Milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.) is a herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family that is widely grown in Southern Europe. It has been used in Egypt and Europe for over 2000 years as a medicinal plant for protecting, detoxifying and regenerating liver, gull bladder, spleen and the entire body.
The hepatoprotective effect of milk thistle is due to a mixture of flavonolignans (silibinin, isosilibinin, silichristin, silidianin) contained in its seed, collectively called "silymarin" - a powerfull bio antioxidant.
The seeds are also good source of beneficial protein, lipids and fibers.