Abstract

A REVIEW ON PHARMACOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF MILK THISTLE

Priyanka Thakur*, Hem Raj Vashist and R.B. Sharma

ABSTRACT

Milk thistle is also known as Silybum marianum (Compositae) is widespread throughout the world has been used for the treatment of liver diseases. Its common name comes from the white markings on the leaves and its milky white sap used traditionally by nursing mothers to increase milk. Milk thistle was first cultivated in Europe as vegetable. The de-spined leaves were used in salad and as spinach and the stock; root and flower were also consumed. Silymarin is mixture of flavanoid complex containing silybin, silydianin and siilychrisin that is derived from the milk thistle plant. Silybin have been reported to work as antioxidants scavenging free radicals and inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Milk thistle also act as hepetoprotective agent and it stimulate the protein synthesis. It is orally absorbed but has very poor bioavailability due to poor water solubility. Milk thistle is considered as safe, well tolerated with gastrointestinal tract, mild laxative effect and rare allergic reactions. The review drag the attention of researchers toward the plant for more researches on it.

Keywords: Milk Thistle, Liver diseases, Silymarin, antioxidant, bioavailability.