The flavonoid silymarin and one of its structural components, silibinin, are substances with documented hepatoprotective properties. Their mechanisms of action are still poorly understood.

In the most rigorous trial to date, oral silymarin was not superior to placebo in decreasing disease activity. Silymarin is a botanical extract of milk thistle commonly used by patients with liver ...

5 Milk thistle (600 mg/day of an 80 percent silymarin extract) for four or 12 days had no impact ... 6 By studying the herb bioavailability and drug metabolites, the authors concluded that silybin ...