Latin Name                     Silybum marianum (L.) Gaerth
Family                             Compositae
Part of the Plant Used    Seed
   
Active Ingredients
Silymarin / Silybins / Flavonoids

Product Specification
20% ~ 40% Silymarin / 5% ~15% Silybins

Molecular Structure of Silybin
Molecular formula: C25H21O10     
Molecular weight: 481.43
CAS No.: 22888-70-6

HPLC Chromatogram of Milk Thistle Extract (Water-Soluble Type) 40% Silymarin / 15% Silybins

Physiological Functions
- Liver Diseases, acute, chronic hepatitis - Protect liver from toxins, heavy metals, alcohol, poisons
- Anti cancer- Cholagogue - Fatty degeneration of the liver - Jaundice - Psoriasis - Uterine tonic, menstrual difficulties - Spleen, kidney, gall bladder tonic - Varicose veins

Toxicity
The acute toxicity of silymarin and silybin were investigated by oral and intravenous route in various animal species. No mortality or any signs of adverse effects were observed after silymarin at oral doses of 20 g/kg in mice and 1?g/kg in dogs. The 50% lethal dose (LD50) after intravenous infusion values are 400 mg/kg in mice, 385 mg/kg in rats and 140 mg/kg in rabbits and dogs. These data demonstrate that the acute toxicity of silymarin is very low. Similarly, its subacute and chronic toxicity are very low; the compound is also devoid of embryotoxic potential.

Applications
Functional food and food additive
Herbal beverage ingredients
Pharmaceutical stuff