Cynara cardunculus

Cynara cardunculus, “Cardoon” in English and “Cardon” in French, belongs to the Asteraceae botanical family.

Native to West and Central Mediterranean countries, it grows in stony or waste places, along paths and in dry grassland.

Growing to 2 m, this herb was popular in Roman, Greek and Persian cuisine for its buds like the artichoke, and also for its cooked stems.

Drugs made with the leaves are used internally in the treatment of chronic liver and gall bladder diseases, jaundice, hepatitis, arteriosclerosis and diabetes. Studies validated its activity as an hepatic- and cardiovascular protection and for inflammation disorders.

Cardoon contains phenolic compounds, fixed oil, sesquiterpenes (cynaropicrin), lactones, flavones, sterols, coumarins, lignans, inulin, cynarin and silymarin.

• English name Cardoon
• French name Cardon