Silybum marianum or milk thistle (MT) is the most well-researched plant in the treatment of liver disease. The active complex of MT is a lipophilic extract from the seeds of the plant and is composed of three isomer flavonolignans (silybin, silydianin, and silychristine), collectively known as silymarin. Silybin is the component with the greatest degree of biological activity and makes up 50–70% of silymarin. Silymarin acts as an antioxidant by reducing free radical production and lipid peroxidation. Silymarin has been used to treat alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis, and toxin-induced liver diseases, and can be promising in the approach to hepatocellular carcinoma.
