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Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) contains silymarin, a complex of plant compounds known for their hepatoprotective (liver-protecting) properties.
Milk Thistle is most often used for
Last Updated:February 26, 2024
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a medicinal plant belonging to the Asteraceae/Compositae family. It is native to Southern Europe, Central Asia, and Ethiopia[3] and grows particularly well on the sunny slopes of the Mediterranean countries. Milk thistle’s leaves have characteristic white, “milky” veins, and the plant can grow up to 6 feet tall. It typically blooms from June to August, after which its black seeds are harvested to be used for medicinal purposes. Milk thistle can now be found throughout California, South America, Africa, Australia, and Asia.[4][1]
Although the terms milk thistle and silymarin are often used interchangeably, silymarin is a complex extracted from the dried seeds and fruits of milk thistle.[4][5][6] Milk thistle extracts are typically odorless and contain 70–80% of silymarin.[7]
Research on milk thistle is primarily focused on its main bioactive extract, silymarin. Please refer to the silymarin page for a description of silymarin’s main benefits.
Research on milk thistle is primarily focused on its main bioactive extract, silymarin. Please refer to the silymarin page for a description of silymarin’s main drawbacks.
Research on milk thistle is primarily focused on its main bioactive extract, silymarin. Please refer to the silymarin page for a description of silymarin’s mechanisms of action.
Milk thistle supplements are sold in the form of capsules, tablets, and tinctures and also exist as intravenous solutions (only available in hospital settings).
The recommended daily dosage of any given milk thistle supplement depends on both the treatment purpose and the supplement’s silymarin content.
When silymarin is used for hepatoprotection, the recommended daily dosage typically falls in the range of 420 mg to 600 mg of silymarin per day, usually taken in three split doses.[1][2]
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