Milk Thistle Extract (80% Silymarin)
Also known as: Silybum marianum, silymarin, silibinin, milk thistle seed extract
A seed extract of milk thistle standardized to silymarin, a flavonolignan complex, and the best-known botanical in liver-support formulas. It has been studied for decades in various liver conditions, with reviews describing antioxidant and membrane-stabilizing effects and a good tolerability record, though clinical outcomes vary by population and preparation. Typical daily silymarin intakes in the literature fall between 140 and 420 mg. Poor water solubility limits absorption, which phytosome and micellar forms try to address.
Research summary
Silymarin flavonolignans scavenge free radicals, stabilize hepatocyte membranes, and support glutathione levels in liver tissue.
Dosage
Daily amounts, of extract.
| Lowest studied | Typical range | Highest studied | Upper limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | 140–420 mg | — | — |
140 to 420 mg silymarin per day, commonly 140 mg three times daily with meals. Absorption is limited; taking it with food or using a phytosome form improves uptake. Mild laxative effect at higher doses.
Standardization: 80% silymarin
Source material: seed extract
Format suitability
- Capsule
- Powder
- Tablet
- Softgel
- Gummy
- Liquid
Bitter and slightly oily; capsules preferred.
Formulation notes
Often paired with N-acetylcysteine, artichoke, or dandelion. Ragweed-family plant; note for allergy-sensitive labeling.
Sources
Related ingredients
Greens Blend (Generic)
OtherA generic greens blend is a placeholder for the dried plant powders typical of greens products: cereal grasses such as wheatgrass and barley grass, spirulina and chlorella, leafy vegetables like spinach and kale, and often fruit or vegetable extracts.
Typical: 3–10 g
N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC)
Amino acidAn acetylated form of the amino acid cysteine that is the rate-limiting precursor for glutathione, the body's principal intracellular antioxidant.
Typical: 600–1,800 mg
Turmeric Root Powder
BotanicalThe whole dried and ground rhizome of the turmeric plant, the same material used as a culinary spice.
Typical: 1,000–3,000 mg
Chlorella
OtherChlorella is a single-celled freshwater green alga, most commonly Chlorella vulgaris, grown in tanks and dried into a fine green powder.
Typical: 2–5 g
Artichoke Leaf Extract
BotanicalAn extract of globe artichoke leaves standardized to cynarin and caffeoylquinic acids, used in digestive, liver, and cholesterol-support formulas.
Typical: 320–640 mg