Pycrinil® - Clinical Research Data Summary
Pycrinil® Artichoke Leaf Extract (Cynara scolymus)
Pycrinil® is a clinically studied ingredient used in the following Silver Fern™ Brand product:
Introduction
Pycrinil® is a clinically studied artichoke leaf extract derived from Cynara scolymus designed to support healthy digestive motility and upper gastrointestinal function. Artichoke has been traditionally used to support digestion, and modern clinical research has demonstrated its ability to support bile production, digestive comfort, and bowel pattern balance. The standardized extract used in Pycrinil® has been evaluated in multiple human clinical studies examining its effects on digestive symptoms, functional dyspepsia, and bowel patterns associated with irritable bowel syndrome.*
These are the studies for Pycrinil®. Below, we provided a summary of each key data for each study, along with a link to the complete clinical research.
- Summary of Study 1 – Full Study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14653829/
- Summary of Study 2 – Full Study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15353023/
- Summary of Study 3 – Full Study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23195882/
Ingredient Manufacturer Link: https://www.indena.com/us/product/pycrinil/
Study 1 Summary
Complete Study Information: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14653829/
Efficacy of Artichoke Leaf Extract in the Treatment of Patients with Functional Dyspepsia: A Six-Week Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Multicentre Trial
Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2003 Dec;18(11-12):1099-105. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2036.2003.01767.x. PMID: 14653829.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter clinical trial evaluated the effects of artichoke leaf extract (ALE) in 247 participants with functional dyspepsia over six weeks. Researchers monitored changes in dyspeptic symptoms and quality of life using the Nepean Dyspepsia Index.
Study Design Highlights
- Study design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial
- Participants: 247 adults with functional dyspepsia (244 in final statistical analysis)
- Dose: 320 mg per capsule, two capsules three times daily (1,920 mg total daily intake)
- Duration: 6 weeks
- Primary outcome: Overall improvement in dyspeptic symptoms
- Secondary outcomes: Individual digestive symptom scores, quality of life (Nepean Dyspepsia Index)
Key Findings (What the Study Showed)
Digestive Symptom Improvement
- Artichoke leaf extract: 8.3 improvement score
- Placebo: 6.7 improvement score
- Approximately 24% greater improvement compared with placebo
Quality of Life Improvement (Nepean Dyspepsia Index)
- Artichoke leaf extract: −41.1 improvement score
- Placebo: −24.8 improvement score
- Approximately 65% greater improvement in quality-of-life scores vs. placebo
Benefits of Pycrinil® Demonstrated by This Study
Based directly on the clinical outcomes, artichoke leaf extract at 1,920 mg/day was shown to:
✓ Support approximately 24% greater improvement in digestive symptom scores vs. placebo
✓ Support approximately 65% greater improvement in digestive quality-of-life scores vs. placebo
✓ Improve symptoms commonly associated with functional dyspepsia including fullness, discomfort, and upper digestive distress
✓ Demonstrate meaningful benefits over 6 weeks of daily use
Why This Study Matters
Six weeks of supplementation with artichoke leaf extract resulted in significantly greater improvements in digestive symptom scores and disease-specific quality of life compared with placebo, suggesting artichoke leaf extract may support digestive comfort and normal upper gastrointestinal function.*
Reference Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14653829/
Study 2 Summary
Complete Study Information: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15353023/
Artichoke Leaf Extract Reduces Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Improves Quality of Life in Otherwise Healthy Volunteers Suffering from Concomitant Dyspepsia
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2004.
This clinical study evaluated the effects of artichoke leaf extract in 208 adults experiencing dyspepsia who also reported symptoms consistent with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), as a subset analysis of a larger dose-ranging, open-label study with a pre- and post-intervention comparison over 2 months.
Study Design Highlights
- Study design: Subset analysis of a dose-ranging, open-label clinical study; pre- and post-intervention comparison
- Participants: 208 adults identified with IBS within a larger dyspepsia study population
- Dose: Commercial artichoke leaf extract preparation (standardized extract as used in digestive support research)
- Duration: 2 months
- Outcomes: IBS incidence, self-reported bowel pattern, Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI) symptom severity and quality-of-life scores
Key Findings (What the Study Showed)
Reduction in IBS Incidence
- IBS incidence decreased by 26.4% after supplementation (p < 0.001)
Digestive Symptom Improvement
- Total NDI symptom score decreased by 41% after treatment
Quality of Life Improvement
- Total NDI quality-of-life score improved by 20% after treatment
Bowel Pattern Changes
- Significant shift away from alternating constipation and diarrhea toward normal bowel patterns
Benefits of Pycrinil® Demonstrated by This Study
Based directly on the clinical outcomes, artichoke leaf extract was shown to:
✓ Support a 26.4% reduction in IBS-associated symptom incidence
✓ Support a 41% decrease in total NDI digestive symptom scores
✓ Support a 20% improvement in digestive quality-of-life scores
✓ Support a shift in bowel patterns toward greater regularity
✓ Demonstrate meaningful improvements across digestive comfort and daily function
Why This Study Matters
Two months of supplementation with artichoke leaf extract significantly reduced IBS-related symptoms, improved bowel patterns, and enhanced digestive quality of life in adults experiencing dyspepsia and IBS symptoms. The combination of symptom score improvements, quality-of-life gains, and bowel pattern normalization demonstrates a broad spectrum of digestive support from artichoke leaf extract.*
Reference Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15353023/
Study 3 Summary
Complete Study Information: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23195882/
Increase in Choleresis by Means of Artichoke Extract
Phytomedicine. 1994 Sep;1(2):107-15. doi: 10.1016/S0944-7113(11)80027-9. PMID: 23195882.
This clinical investigation evaluated the effects of artichoke leaf extract on bile production in adults with digestive complaints, measuring bile secretion directly using intraduodenal sampling before and after administration of artichoke extract.
Study Design Highlights
- Study design: Human clinical investigation with direct intraduodenal bile sampling
- Participants: Adults with digestive complaints consistent with functional dyspepsia
- Dose: Single dose of artichoke leaf extract preparation
- Duration: Acute measurement over a short time period following supplementation
- Primary outcome: Bile secretion (choleresis)
Key Findings (What the Study Showed)
- Bile secretion increased approximately 150% after intake of artichoke extract
- Increase in bile secretion observed within approximately 1 hour after supplementation
- Enhanced bile flow into the small intestine, supporting fat digestion and gastrointestinal motility
Benefits of Pycrinil® Demonstrated by This Study
Based directly on the clinical findings, artichoke leaf extract was shown to:
✓ Support approximately 150% increase in bile secretion following supplementation
✓ Produce measurable increases in bile production within approximately 1 hour
✓ Support enhanced bile flow into the small intestine
✓ Support normal digestive motility through bile-mediated signaling pathways
Why This Study Matters
Artichoke leaf extract significantly increased bile secretion shortly after intake, demonstrating its ability to support normal bile flow and digestive processes involved in fat digestion and upper gastrointestinal function. Bile plays an essential role in breaking down dietary fats and supports digestive signaling involved in normal gastrointestinal motility. The rapid onset within approximately one hour suggests artichoke extract may provide relatively fast support for post-meal digestive function.*
Reference Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23195882/
Big-Picture Integration with Other Studies
- Study 1: In a six-week randomized controlled trial involving 247 individuals with functional dyspepsia, artichoke leaf extract (1,920 mg/day) significantly improved digestive symptom scores (~24% greater vs. placebo) and quality-of-life measures (~65% greater vs. placebo).
- Study 2: In a two-month clinical study of 208 adults with IBS and dyspepsia, artichoke leaf extract significantly reduced IBS incidence (26.4%), improved bowel patterns toward normalcy, decreased digestive symptom scores by 41%, and improved quality-of-life measures by 20%.
- Study 3: In a clinical investigation measuring bile secretion directly in humans, artichoke leaf extract increased bile production by approximately 150% within one hour of intake, providing mechanistic support for the digestive motility and comfort benefits observed in clinical trials.
Pycrinil® Ingredient Summary & Real-World Relevance
Clinical research on artichoke leaf extract, the active component in Pycrinil®, demonstrates meaningful support for digestive comfort and gastrointestinal function. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 247 adults with functional dyspepsia, participants taking 1,920 mg per day of artichoke leaf extract for six weeks experienced significantly greater improvements in digestive symptoms and quality-of-life scores compared with placebo. Additional clinical research evaluating 208 adults experiencing symptoms consistent with irritable bowel syndrome found that two months of supplementation resulted in a 26.4% reduction in IBS-associated symptom incidence, a 41% decrease in digestive symptom scores, and a 20% improvement in digestive-related quality of life. Participants also reported a shift in bowel patterns away from alternating constipation and diarrhea toward more normal bowel regularity.*
Supporting mechanistic research helps explain these digestive benefits. In a human clinical investigation measuring bile secretion directly, artichoke leaf extract increased bile production by approximately 150% within one hour of supplementation. Bile plays an essential role in fat digestion and helps support normal gastrointestinal signaling involved in digestive motility. Together, these studies suggest that artichoke leaf extract may support several aspects of digestive function, including digestive comfort after meals, healthy bile flow, and balanced bowel patterns.*
Ingredient Manufacturer Link: https://www.indena.com/us/product/pycrinil/
Pycrinil® is a clinically studied ingredient used in the following Silver Fern™ Brand product:
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.