Envoy at 14:25, 22 October 2007

2007-10-22T14:25:18Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Milk Thistle
| image = Silybum_marianum.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''Silybum marianum''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asterales]]
| familia = [[Asteraceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Lactucoideae]]
| tribus = [[Cardueae]]
| genus = '''''Silybum'''''
| genus_authority = [[Michel Adanson|Adans.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
*''[[Silybum eburneum]]''
*''[[Silybum marianum]]''
*''[[Silybum × gonzaloi]]''
}}
{{about|the true milk thistles|another plant that is sometimes referred to as a milk thistle|sow thistle}}

'''Milk thistles''' are [[thistle]]s of the genus '''''Silybum''''' Adans., [[flowering plant]]s of the daisy family ([[Asteraceae]]). They are native to the [[Mediterranean]] regions of Europe, [[North Africa]] and the [[Middle East]]. Whilst health uses mostly for chronic liver disease have been traditionally claimed for the plant, increasing research is being undertaken on this and other possible medical uses.<ref name="Gazák">{{cite journal |author=Gazák R, Walterová D, Kren V |title=Silybin and silymarin--new and emerging applications in medicine |journal=Curr. Med. Chem. |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=315-38 |year=2007 |pmid=17305535 |doi=10.2174/092986707779941159}}</ref>

==Description and classification==
[[Image:Milk thistle flower.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Thistle flower]]
[[Image:Dadar3s1.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Dried Thistle flowers at the beginning of summer]]
Members of this genus grow as [[annual plant|annual]] or [[biennial plant]]s. The erect [[Plant stem|stem]] is tall, branched and furrowed but not spiny. The large, alternate [[Leaf|leaves]] are waxy-lobed, toothed and thorny, as in other genera of thistle. The lower leaves are cauline (attached to the stem without petiole). The upper leaves have a clasping base. They have large, disc-shaped pink-to-purple, rarely white, solitary [[flower]] [[head (botany)|head]]s at the end of the stem. The flowers consist of tubular florets. The phyllaries under the flowers occur in many rows, with the outer row with spine-tipped lobes and apical [[spine (biology)|spines]]. The fruit is a black [[achene]] with a white [[pappus]].
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Only two [[species]] are currently classified in this genus:
* ''Silybum eburneum'' Coss. & Dur., known as the Silver Milk Thistle, Elephant Thistle, or Ivory Thistle
** ''Silybum eburneum'' Coss. & Dur. var. ''hispanicum''
* ''Silybum marianum'' ([[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]) Gaertner, the [[Silybum marianum|Blessed Milk Thistle]], which has a large number of other common names, such as Variegated Thistle.
The two species [[hybrid]]ise naturally, the hybrid being known as ''Silybum × gonzaloi'' Cantó , Sánchez Mata & Rivas Mart. (''S. eburneum'' var. ''hispanicum'' x ''S. marianum'')

A number of other plants have been classified in this genus in the past but have since been relocated elsewhere in the light of additional research.

''S. marianum'' is by far the more widely known species. It is believed to give some remedy for [[liver]] diseases (e.g. [[viral hepatitis]]) and an extract, [[silymarin]], is used in medicine. The adverse effect of the medicinal use of milk thistle is loose stools.

==Health benefits==
Milk thistles have been reported to have protective effects on the [[liver]] and to improve its function. They are typically used to treat [[liver cirrhosis]], chronic [[hepatitis]] (liver inflammation), and [[gallbladder]] disorders. The active compound in Milk thistle credited with this effect is "silymarin", and is typically administered in amount ranging from 200-500mg per day (common Milk Thistle supplements have an 80% standardized extract of silymarin). Increasing research is being carried out into its possible medical uses and the mechanisms of such effects.<ref name="Gazák">{{cite journal |author=Gazák R, Walterová D, Kren V |title=Silybin and silymarin--new and emerging applications in medicine |journal=Curr. Med. Chem. |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=315-38 |year=2007 |pmid=17305535 |doi=10.2174/092986707779941159}}</ref>. However, a previous literature review using only studies with both double-blind and placebo protocols concluded that milk thistle and its derivatives "does not seem to significantly influence the course of patients with alcoholic and/or hepatitis B or C liver diseases."<ref name="pmid16279916">{{cite journal |author=Rambaldi A, Jacobs BP, Iaquinto G, Gluud C |title=Milk thistle for alcoholic and/or hepatitis B or C liver diseases--a systematic cochrane hepato-biliary group review with meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials |journal=Am. J. Gastroenterol. |volume=100 |issue=11 |pages=2583-91 |year=2005 |pmid=16279916 |doi=10.1111/j.1572-0241.2005.00262.x}}</ref>

Treatment claims also include:
*Lowering [[cholesterol]] levels
*Reducing [[insulin]] resistance in people with type 2 [[diabetes]] who also have cirrhosis
*Reducing the growth of [[cancer]] cells in [[breast cancer|breast]], [[cervical cancer|cervical]], and [[prostate cancer]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Milk Thistle |author=National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine |url=http://nccam.nih.gov/health/milkthistle/ |publisher=[[National Institutes of Health]]}} - General information on milk thistle</ref>
*Milk thistle is also used in many products claiming to reduce the effects of a [[hangover]].
*Milk thistle can also be found as an ingredient in some [[energy drinks]] like the [[AriZona Beverage Company]] Green Tea energy drink and [[Rockstar Energy Drink]].

==See also==
*[[Silybum marianum|Blessed milk thistle]]
*''[[Cnicus]]'' (Blessed thistle)

==References==
*[http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/Written_findings/Silybum_marianum.html Milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.)] - information at the site of Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board
* K. Flora, M. Hahn, H. Rosen and K. Benner. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9468229&dopt=Abstract Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) for the Therapy of Liver Disease.] ''Am. J. Gastroenterology'' '''93''', 139-143.
*[http://www.skyeherbals.com/materia_medica/milk_thistle.php Milk Thistle Summary Report] - Information on uses, both historical and medical, with online discussion forum
{{Commons|Silybum marianum}}
*[http://hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2006/01/conclusions_abo.html Hepatitis C Treatment] Conclusions by various referenced studies on the potential use of milk thistle in treating Hepatitis C and other liver health issues.

==External links==
*[http://www.treatment-skincare.com/September-2007/Milk-Thistle.html Milk Thistle Preparation and Dermatology Information]

==Footnotes==
<references/>
[[Category:Asteraceae]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]

Milk thistle - Revision history

Envoy at 14:25, 22 October 2007