The artichoke is a perennial in the thistle tribe of the sunflower (Compositae) family and in full growth the plant spreads to cover an area about six feet in diameter and reaches a height of three to four feet. The long, arching lobed leaves, silver green in color make the artichoke look much like a giant fern. The buds, if allowed to flower, are up to seven inches in diameter and are a beautiful purple-violet. Artichoke contains the active ingredient cynarin. Cynarin extract has demonstrated liver protecting and regenerative effects and promotes the outflow of bile from the liver to the gallbladder. This is very important because if the bile is not transported adequately to the gallbladder, the liver has an increased risk of being damaged.