A robust annual or biennial herb distributed widely, growing in Europe, North Africa, Asia, South America and Australia, and flourishing in the coastal foothills and valleys of California and southern Oregon. One to four feet in height in Europe, three to ten feet in height in California (depending on growing conditions); with large, smooth, dark, green leaves variegated with silver/white (almost metallic) streaking along the veins; flowerheads purple to magenta, solitary with bracts ending in sharp spines; seeds pale brown to dark gray, about 7 mm long.
Clinical Trials
: Silymarin in Milk Thistle has shown remarkable therapeutic effects in toxic and metabolic liver damage(14), as well as acute(15), and chronic(16), hepatitis. Double-blind clinic trials have shown, for example: Statistically significant decreases in serum GPT and GOT in 106 patients with liver disease (mostly alcohol induced); as well as improvements in the bromosulphophthalein (BSP) retention test, and in histological examination(17). Significant reduction in the values of serum bilirubin, GOT, and GPT in 28 cases of acute viral hepatitis, compared with those in 29 placebo patients. Hepatitis B surface antigen immune reaction, however, was not changed(18). Healing in 20 patients out of 21 suffering from chronic hepatic diseases who were observed over 12 months. Histopathological findings of focal necrosis and fibrosis were much improved with Silymarin treatment as compared to placebo treatment(19).
Action
Leaves: Renowned in his time as a medical herbalist, E.F. Steinmetz wrote succinctly of Milk Thistle leaves(2), “An infusion is febrifuge and good against chest complaints, jaundice, diseases of the spleen, dropsy and leucorrhea. It is also an excellent blood purifier and it assists the circulation.” Seeds: Isolation of flavonolignans (Silymarin) from Milk Thistle seeds by Dr. H. Wagner and co-workers in 1965(3), began a series of scientific studies prove that this ancient herb is a master remedy for protecting the liver against – and rebuilding the liver after – alcoholic, toxic chemical, and viral hepatitis damage. This research, including laboratory animal and cell culture experiments, as well as clinical (i.e., human) trials shows that Silymarin from Milk Thistle extract: Has a particular affinity for the liver, and is especially concentrated in the enterohepatic circulation(4). Can protect the liver against poisoning by drugs and heavy metals(11), and by organophosphate insecticides(12) Diminishes cellular free radical damage by acting as antioxidants(5, 6) (more potent than vitamin E(7).) Limits hepatocellular depletion of glutathione induced by alcohol and other liver toxins, and increases the basal glutathione level of the liver by 35% over controls(8). Reduces lipoxygenase mediated rancidification of polyunsaturated fatty acids, thus inhibiting the formation of damaging leukotrienes(9), and has a membrane lipid-sparing effect(10). Stimulates protein synthesis in the liver, allowing significantly more rapid production of new liver cells to replace the damaged old ones (13).
References
1. Wagner, H. et al, Naturwissenschaften, 52:305, 1965. 2. Vogel, G., A peculiarity among the flavonoids – Silymarin, a compound active on the liver, Proceedings of the International Bioflavonoid Symposium, Munich, FRG: pg 472. 3. Wagner,H., Antihepatotoxic Flavonoids, Plant Flavonoids in Biology and Medicine, Ed. Cody, V. et al, Alan R. Liss, Inc. New York, 545-548. 4. Hikino, H. et al, “Antihepatotoxic actions of flavonolignans from Silybum marianum fruits, Planta Med, 50: 248-250. 5. Pizzorno, J. et al, Textbook of Natural Medicine, John Bastyr Publications, Seattle WA , V:Silybum-1, 1985. 6. Fiebrich, F. et al, Silymarin: An inhibitor of lipoxygenase, Experientia, 35(12), 1548-1550, 1979. 7. Fiebrich, F. et al, Silymarin: An inhibitor of prostaglandin synthetase, Experientia, 35(12), 1550-1552, 1979. 8. Boari, C. et al, Silymarin in the protection against exogenous noxae, Drugs Exptl Clin Res, 7: 115-120, 1981. 9. Agarwal R,et al. Anticancer potential of silymarin: from bench to bed side, Anticancer Res. 2006 Nov-Dec;26(6B):4457-98. Review. 10. Gazak R, et al, Silybin and silymarin -- new and emerging applications in medicine, Curr Med Chem. 2007;14(3):315-38. Review. 11. Köksal E, et al, In vitro antioxidant activity of silymarin, J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 2009;24(2):395-405. 12. Zielinska-Przyjemska M, Wiktorowicz K. An in vitro study of the protective effect of the flavonoid silydianin against reactive oxygen species. Phytother Res. 2006 Feb;20(2):115-9 13. Rambaldi A, Jacobs BP, Iaquinto G, Gluud C. Milk thistle for alcoholic and/or hepatitis B or C liver diseases – a systematic cochrane hepato-biliary group review with meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials. Am J Gastroenterol. 2005 Nov;100(11):2583-91. Review. 14. Asghar Z, Masood Z. Evaluation of antioxidant properties of silymarin and its potential to inhibit peroxyl radicals in vitro. Pak J Pharm Sci. 2008 Jul;21(3):249-54. 15. Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000:257-263. 16. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Milk thistle: effects on liver disease and cirrhosis and clinical adverse effects. Summary, evidence report/technology assess: number 21, September 2000. 17. Mayer KE, Myers RP, Lee SS. Silymarin treatment of viral hepatitis: a systematic review. J Viral Hepat. 2005 Nov;12(6):559-67. Review. 18. Fructus Silybi Mariae. In: WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants . Vol 1. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 1999:300-316. 19. Pradhan SC, Girish C. Hepatoprotective herbal drug, silymarin from experimental pharmacology to clinical medicine. Indian J Med Res . 2006;124(5):491-504 20. Post-White J, Ladas EJ, Kelly KM. Advances in the use of milk thistle ( Silybum marianum ). Integr Cancer Ther . 2007;6(2):104-109. 21. Gharagozloo M, et al. Combined therapy of silymarin and desferrioxamine in patients with beta-thalassemia major: randomized double-blind clinical trial. Fundam Clin Pharmacol . 2009;23(3):359-365
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