61 - Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum): Seeds, Flower Heads

Abstract

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is an annual or biennial plant of the Asteraceae family with a reputation as a liver savior due to its ability to block and remove toxins from and promote regeneration of hepatocytes. Several of the constituents of milk thistle have been shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. It may be beneficial for hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia, diabetes, acute and chronic hepatitis, diabetic nephropathy, lactation, benign prostatic hyperplasia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, vitiligo, acne, iron overload, radiation dermatitis and mucositis, and chemotherapy-induced hand-foot syndrome. This chapter examines some of the scientific research conducted on milk thistle, both alone and in combination formulas, for treating numerous health conditions. It summarizes results from several human studies of milk thistles’s use in treating cardiometabolic, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, psychiatric, dermatological, hematological, and oncological disorders. Finally, the chapter presents a list of milk thistle’s Active Constituents, different Commonly Used Preparations and Dosage, and a Section on “Safety and Precaution” that examines side effects, toxicity, and disease and drug interactions.