USE OF ARTICHOKE (CYNARA) EXTRACTS

The present invention relates to a novel use of artichoke (Cynara) extracts, especially dry extracts, optionally in combination with Echinacea extracts and/or nettle (Urtica) extracts, for the preparation of medicaments, and to orally applicable medicaments. In particular, the invention relates to the use of artichoke (Cynara) dry extracts, also in combination with Echinacea and/or Urtica extracts, for the preparation of medicaments for the treatment of diseases of the small intestine (damages from medicaments or infections), of the bone marrow (aplasia and insufficiency, for example, as a consequence of agranulocytosis caused by medicaments or radiation), thymus (dysfunction, aplasia or hypoplasia), spleen (dysfunction), lymph nodes (aplasia or hypoplasia due to damage from medicaments or radiation), for the adjuvant treatment, also in combination with chemopharmaceuticals, of analgesia, liver, pancreas and kidney diseases, of hypertension, of malignant tumors, especially of carcinomas of the mamma, cervix, colon or prostate gland. Cynara dry extracts are further suitable for cellular immunostimulation, for the therapy of leucocytopenia, granulocytopenia, lymphocytopenia, erythrocytopenia, and immunoglobulin deficiencies; in addition, it is suitable for bacterially or virally induced diseases, such as inflammatory diseases of the small intestine, pancreas and kidneys, hepatitis A, B and C, skin lesions (Ulcus cruris), Herpes simplex I and II, as well as Herpes zoster.