Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) Research

Latin Name: Silybum marianum

Family: Asteraceae

RESEARCH

The listings of research below represent a compilation of scientific articles found on the species, with a very brief overview description of each article/study.  Research found is catalogued by therapeutic action.  This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use.

MOOD

• In an 8-week pilot double-blind randomized trial of 35 adults, milk thistle was as effective as fluoxetine in reducing obsessive compulsive disorder.  From:  Sayyah, M., Boostani, H., Pakseresht, S., & Malayeri, A. (2010). Comparison of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. with fluoxetine in the treatment of Obsessive− Compulsive Disorder. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 34(2), 362-365.

HYPOLIPIDEMIC

• A compilation of research showed the following herbs to have a hypolipidemic effect:  yarrow, onion, garlic, dill, celery, burdock, oats, barberry, cabbage, chili pepper, safflower, chicory, chickpea, bitter orange, orange, guggul, coriander, cranberry, melon, pumpkin, artichoke, ginseng, eugenol, schelelecht, ginkgo, soy, walnut, apple, nutmeg, red yeast rice, miswak, evening primrose, basil, bulacy, orchis, avocado, plantain, blond plotitago, green bean, purslane, black cherry, pomegranate, milk thistle, brinjal, tomato, tamarind, thea, thyme, fenugreek, bilberry, grape, ginger, and corn.  From:  Rouhi-Boroujeni, H., Rouhi-Boroujeni, H., Khoddami, M., Khazraei, H. R., Dehkordil, E. B., & Rafieian-Kopaei, M. (2017). Hypolipidemic herbals with diuretic effects: A systematic review. In Biol. Sci (Vol. 8, pp. 21-28).

SKIN / WOUNDS

• This was a review of research on the use of plants from the Asteraceae family to treat wounds. From: Carvalho Jr, A. R., Diniz, R. M., Suarez, M. A., Figueiredo, C. S., Zagmignan, A., Grisotto, M. A., … & da Silva, L. C. (2018). Use of some asteraceae plants for the treatment of wounds: from ethnopharmacological studies to scientific evidences. Frontiers in pharmacology, 9, 784.

URNINARY SYSTEM / DIURETIC

• Extracts from Silybum marianum and Cistus ladaniferus had a diuretic effect in mice. From: El Menyiy, N., Al-Waili, N., El-Haskoury, R., Bakour, M., Zizi, S., Al-Waili, T., & Lyoussi, B. (2018). Potential effect of Silybum marianum L. and Cistus ladaniferus L. extracts on urine volume, creatinine clearance and renal function. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine, 11(6), 393.
• Antioxidant activity of herbs related to the urinary system was tested in vivo. Of the 55 tested herbs, 12 were equally or more effective than the already established milk thistle seed (Silybum marianum) or tea leaf (Camellia sinensis). The top herbs were Olea europaea (olive leaf), Cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh), Rheum palmatum (rhubarb), Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice), and Scutellaria lateriflora (Virginia skullcap). From: Wojcikowski, K., Stevenson, L., Leach, D., Wohlmuth, H., & Gobe, G. (2007). Antioxidant capacity of 55 medicinal herbs traditionally used to treat the urinary system: a comparison using a sequential three-solvent extraction process. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 13(1), 103-110.

Compiled by: Kathy Sadowski

Updated: 9/13/19