Milk Thistle

Silybum marianum

Perhaps our favourite of all the latin names, Silybum marianum... Also known as Holy Thistle, Milk Thistle is one of the most used and well known natural compounds for the treatment of liver diseases worldwide due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic activities. The hepato (liver) protective and antioxidant activity of silymarin, a flavonoid from Milk Thistle, is caused by its ability to inhibit the free radicals that are produced from the metabolism of toxic substances in the liver such as alcohol. Silymarin also enhances hepatic glutathione (our master antioxidant) and therefore, may contribute to the antioxidant defenses of the liver [i].