Milk thistle extract is made from Milk Thistle seed which is belong to Silybum marianum(L.)Gaertn.fam.Compositae,originating in India but subsequently introduced into Europe and North America,Its medicinal use,particularly as a liver protectant,against cirrhosis ,and against hepatitis extends for 2000 years .The antioxidant and hepatoprotective action is presently attributed primarily to the flavonolignan silybin,whose lack of water solubility results in a pronounced enterohepatic recirculation providing significant liver exposure over time.

The liver-protectant action appears consistent with its stimulation of protein biosynthesis at the DNA/RNA level,thus promoting liver regeneration.Additional actions consistent with its purported value are its antioxidant action,thus sparing glutathione,and also an alteration of outer liver cell membranes blocking the entrance of toxins up to and including amanita toxin,This last is useful in cases of ingestion of the death's cap mushroom.Few adverse effects have been noted.
Now it was not just used as the medicine raw material but also used into the food additive fields,health care product fields and cosmetice fields.Long-term research shows that silymarin is a good antioxidant and it have a significant influence of combat free radicals function.It will have a very bright future in the field of Herb extract !