Milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.) is an ancient medicinal plant which has been used for centuries for treatment of different diseases.
Milk thistle seed (MTS) contains silymarin, a complex composed of isomer flavonolignans (mainly silybin, silydianin and silychristin) that have strong antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity.
In humans, silymarin is used as a hepatoprotective treatment for different liver ailments (cirrhosis, alcoholic liver disease, chronic hepatitis C. etc) and as a treatment for Amanita phalloides fungal intoxication.
The mode of action by which silymarin might protect liver cells includes stabilisation of membranes, free radical scavenging, stimulation of hepatocyte protein synthesis and modulation of the immune response.
In poultry farming MTS may be used as a cost-effective, non-toxic and safe feed additive to alleviate some of the adverse effects caused by mycotoxins and to replace synthetic drugs in poultry diets.
MTS acts as a potent antioxidant of liver cells and increases their ability to regenerate.
