Description
Silybum marianum is an annual or biennial plant of the Asteraceae family that now grows throughout the world. This fairly typical thistle goes by the common names Milk Thistle, Cardus marianus, blessed milkthistle, Marian thistle, Saint Mary’s thistle, Mediterranean milk thistle, variegated thistle, and Scotch thistle. Milk Thistle sometimes only grows to a height of 12 inches and other times can grow as tall as 79 inches. Milk Thistle has red to purple flowers and shiny pale green leaves with white veins. In the Northern Hemisphere , Milk Thistle blooms between June and August.
Milk Thistle has been used for several purposes including treatment of liver disease, prevention and treatment of cancer, and supportive treatment of poisoning from death cap mushrooms. Traditional Milk Thistle extract is made from the seed, which contain 4-6% silymarin. 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). Silibinin, a semipurified fraction of silymarin, is primarily a mixture of 2 diastereoisomers, silybin A and silybin B, in a roughly 1:1 ratio. Because of the potassium nitrate content, this plant has been found to be toxic to cattle and sheep.
The seeds being sold on this listing are viable and organic Milk Thistle seeds.
*These products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore we cannot claim to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All information on our site is provided for historical background and educational purposes only.
