Tag: Flavonolignans

Over 20 million people worldwide consume milk thistle supplements, which contain the active extract silymarin. This popular herbal remedy is often celebrated for its liver-supporting properties, but what exactly is it on a botanical and chemical level? To truly appreciate its benefits, one must first understand its precise classification.

Despite the popularity of milk thistle tea, the primary active compound, silymarin, is nearly insoluble in water. This critical detail has significant implications for how effectively the body can absorb and utilize the plant's beneficial properties for liver and general health.

While commonly used interchangeably, milk thistle and silymarin are not, in fact, the same thing. Milk thistle is the name of the flowering plant, while silymarin is the potent mixture of active compounds extracted from the plant's seeds.