Milk Thistle

Milk thistle is a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family native to the Mediterranean region. Its seeds contain silymarin, a standardised extract comprising silibinin (silybin A and B), silychristin, and silydianin. Silymarin acts as a potent antioxidant by scavenging free radicals and increasing glutathione levels in hepatocytes. It stabilises hepatocyte membranes, inhibits the entry of toxins, and stimulates ribosomal RNA polymerase to promote liver cell regeneration. Clinical trials have demonstrated benefit in alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and drug-induced liver injury. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and WHO recognise milk thistle as a supportive treatment for liver conditions. Silymarin has low oral bioavailability (20–50 %), which has driven the development of phytosome complexes that significantly improve absorption. It is generally well tolerated with a favourable safety profile.