liver to provide more cholesterol.

In the study evaluating artichoke extract in 553 patients with various digestive disorders, it improved digestion and significantly lowered blood cholesterol levels.₃  In spite of the relatively short duration of therapy (six weeks on average), the study showed an 11.5% reduction in the average serum cholesterol from an initial average of 264 mg/dl to 233 mg/dl Serum triglycerides were also reduced from 214.97 mg/dl to 188.07 mg/dl, corresponding to a decrease of 12.5%.

Liv-Zymes The Answer to Liver Distress

Artichoke Plant – Botanical Description & Habitat Cynara scolymus

Family   Compositae

Common Names    Globe artichoke

Habitat    Mediterranean regions, central Europe; cultivated as a vegetable in Europe.

Medicinal Parts    Leaves, stems and root (not the edible flower head)

Artichoke Plant – Historical Properties & Uses   Artichoke, being a moderately powerful bitter, has a distinct Cholagogue (choleretic) and a mild diuretic action.  It has been used for liver disease, heart disease, arteriosclerosis, and diabetes. Standardized extracts of artichoke are currently stimulating a rise in the popularity of this treatment.  Recent research tends to confirm the Cholagogue and diuretic effects.

Directions For Use

One to Three 420 milligram capsules taken one half hour before meals.  We recommend starting with one capsule before each meal and increasing dosage as needed.

References

1.        Gebhardt, R:  “Artichoke extract.  In-vitro proof of cholesterol biosynthesis inhibition.”  Medwelt 46:348-350, 1995.

2.       Kraft, K:  “Artichoke leaf extract.  Recent findings reflecting effects on lipid metabolism, liver and gastrointestinal tracts.”  Phytomedicine 4:369-78, 1997.

Fintelmann, V: “Antidyspeptic and lipid-lowering effects of artichoke leaf extract-Results of clinical studies, into the efficacy and tolerance of Hepar-SL/E forte involving 553 patients.”  J Gen Med 2:3-

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Add Essential 7 in any of the four delicious flavors along with Liv-Zymes for the complete program to support your liver's function, as well as help the body's cells produce non-mutant replicas.