Silybum marianun is a short annual plant grown in dry rocky soils in Europe and the USA. The whole plant may be harvested for medicinal purpose. Traditionally, milk thistle is employed for two purposes.

• Promoting the health of the liver in healthy and weakened states.
• Promoting the production of milk in nursing mothers.

• A. Act as liver antioxidant. In the liver cell, silymarin is ten times more potent than vitamin E.
• B. Elevates the detoxification substance content of the liver cells. It had been demonstrated that milk thistle can protect the liver against the ingestion of the deadly deathcap mushroom poisons.
• C. Stabilizes the cell membranes by preventing any disruption of its lipid bilayers.

Along the biliary tree, Silymarin enhances bile flow. It reduces the cholesterol content of the bile, thus limiting potential gallstone formation.