Milk Thistle
Common name
milk thistle, Mary thistle, holy thistle, Milkthistle Fruit
ID
HD0210
Scientific name of the plant
Silybum marianum L. Gaertner
Anatomical part for use
fruit
Human use
Gastrointestinal disorders
Summary
Silybum marianum has other common names including cardus marianus, milk thistle, blessed milkthistle, Marian thistle, Mary thistle, Saint Mary's thistle, Mediterranean milk thistle, variegated thistle and Scotch thistle (though not to be confused with Onopordum acanthium). This species is an annual or biennial plant of the family Asteraceae. This fairly typical thistle has red to purple flowers and shiny pale green leaves with white veins. Originally a native of Southern Europe through to Asia, it is now found throughout the world. (Source: Wiki)
Evidence Level
Level 0 (No convinced report of liver injury caused by herbal and dietary supplement)
Hepatotoxicity Description
Despite its wide spread use in patients with and without liver disease, milk thistle has not been implicated in causing serum enzyme elevations or clinically apparent acute liver injury. While silymarin has effects on cytochrome P450 enzymes and hepatic transporters in vitro, there is little evidence that it causes clinically significant herb-drug interactions. (Source: LiverTox)
Common name
milk thistle, Mary thistle, holy thistle, Milkthistle Fruit
ID
HD0210
Scientific name of the plant
Silybum marianum L. Gaertner
Anatomical part for use
fruit
Human use
Gastrointestinal disorders
Summary
Silybum marianum has other common names including cardus marianus, milk thistle, blessed milkthistle, Marian thistle, Mary thistle, Saint Mary's thistle, Mediterranean milk thistle, variegated thistle and Scotch thistle (though not to be confused with Onopordum acanthium). This species is an annual or biennial plant of the family Asteraceae. This fairly typical thistle has red to purple flowers and shiny pale green leaves with white veins. Originally a native of Southern Europe through to Asia, it is now found throughout the world. (Source: Wiki)
Evidence Level
Level 0 (No convinced report of liver injury caused by herbal and dietary supplement)
Hepatotoxicity Description
Despite its wide spread use in patients with and without liver disease, milk thistle has not been implicated in causing serum enzyme elevations or clinically apparent acute liver injury. While silymarin has effects on cytochrome P450 enzymes and hepatic transporters in vitro, there is little evidence that it causes clinically significant herb-drug interactions. (Source: LiverTox)