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| General
Information |
Common Name: |
Milk Thistle |
|
Latin
Name:
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Silybum
Marianum |
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Family:
|
Asteraceae
[compositae] |
| Other
Names: |
 |
Marian.
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Mary thistle.
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St Mary's silybum.
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| Indications
& Historical Uses |
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Protects liver from toxins, heavy metals, alcohol, poisons.
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Liver disease, acute and chronic hepatitis.
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Treatment of fatty degeneration of liver,. Liver cirrhosis.
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Psoriasis.
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Gallbladder disorders.
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Indigestion .
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| Contraindications
& Precautions |
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Contraindications:
None known. See
Caution.
Precautions:
None known. See
Caution.
Adverse
Side Effects:
None known except mild laxative effect is occasionally reported.
Drug
Interactions:
None known.
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| Dosage
Information |
|
How
Supplied:
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Capsules
of 200mg of concentrated extract representing 140mg of Silymarin. |
|
Dosage:
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200
- 400 mg of extract per day. |
| Pharmacology
|
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German
scientists made a breakthrough in the late 1960s when they isolated
the liver-protectant principles in the fruit .They called these
Silymarin. Milk Thistle contains three potent liver protective
flavonoids- Silybin, Silydianin & Silychristin known collectively
as Sylimarin.
Numerous clinical trials have shown that Silymarin protects the
liver. Silymarin protects the liver against various toxins and
boasts another remarkable property: namely, by encouraging the
regeneration of liver cells, it can actually reverse the damage
and help cure the liver. It does this by stimulating protein synthesis
[RNA polymerase A ], thus activating the liver,'s ability to regenerate
itself through increased formation of new liver cells called hepatocytes.
Silymarin
counteracts the toxic effects of a wide variety of liver poisons,
including alcohol, carbon tetrachloride (used widely in the dry-cleaning
industry) acetaminophen and the death cap mushroom, which can
cause death within a day.
The
mechanisms of action of Silymarin are as follows:
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1.
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Altering the membranes of hepatic cells to inhibit passage
of toxins.
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2.
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Increasing cellular regeneration by stimulating protein
synthesis.
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3.
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Increasing glutathione levels in liver cells.
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4.
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Scavenging for substances called free radicals that can
damage the liver -because of it's powerful anti-oxidant
properties in the liver cells, stomach and intestine.
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As
a result, Silymarin ( at a dose of 140 mg. three times daily),
can significantly reduce patient mortality in alcohol-induced
liver cirrhosis. Acute viral hepatitis can be treated with Silymarin
( at a dose of 70 mg. three times daily) to lower levels of bilirubin
and the transaminases (liver enzymes).
Silymarin
has also been used in death angel or death cap mushroom poisoning
, and fatal outcome can be prevented if treatment is begun at
an early stage.
However
liver diseases are serious ailments; consult your doctor before
taking this or any other medication for them.
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Active
Ingredients:
|
Flavonoids
- (SILYBIN, SILYDIANIN, & SILYCHRISTIN together known as SILYMARIN)
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| Origin |
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Milk
thistle is native to the Mediterranean region but now grows in
many parts of Europe and North America ,including California and
the Eastern seaboard of the United States . It is a tall, weed
-like plant with large prickly leaves and the stems contain a
milky sap that oozes out when cracked open. Small fruits 'seeds'
nestle in the reddish purple flowers and are used to make the
medicinal extract known as silymarin.
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| Processing |
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Parts
of Plant used:
Seeds of the milk thistle plant.
The
seeds are harvested, and extracted by methyl alcohol. The solution
is filtered and vacuum evaporated. The final defatted suspension
is dried in ventilation ovens.
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| Scientific
References |
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Campos, R. et al. (1989) Silybin Dihemisuccinate protects
against glutathione depletion and lipid peroxidation induced
by acetaminophen on rat liver. Planta Medica. 55:417.
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Canini, F. et al. (1985) The use of silymarin in the treatment
of alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis Clin. Ther. 114:307.
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Ferenci, P. et al. (1989) Randomized controlled trial of
silymarin treatment in patients with cirrhosis of the liver.
J. Hepat. 9:105.
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Hruby, C. (1984) Silibinin in the treatment of Deathcap
Fungus poisoning.; Forum 6:23.
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Koch, HP et al. (1985) Silymarin: Potent inhibitor of cyclic
AMP phosphodiesterase. Meth. Find. Espt. Clin Pharm. 7:409.
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Mowrey, D. (1990) Guaranteed Potency Herbs. A Compilation
of writings on the subject.
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Mowrey, D. (1986) The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine.
Cormorant Books.
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Weiner, M. (1990) Weiner's Herbal. Mill Valley: Quantum
Books.
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R.F. Weiss: Herbal Medicine. Beaconsfield Publishers Ltd,
Beacons England, 1988, pp. 82-85.
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A. Osol and G.E. Farrar, Jr., Eds.: The Dispensatory of
the United States of America, 24th Ed. J.B. Lippincott Company,
Philadelphia, 1947, p. 1629.
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H. Wagner and O. Seligmann: In Advances in Chinese Medicinal
Maters Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, 1985, pp. 247-256.
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S. Foster: Milk Thistle, Silybum marianum, Botanical Series
No. 305 American Botanical Council, Austin, Texas, 1991,
7pp.
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Bundesanzeiger, March 13, 1986.
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I. Merfort and G. Willuhn: Deutsche Apotheker Zeitung 125:
695 (1985).
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To Index |
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