An annual or biennial thistle, Silybum marianum (Carduus marianus) that has been used as a vegetable; the flower receptacle can be eaten like globe artichoke. Traditionally used for treatment of inflammatory liver disease and cirrhosis with some evidence of efficacy, but by injection rather than eaten.
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Milk thistle
Oxford Food & Nutrition Dictionary:
milk thistle |
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Drug Info:
Milk Thistle, Silybum marianum |
Brand names: Legalon®, ThistleComp™, ThistlePlex™
Chemical formula:
Milk Thistle, Silybum marianum tablets and capsules
What is milk thistle?
MILK THISTLE, also called Silybum marianum, (Legalon®, Thisylin® and many others) is a dietary supplement (herbal remedy) that is being promoted to maintain healthy liver function. This herb is not FDA approved at this time. Evidence suggests milk thistle may be helpful for some people with liver disease, but it should be used under the prescription of a health care prescriber. Milk thistle is not a cure for liver disease. Many different products containing milk thistle in combination with other herbs are available, including Thistleplex(TM) and ThistleComp(TM).What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
It is important for you to tell your prescriber or other health care professional that you are using milk thistle. Some herbs exert potent effects and may interact with other drugs you are taking.You should discuss milk thistle with your health care professional BEFORE taking it if you have any of these conditions:
• are a frequent drinker of alcoholic beverages
• jaundice
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• an unusual or allergic reaction to milk thistle, ragweed, other herbs, plants, medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding
How should I use this medicine?
This herb should be taken orally (i.e., swallowed), with a full glass of liquid, prior to a meal. Follow the directions on the package labeling, or talk to your health care professional.Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this herb in children. Special care may be needed.
What if I miss a dose?
Missing a dose is probably not harmful. If you miss a dose, simply resume taking it on your previous schedule. Do not take double doses to catch up, however.What drug(s) may interact with milk thistle?
• alcohol and alcoholic beveragesFor many herbs, interactions with other medications are unknown. That is why you should always be careful when mixing herbal remedies with traditional medications. If you take any other medications, consult with your health care professional prior to taking milk thistle.
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
What should I watch for while taking milk thistle?
Since milk thistle is derived from a plant, allergic reactions are possible. Stop using this herb if you develop a rash or any other unusual reaction. You may want to see your health care professional, or inform them that this occurred.If you are taking milk thistle for liver disease, you should notify your health care professional immediately if you develop a dark or brown color to the urine, if the size of the abdomen increases or you gain weight suddenly, if you have yellowing of the skin or eyes, or if you experience shortness of breath. These symptoms may indicate a worsening of the liver problem. Self-treatment of the symptoms of hepatic disease with milk thistle may delay proper medical treatment.
Different brands of milk thistle might contain different amounts of active ingredient so be careful to use the same brand. It is recommended that you use a brand from a reliable manufacturer and one that has been standardized. A standardized product is more likely to contain the same amount of herb from dose to dose. Your health care professional or pharmacist can assist you in finding a standardized product.
If you are scheduled to have surgery, let your surgeon know you are taking milk thistle.
What side effects may I notice from using milk thistle?
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:• abdominal pain
• diarrhea that continues or gets worse
• difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• skin rash, itching, or bruising
• sweating
• weakness
• vomiting
• any other unusual symptoms
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
• mild diarrhea or laxative-like effect
• nausea or upset stomach
Where can I keep my medicine?
Keep out of the reach of children.Store at room temperature; do not freeze. Protect from light. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.
GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS:
Dietary supplements include amino acids, vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, and other plant-derived substances, and extracts of these substances. These products are easy to identify as they must state "Dietary Supplement" on the label. A "Supplement Facts" panel is provided on the label for most products. Supplements are not drugs and are not regulated like drugs. You should note that rigid quality control standards are not required for dietary supplements. Big differences in potency and purity of these products can occur. Scientific data to support the use of a dietary supplement for a certain disease or ailment may not be available. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
The Food and Drug Administration suggests the following to help consumers protect themselves:
• Always read product labels and follow directions.
• "Natural" doesn't mean a product is safe for humans to take.
• Look for products containing ingredients with the "USP" notation. This indicates the manufacturer followed the standards of the US Pharmacopoeia.
• Supplements produced or distributed by a nationally known food or drug company are more likely to be made under tight controls as these companies have standards in place for their other products. You can write to the company for more information about how the product was made.
Last updated: 7/1/2002
Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.
Taylor's Guide to Annuals:
Silybum |
Daisy family
Compositae
Sil-ly'bum. Annual or biennial herbs, comprising only 2 species, natives of the Mediterranean region. The species below grown as an ornamental plant for its silvery leaves. Also grown as a vegetable, since its roots, leaves, and flowerheads are edible.
Description
Leaves alternate, with white spots and veins on the upper side, the margins lobed and spiny. Flowerheads purplish, solitary and nodding. Many bracts surround the head, forming a globe-shaped receptacle.
How to Grow
Easy to grow from seeds. Sow outdoors in ordinary garden soil. Will bloom the first year if sown early. Can become a troublesome weed. Prefers cool weather.
Silybum Marianum
Holy Thistle
;
Lady's-Thistle
;
Milk Thistle
. To 4 ft. (120 cm) high. Flowerheads rose to purplish red, to 2 in. (6 cm) across. Bracts surrounding heads curved and spiny. Mediterranean region, naturalized in Calif. Hardy annual, sometimes biennial.
Leung's Encyclopedia of Natural Ingredients:
Milk Thistle |
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Read More |
Source: Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertner. (syn. Carduus marianum L.) (Family Asteraceae or Compositae).
Common/vernacular names: Mary thistle, St. Mary thistle, Marian thistle, lady's thistle, holy thistle (not to be confused with blessed thistle Cnicus benedictus).
Stout, branching annual or biennial, 1–2 m high; leaves large, alternate, white mottled, glabrous, margins scalloped, with sharp spines on lobes; heads, solitary, up to 6 cm in diameter; purple, black shiny seeds (fruit) crowned with a spreading pappus; indigenous to Mediterranean region, southwest Europe; cultivated for centuries and naturalized in much of Europe; also naturalized in North America, especially California; South America from Uruguay to Chile, to Ecuador; weedy in Australia; common in abandoned fields, old pastures, and roadsides.
The part used is the seed (fruit).
| Marjoram | |
| Mints |
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
Milk thistle |
This article is about the true milk thistles. For another plant that is sometimes referred to as a milk thistle, see Sow thistle (disambiguation).
| Milk thistle | |
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| Silybum marianum | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Subfamily: | Carduoideae |
| Tribe: | Cynareae |
| Genus: | Silybum Adans. |
| Species | |
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The milk thistle is a thistle of the genus Silybum Adans., a flowering plant of the daisy family (Asteraceae). They are native to the Mediterranean regions of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. The name "milk thistle" derives from two features of the leaves; they are mottled with splashes of white and they contain a milky sap.[1]
Research is being undertaken on the physiological effects, potential therapeutic properties, and possible medical uses of milk thistle.[2]
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Contents
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Description and classification
Members of this genus grow as annual or biennial plants. The erect stem is tall, branched and furrowed but not spiny. The large, alternate leaves are waxy-lobed, toothed and thorny, as in other genera of thistle. The lower leaves are cauline (attached to the stem without petiole). The upper leaves have a clasping base. They have large, disc-shaped pink-to-purple, rarely white, solitary flower heads at the end of the stem. The flowers consist of tubular florets. The phyllaries under the flowers occur in many rows, with the outer row with spine-tipped lobes and apical spines. The fruit is a black achene with a white pappus.
Only two species are currently classified in this genus:
- Silybum eburneum Coss. & Dur., known as the Silver Milk Thistle, Elephant Thistle, or Ivory Thistle
- Silybum eburneum Coss. & Dur. var. hispanicum
- Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertner, the Blessed Milk Thistle, which has a large number of other common names, such as Variegated Thistle.
The two species hybridise naturally, the hybrid being known as Silybum × gonzaloi Cantó , Sánchez Mata & Rivas Mart. (S. eburneum var. hispanicum x S. marianum)
A number of other plants have been classified in this genus in the past but have since been relocated elsewhere in the light of additional research.
S. marianum is by far the more widely known species. Milk thistle is believed to give some remedy for liver diseases (e.g. viral hepatitis) and the extract, silymarin, is used in medicine. Mild gastrointestinal distress is the most common adverse event reported for milk thistle. The incidence is the same as for placebo.[3] A laxative effect for milk thistle has also been reported infrequently.[4]
Nomenclature
Traditional milk thistle extract is made from the seeds, which contain approximately 4-6% silymarin.[4] The extract consists of about 65-80% silymarin (a flavonolignan complex) and 20-35% fatty acids, including linoleic acid.[5] Silymarin is a complex mixture of polyphenolic molecules, including seven closely related flavonolignans (silybin A, silybin B, isosilybin A, isosilybin B, silychristin, isosilychristin, silydianin) and one flavonoid (taxifolin).[5] Silibinin, a semipurified fraction of silymarin, is primarily a mixture of 2 diasteroisomers, silybin A and silybin B, in a roughly 1: 1 ratio.[1][5] In clinical trials silymarin has typically been administered in amounts ranging from 420–480 mg per day in two to three divided doses.[6] However higher doses have been studied, such as 600 mg daily in the treatment of type II diabetes and 600 or 1200 mg daily in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus.[7][8] An optimal dosage for milk thistle preparations has not been established. It is known to help hangovers.[citation needed]
Health benefits
For many centuries extracts of milk thistle have been recognized as "liver tonics."[5] Research into the biological activity of silymarin and its possible medical uses has been conducted in many countries since the 1970s, but the quality of the research has been uneven.[2] Milk thistle has been reported to have protective effects on the liver and to greatly improve its function. It is typically used to treat liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis (liver inflammation), toxin-induced liver damage including the prevention of severe liver damage from Amanita phalloides ('death cap' mushroom poisoning), and gallbladder disorders.[4][9]
Reviews of the literature covering clinical studies of silymarin vary in their conclusions. A review using only studies with both double-blind and placebo protocols concluded that milk thistle and its derivatives "does not seem to significantly influence the course of patients with alcoholic and/or hepatitis B or C liver diseases."[10] A different review of the literature, performed for the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, found that, while there is strong evidence of legitimate medical benefits, the studies done to date are of such uneven design and quality that no firm conclusions about degrees of effectiveness for specific conditions or appropriate dosage can yet be made.[11]
Toxin-induced liver damage
Research suggests that milk thistle extracts both prevent and repair damage to the liver from toxic chemicals and medications. Workers who had been exposed to vapors from toxic chemicals (toluene and/or xylene) for 5–20 years were given either a standardized milk thistle extract (80% silymarin) or placebo for 30 days.[12] The workers taking the milk thistle extract showed significant improvement in liver function tests (ALT and AST) and platelet counts vs. the placebo group.
The efficacy of silymarin in preventing drug-induced liver damage in patients taking psychotropic drugs long-term has been investigated.[13] This class of drugs is known to cause liver damage from oxidation of lipids. Patients taking silymarin in the study had less hepatic damage from the oxidation of lipids than patients taking the placebo.
A clinical trial in humans showed that silymarin (140 mg orally 3 times daily) was not effective when used for 1 year in combination with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) for the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis.[14] A study in baboons indicated that continuous intragastric infusion of silymarin retarded the development of alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis over a 3-year period. The authors suggested that the failure of silymarin to show beneficial effects in other clinical trials may have been due to poor compliance with treatment, resulting in insufficient dosing.[15]
In a 2009 study published in the journal Cancer, milk thistle showed promise in reducing the liver damaging effects of chemotherapy in a study of 50 children.[16][17]
Amanita mushroom poisoning
The efficacy of thirty different treatments was analyzed in a retrospective study of 205 cases of Amanita phalloides (death cap) mushroom poisoning.[18] Both penicillin and hyperbaric oxygen independently contributed to a higher rate of survival. When silybin [silibinin] was added to the penicillin treatment, survival was increased even more. In another 18 cases of death cap poisoning, a correlation was found between the time elapsed before initiation of silybin therapy, and the severity of the poisoning.[19] The data indicates that severe liver damage in Amanita phalloides poisoning can be prevented effectively when administration of silybin begins within 48 hours of mushroom intake. In a recent 2007 event, a family of six was treated with milk thistle and a combination of other treatments to save them from ingested poisonous mushrooms. While five of the six made a full recovery, the grandmother showed liver recovery but was overcome by kidney failure related to the poisonous mushrooms.[20]
Other uses
Beside benefits for liver disease, other unproven treatment claims include:
- Lowering cholesterol levels [21]
- Reducing insulin resistance in people with type 2 diabetes who also have cirrhosis,[21][22]
- Reducing the growth of cancer cells in breast, cervical, and prostate cancers.[23]
- Reducing liver damaging effects of chemotherapeutic drugs[16]
- Clinical study has shown that liver function tests can be improved in active hepatitis patients.[24]
- silymarin may have use, potentially, in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.[25]
Use as food
Around the 16th century the milk thistle became quite popular and almost all parts of it were eaten. The roots can be eaten raw or boiled and buttered or par-boiled and roasted. The young shoots in spring can be cut down to the root and boiled and buttered. The spiny bracts on the flower head were eaten in the past like globe artichoke, and the stems (after peeling) can be soaked overnight to remove bitterness and then stewed. The leaves can be trimmed of prickles and boiled and make a good spinach substitute or they can also be added raw to salads.[26]
See also
- Cnicus (Blessed thistle)
- Silybum marianum
References
- ^ a b Hogan F, Krishnegowda N, Mikhailova M, Kahlenberg M. (2007). Flavonoid, silibinin inhibits proliferation and promotes cell-cycle arrest of human colon cancer. J Surg Res 143: 58-65.
- ^ a b Gazák R, Walterová D, Kren V (2007). "Silybin and silymarin--new and emerging applications in medicine". Curr. Med. Chem. 14 (3): 315–38. doi:10.2174/092986707779941159. PMID 17305535.
- ^ Rainone F. (2005). Milk thistle. American Family Physician72: 1285-1288.
- ^ a b c Greenlee H, Abascal K, Yarnel E, Ladas E. (2007). Clinical applications of Silybum marianum in oncology. Integrative Cancer Therapies 6: 158-165.
- ^ a b c d Kroll DJ, Shaw HS, Oberlies NH.(2007). Milk thistle nomenclature: why it matters in cancer research and pharmacokinetic studies. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 6: 110-119.
- ^ Rainone F. (2007). Milk thistle. American Family Physician. 72: 1285-1288.
- ^ Huseini HF, Larijani B, Heshmat R et al. (2006). The efficacy of Silybum marianum (L.)Gaertn. (silymarin) in the treatment of type II diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Phytother Res. 20: 1036-1039.
- ^ Gordon A, Hobbs DA, Bowden DS et al. (2006). Effects of Silybum marianum on serum hepatitis C virus RNA alanine aminotransferase levels and well-being in patients with chronic hepatitis C. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 21: 275-280.
- ^ Tamayo C, Diamond S. (2007). Review of clinical trials evaluating safety and efficacy of milk thistle (Silybum marianum [L.] Gaertn.). Integrative Cancer Therapies. 6: 146-157.
- ^ Rambaldi A, Jacobs BP, Iaquinto G, Gluud C (2005). "Milk thistle for alcoholic and/or hepatitis B or C liver diseases--a systematic cochrane hepato-biliary group review with meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials". Am. J. Gastroenterol. 100 (11): 2583–91. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2005.00262.x. PMID 16279916.
- ^ Lawrence, Valerie MD, MSc et al. (2000). "Milk Thistle: Effects on Liver Disease and Cirrhosis and Clinical Adverse Effects". AHRQ Publication No. 01-E025.
- ^ Szilard S, Szentgyorgyi G, Dhanalakshmi S et al. (1988). Protective effect of Legalon in workers exposed to organic solvents. Acta Med Hung. 45: 249-256.
- ^ Palasciano G, Portincasa P, Palmieri V et al. (1994). The effect of silymarin on plasma levels of malon-dialdehyde in patients receiving long-term treatment with psychotropic drugs. Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 55: 537-545.
- ^ Angulo P, Patel T, Jorgensen RA, Therneau TM, Lindor KD (2001). "Silymarin in the treatment of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis with a suboptimal response to ursodeoxycholic acid". Hepatology. 2001 Feb;33(2): 483-4. 32 (5): 897–900. doi:10.1053/jhep.2000.18663. PMID 11050036.
- ^ Lieber CS, Leo MA, Cao Q, Ren C, DeCarli LM. (2003). "Silymarin retards the progression of alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis in baboons". Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology 37 (4): 336–9. doi:10.1097/00004836-200310000-00013. PMID 14506392.
- ^ a b Reuters.com
- ^ http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091215172325.htm
- ^ Floersheim GL, Weber O, Tschumi P et al. [Clinical death-cap (Amanita phalloides) poisoning: prognostic factors and therapeutic measures. Analysis of 205 cases]. Schweiz Med Wochenschr. 112: 1164-1177.
- ^ Hruby K, Fuhrmann M, Csomos G et al. [Pharmcotherapy of Amanita phalloides poisoning using silybin].Wein Klin Wochenschr. 95: 225-231.
- ^ American Botanical Council (2007). "Intravenous Milk Thistle Compound Used to Save Victims of Poisonous Mushrooms". HerbalGram (74): 16.
- ^ a b Webmd.com
- ^ Antimetastatic efficacy of silibinin: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential against cancer Deep G., Agarwal R. Cancer and Metastasis Reviews 2010 29:3 (447-463)
- ^ National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. "Milk Thistle". National Institutes of Health. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/milkthistle/. - General information on milk thistle
- ^ Buzzelli, G; Moscarella, S; Giusti, A; Duchini, A; Marena, C; Lampertico, M (1993). "A pilot study on the liver protective effect of silybin-phosphatidylcholine complex (IdB1016) in chronic active hepatitis". International journal of clinical pharmacology, therapy, and toxicology 31 (9): 456–60. PMID 8225695.
- ^ Soto C, Pérez J, García V, Uría E, Vadillo M, Raya L"Effect of silymarin on kidneys of rats suffering from alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus." Phytomedicine. 2010 Dec 1;17(14):1090-4
- ^ Edible-plants.com
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Copyrights:
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 | Oxford Food & Nutrition Dictionary. A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. Copyright © 1995, 2003, 2005 by A. E. Bender and D. A. Bender. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Drug Info. Gold Standard. Copyright © 2008 by Gold Standard. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Taylor's Guide to Annuals. Taylor's Guide for Annuals, by Norman Taylor, revised and edited by Gordon P. DeWolf, Jr. Copyright © 1986 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Leung's Encyclopedia of Natural Ingredients. Leung's Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics Copyright © 2010 by Wiley-Blackwell. Wiley and the Wiley logo are registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Used here by license. Read more |
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| Wikipedia on Answers.com. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Milk thistle. Read more |
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