Silybum marianum
 Silybum marianum/1) Silybum marianum.jpg "Silybum marianum, Compositae or Asteraceae, Silymarin (flavonoid), tyramine, histamine and other amines, bitter agents, essential oil, flavone glycosides")
 Silybum marianum/2) Silybum marianum.jpg "Silybum marianum, Compositae or Asteraceae, Silymarin (flavonoid), tyramine, histamine and other amines, bitter agents, essential oil, flavone glycosides")
 Silybum marianum/3) Silybum marianum.jpg "Silybum marianum, Compositae or Asteraceae, Silymarin (flavonoid), tyramine, histamine and other amines, bitter agents, essential oil, flavone glycosides")
 Silybum marianum/4) Silybum marianum.jpg "Silybum marianum, Compositae or Asteraceae, Silymarin (flavonoid), tyramine, histamine and other amines, bitter agents, essential oil, flavone glycosides")
 Silybum marianum/5) Silybum marianum.jpg "Silybum marianum, Compositae or Asteraceae, Silymarin (flavonoid), tyramine, histamine and other amines, bitter agents, essential oil, flavone glycosides")
 Silybum marianum/6) Silybum marianum.JPG "Silybum marianum, Compositae or Asteraceae, Silymarin (flavonoid), tyramine, histamine and other amines, bitter agents, essential oil, flavone glycosides")
| Botanical Nomenclature | Silybum marianum |
| Common Name | Cardus Marianus, Marian Thistle, Mary Thistle, Mediterranean Milk Thistle, Milk Thistle, Saint Mary's Thistle, Scotch Thistle, Variegated Thistle |
| Taxonomy- Family | Compositae or Asteraceae |
| Distinguishing Features of the Plant | Silybum marianum is an annual or biennial, spiny plant growing from 30 to 150cm, with smooth, shiny, green, white-spotted leaves and violet flowers. The flowering and the harvesting take place from June to August |
| Region Found | Epirus |
| Part of the Plant with Active Substances | Flowers, leaves, root, stems, seeds |
| Active Substances | Silymarin (flavonoid), tyramine, histamine and other amines, bitter agents, essential oil, flavone glycosides |
| Pharmacological Effects - Therapeutic Applications | The herbal tea is used as cholagogue and choleretic. It is recommended to prevent damage to the liver caused by excessive alcohol consumption and chemotherapies. Also, it is administered for the treatment of hepatitis, jaundice, liver cirrhosis, runny nose and pleurisy. It is applied externally to the skin against psoriasis. A lot of recent studies have shown that the plant has anticancer, neuroprotective and cardioprotective actions, which are mainly related to cholesterol reduction. |
| Method of Administration | It is administered to prevent and treat various liver diseases in the form of herbal tea (a spoon of dried seeds in a cup of boiled water, three times a day), tincture and herbal extract Warning: The use of herb preparations is not recommended without seeking advice from your physician or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with the subscribed drugs that the patient already takes, thus eliminating their therapeutic efficacy or inducing toxicity. They may also burden further weakened vital functions of the body thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life threatened conditions. |
| Toxicity- Adverse Effects | Plant's long-term consumption may cause gastric irritation |
| References | 1) http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-milk-thistle.html 2)https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/milk-thistle 3) http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Js4927e/29.html 4) http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-138-milk%20thistle.aspx?activeingredientid=138&activeingredientname=milk%20thistle 5)http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24555302 |