Research on milk thistle is primarily focused on its main bioactive extract, silymarin. Please refer to the silymarin page for a description of silymarin’s mechanisms of action.
How does milk thistle work?
Written by:
Fact-checked
by:
•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Milk thistle works primarily through its main bioactive extract, silymarin. For detailed mechanisms of action, refer to the silymarin page.