Milk Thistle Constituents

The image above comes from the images I got while studying this herb in school.  It comes from the class lesson.

Sorry I didn't post anything yesterday.  I got a bit busy and ended up exhausted. I got started working on that room.  I asked hubby what he wanted me to do with the majority of the stuff in there and since he doesn't use it, he said to get rid of it.  A lot of it is games that don't even work on modern systems so I took a bunch of bags to the dump today.  I still have a LOT to get rid of like old computer parts. It will be done!  Hubby is getting ready to head back out, a load up to Denver. The kids are playing with their holiday loot. All is good!  Love and Light!

On to milk thistle constituents!

Flavolignan is a hybrid compound caused by a flavonoid and lignan combining.  It is antioxidant and hepatoprotective (Hoffman, 2003, p. 108, 584; Ganora, 2009, p. 31, 55, 66, 107, 113).

Silymarin is composed of silybin, silydianin, 2,3-dehydro-derivatives, taxifoline, and silychristin.
The compound has antihepatoxic properties. Hoffman also mentions studies that show this compound is effective in treating liver disease and it has been used for centuries as a liver tonic. Ganora adds this compound is the strongest hepatoprotective and hepatoregenerative compound known to man that is also a lipid antioxidant and protects the cell membranes of the liver. It is very soluble in ethanol, ethyl acetate, and acetone.  Most sources say use the seeds but Ganora states the leaves have more of this compound but the seeds can be ground and added to food (Hoffman, 2003, p. 108, 177, 584; Ganora, 2009, p. 31, 66, 113).

Silybin is a component of silymarin and used to carry the name itself. The compound has antihepatoxic properties (Hoffman, 2003, p. 108, 114; Ganora, 2009, p. 31, 66, 113).

Silychristin is a component of silymarin and used to carry the name itself. The compound has antihepatoxic properties (Hoffman, 2003, p. 114; Ganora, 2009, p. 66, 113).

Cholesterol is best known by people for being "bad" because it is high. This is actually vital for cell structure and is found in every cell in the body. It serves as a hormone precursor in the adrenal glands, testes, and ovaries. The liver uses it as a precursor to bile, used in digestion. Ganora adds that, like humans, these are in the plant's cells. (Hoffman, 2003, p. 84, 170-1, 300-2; Ganora, 2003, p. 18, 46, 69, 79, 86, 87, 89, 90, 92, 125, 144, 145, 146, 167).

Campesterol: Hoffman just lists this as a phytosterol that is unique to higher plants. Ganora adds this is one of the three major phytosterols. These contribute to the hormone processes in the body, including sexual hormones (Hoffman, 2003, p. 143; Ganora, 2009, p 145).

Constituents: silydianin, oleic acid, and sitosterol

Have  Great Day!