Milk Thistle extract silymarin
[Assay]  85%,80%,70%  Silybin,Silymarin

In Europe, silymarin, the purified extract of the fruits of Silybum marianum, and its main constituent, silybin, are used to maintain liver health and for the treatment of diseases of the liver. Worldwide milk thistle is, deservedly, one of the most commonly prescribed medicinal plants.

Milk thistle seeds contain a bioflavonoid complex known as silymarin. This constituent is responsible for the medical benefits of the plant (according to Wagner H, Horhammer L, Munster R. in their article "The chemistry of silymarin (silybin), the active principle of the fruits of Silybum marianum (l.) Gaertner", published in Arzneim-Forsch Drug Research 1968; 18: 688-96.)

Silymarin is made up of three parts; silybin, silidianin and silicristin. silybin is the most active and is largely responsible for the benefits attributed to silymarin according to Hikino h, Kiso Y, et al. In their article " Antihepatotoxic actions of flavonolignans from Silybum marianum fruits", published in Planta Medica 1984; 50:248-50.

Standardized extracts make the active constituents of herbs more effective. They isolate the most important compounds and purify them to predictable dosages. The worlds best selling milk thistle product is a standardized extract.

It takes 70 pounds of milk thistle seeds to make one pound of extract purified to 70-80% silymarin (of which 80% is silybin, the most active and helpful constituent). Even this standardized extract has a problem though, inhibited bioavailability.

According to other studies, milk thistle extract may protect the cells of the liver by blocking the entrance of harmful toxins and helping remove these toxins from the liver cells. As with other bioflavonoids, silymarin is a powerful antioxidant. Milk thistle also regenerates injured liver cells according to Sonnenbichler J, Zetl I, in their article "Stimulating influence of a flavonolignan dirivative on proliferation, RNA synthesis and protein synthesis in liver cells". Published in Assessment and Management of Hepatobiliary Disease by Springer-Verlag.

As already stated, silymarin not only protects the liver cells (hepatocytes) against toxic damage it also regenerates them. It has been found in clinical studies to increase the rate of synthesis of RNA through stimulation of nucleorlar polymerase 1. This reinforces protein synthesis and accelerates cell-regeneration processes. Thus, silymarin is a useful remedy for chronic hepatitis, toxic fatty deposits in the liver and cirrhosis.

In one double-blind study, silymarin significantly reduced the mortality of patients with liver cirrhosis. The effect was most pronounced in patients with alcohol-induced cirrhosis. The mechanisms of action are reasoned to be based on the reduction of the metabolic or toxic effects of alcohol on the liver. One such action of silymarin is its ability to reduce hepatocellular necrosis which, in turn, may delay or prevent the occurrence of hepatic failure. Additionally, silymarin reduces collagen deposition in the liver, thereby reducing circulatory changes, particularly in the portal system.

In another double-blind, controlled study silymarin was shown to decrease the serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT) in patients with liver disease. Serum total and conjugated bilirubin also decreased during treatment. Significantly, liver biopsy showed a clear improvement in histological alterations, namely decreased fatty transformations. These findings indicate that silymarin complex may have both a prophylactic and a remedial effect on liver lesions.