Allen Milk Thistle (Carduus Marianum)

How it works?

Milk thistle is a tall herb which grows to approximately 10 feet high in various corners of the globe, include southern and western Europe, South America and the Eastern United States. It characteristically has large purplish flowers and small hard seed like fruits called achenes which are the sources of its medicinal properties.

Achenes contain approximately 1-4% of the flavonoid mixture, silymarin. It is these achenes which are used to create the concentrated silymarin extract that has a higher percentage of 65-80% flavonolignans, flavonoids, fatty acids and other natural plant compounds which have various regulatory effects on our metabolism. Silymarin contributes to our oxidative protection in various ways like-

• directly scavenging free radicals and in essence removing free radicals from the cellular environment
• by inhibiting enzymes which allow free radical formation
• by maintaining the electron transport chain during stress conditions
• by activating anti oxidant enzymes and transcription factors which are responsible for the synthesis of protective molecules like thioredoxin and HSP.
• by reducing the inflammatory response through inhibition of NF-kB pathways which is a protein complex which regulates the immune response.

Primarily Health Benefit

The key target of milk thistle supplementation is reduction of liver disease. Silymarin is effective in managing the impact of various toxins which cause the liver to damage. These would include alcohol, chemotherapy, and paracetamol. In clinical studies, the use of silymarin has been shown to facilitate protection against liver damage and one of the primary attributes of silymarin has been identified are its anti-oxidant functions. Additionally milk thistle has further influences in the regenerative capacity of the liver, assists in formation of new liver cells and provides further cellular protection by stabilizing liver cell membranes  to prevent toxins moving into the cells. The larger impact of these physiological benefits is the impediment of fibrosis and cirrhosis due to excessive liver inflammation, improved immune function and response to liver damage.

Supplement Facts

Serving = 1 capsule

Milk thistle extract 400mg

Usage and Warning

As a dietary supplement, take one capsule daily with water or as advised by the healthcare professional.