What Is Milk Thistle? Other Names: Artichaut Sauvage, Cardo Lechoso, Silybum marianum

What is Milk Thistle?

This post was written with Consensus AI Academic Search Engine – please read our Disclaimer at the end of this article. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.) is a plant known for its medicinal properties, particularly its hepatoprotective effects. It has been widely used in traditional medicine and is now gaining attention in modern scientific research for its potential health benefits. Other names include: Artichaut Sauvage, Blessed Milk Thistle, Cardo Lechoso, Cardui Mariae Fructus, Cardui Mariae Herba, Carduus Marianum, Carduus marianus, Chardon Argenté, Chardon de Marie, Chardon de Notre-Dame, Chardon Marbré, Chardon-Marie, Épine Blanche, Holy Thistle, Lady’s Thistle, Lait de Notre-Dame, Legalon, Marian Thistle, Mariendistel, Mary Thistle, Our Lady’s Thistle, Shui Fei Ji, Silibinin, Silybe de Marie, Silybin, Silybinin, Silybum, Silybum marianum, Silymarin, Silymarine, St. Mary Thistle, St. Marys Thistle.

Botanical Description

Milk thistle is a common weed that has been introduced as a medicinal plant. It is characterized by its large, spiny leaves with distinctive white veins, and purple flowers. The plant is native to the Mediterranean region but has spread to various parts of the world1.

Active Compounds

The primary active compounds in milk thistle are flavonolignans, collectively known as silymarin. Silymarin is composed of several isomers, including silybin A and B, isosilybin, silychristin, and silydianin. These compounds are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties2 5.

Medicinal Uses of Milk Thistle

Hepatoprotective Effects

Milk thistle is widely recognized for its liver-protective properties. It is often used to treat liver diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis, and to protect the liver from toxins, including those from chemotherapy4 8. Studies have shown that milk thistle can reduce liver enzyme levels, indicating improved liver function7.

Antioxidant Properties

The antioxidant properties of milk thistle are attributed to its ability to scavenge free radicals and enhance the body’s antioxidant defense system. This makes it useful in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation5 9.

Agricultural and Nutritional Applications

Animal Feed

Milk thistle seeds have been used as a feed additive for various animals, including pigs, chickens, and horses. Supplementation with milk thistle seeds has been shown to improve weight gain, feed utilization, and meat quality in pigs and chickens2 6. In horses, milk thistle seed cakes have been found to positively affect biochemical markers of liver health7.

Crop Cultivation

Milk thistle is also cultivated for its seeds, which are used to extract silymarin. Studies have shown that nitrogen fertilization can significantly enhance the growth and yield of milk thistle plants, although it does not affect the silymarin content1 3. Additionally, milk thistle can tolerate various environmental stresses, including drought and salinity, making it a viable crop in challenging agricultural conditions3 10.

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Adverse Effects of Milk Thistle

Gastrointestinal Issues: Diarrhea, flatulence, and abdominal pain have been reported in children undergoing chemotherapy and supplemented with milk thistle1.

Anorexia and Irritability: Some children also experienced anorexia and irritability during milk thistle supplementation1.

Specific Adverse Effects in Different Contexts

Interaction with Medications: Milk thistle can interact with certain medications. For instance, it was found to increase zinc concentration in the serum of rats treated with tamoxifen, which could potentially alter the drug’s effects7.

Histopathological Changes: In ducks fed mycotoxin-contaminated diets, milk thistle supplementation led to histopathological alterations, although it also had protective effects against mycotoxins4.

Cardiac Muscle Changes: In rats exposed to titanium dioxide nanoparticles, milk thistle showed some protective effects but did not completely prevent the toxic changes in cardiac muscle cells8.

Herb-Drug Interactions

CYP2D6 Activity: Milk thistle did not significantly inhibit CYP2D6 activity, suggesting it may have a lower risk of causing adverse herb-drug interactions compared to other botanicals like goldenseal6.

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How has Milk Thistle Improved Patient Outcomes?

Liver Disease and Hepatotoxicity

Cirrhosis: In a study involving patients with cirrhosis, silymarin significantly improved survival rates. The 4-year survival rate was 58% in the silymarin group compared to 39% in the placebo group, with notable benefits in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and those initially rated ‘Child A’2.

Acute Hepatitis: Silymarin was found to improve symptoms of acute hepatitis, such as dark urine, jaundice, and scleral icterus, although it did not significantly affect biomarkers like ALT and AST3.

Chemotherapy-Induced Hepatotoxicity: In children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) undergoing chemotherapy, milk thistle supplementation significantly reduced liver enzyme levels (AST and ALT), suggesting improved liver function without the need for chemotherapy dose reduction4 6.

Chronic Hepatitis C: A study on patients with chronic hepatitis C who were unsuccessfully treated with interferon-based therapy found that higher doses of silymarin did not significantly reduce serum ALT levels or improve other liver function markers compared to placebo5.

Other Conditions

Trichotillomania: A study on the use of milk thistle for trichotillomania did not show significant improvements in the primary outcome measure but did show some benefits in secondary measures, such as time spent pulling hair1.

General Liver Health

Operating Room Personnel: Milk thistle tea significantly reduced liver enzyme levels (AST, ALT, ALP, ALB, GGT, bilirubin, and ESR) in operating room personnel exposed to inhalational anesthetics, indicating its potential hepatoprotective effects8.

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Milk Thistle Mechanisms of Action

Hepatoprotective Effects

Antioxidant Activity: Silymarin, the active compound in milk thistle, has strong antioxidant properties. It scavenges free radicals and increases the levels of glutathione in the liver, which helps in detoxifying harmful substances3.

Anti-inflammatory Effects: Silymarin reduces inflammation by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and modulating the activity of various inflammatory cells3.

Cell Regeneration: Silymarin promotes the regeneration of liver cells by stimulating protein synthesis and DNA repair mechanisms3.

Lipid and Cholesterol Metabolism

Reduction in Cholesterol Levels: Milk thistle has been shown to decrease cholesterol content in various tissues, including the liver, by increasing the polyunsaturated fat (PUFA) content and improving the hypocholesterolemic to hypercholesterolemic index2.

Improvement in Lipid Profiles: Supplementation with milk thistle seeds has been found to improve lipid profiles by reducing plasma cholesterol levels and increasing the PUFA content in tissues1 2.

Modulation of Drug Transporters

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) Modulation: Although milk thistle has been studied for its potential to modulate P-gp, a key drug transporter, it does not significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of drugs like digoxin, suggesting it is not a potent modulator of P-gp in vivo4.

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Common Complaints Associated with Milk Thistle Use

Gastrointestinal Issues: Diarrhea and flatulence are reported as common gastrointestinal complaints. In one study, diarrhea was observed in 2 out of 50 children taking MT, and flatulence was reported in 1 child2.

Abdominal Pain: Abdominal pain was noted in both the MT and placebo groups, with 2 cases reported in each group2.

Appetite Changes: Anorexia, or loss of appetite, was reported in 1 child taking MT2.

Irritability: Irritability was another complaint, with 2 cases reported in the MT group2.

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Disclaimer

The content presented in this blog is generated by Consensus, an AI-powered academic search engine, and is based on publicly available scientific literature. While every effort is made to provide accurate, up-to-date, and well-researched information, the content is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding medical conditions, treatments, or medications. The AI system’s analysis may not cover all perspectives, emerging research, or individual cases, and it is not a substitute for professional expertise. Neither the blog publisher nor the developers of the AI-powered search engine are responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided in this content. Use of this information is at your own risk. Citations to the original scientific studies are included for reference, but these studies should be reviewed in full and interpreted with the guidance of a healthcare or research professional.

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