Milk thistle has been used for centuries as a herbal remedy for liver disorders. Silymarin, which is a mixture of several different plant compounds known as flavonolignans, is the bioactive component of milk thistle and sold as “milk thistle extract” (the most common supplemental form of milk thistle).

Evidence suggests that silymarin protects liver cells, reduces liver-related deaths, and improves markers of liver function in people with chronic liver disease.^[1] These effects are primarily attributed to silymarin’s role as a free radical scavenger, thus reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Silymarin also seems to have antifibrotic properties.^[1]