TOWG Milk Thistle Seed Extract Powder 100g

Milk thistle is a native to central and western Europe, especially close to the Mediterranean, that was introduced and naturalized in California and other parts of the United States of America.  
It is found mainly on dry rocky or stony soils in wastelands, especially by buildings, hedge banks, fields and by roadsides up to an altitude of around 600 meters or 2000 feet. The Milk thistle is an annual or biennial, its height is from 30 to 150 cm (1 foot to 4 feet) tall, it has a seldom branched erect stem that is prominently grooved.  It has large leaves that are oblong, smooth and shiny, marked with white veins.
It is thought that silymarin works in three different ways.  Firstly, it may support the outer membranes of the liver cells, therefore preventing the penetration of liver damaging poisons and substances.  Silymarin is also a powerful antioxidant that supports the liver’s ability to protect its cells against chemicals that are formed by the use of high-fat diets, smoking and other substances such as alcohol abuse.  It is also thought that the antioxidant effect of the silymarin is ten times more powerful than that of Vitamin E.  Michael Castleman in his article entitled "Milk Thistle: Nature's Liver Protector" writes, "The best-known antioxidants are Vitamin A (beta-carotene), Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and the mineral selenium.  However, in the liver, silymarin [milk thistle extract] is more than 10 times as potent an antioxidant as Vitamin E."  It is also thought that silymarin may support a healthy inflammation response within the liver.  
Milk thistle may also have supportive effects on the blood and immune system due to its action of decreasing basophil histamine release and increasing of T-lymphocytes as well as reducing immunoglobulins.  It is also thought that silymarin may support healthy lipid levels.  
More recently, studies on the Milk thistle have shown that it has a role of protection regarding the liver.  Scientists in Germany, where most of the research has been done, noticed that it seemed to protect the livers of animals from poisoning with highly toxic carbon tetrachloride.  The particular active ingredient that protects the liver was isolated and its chemical constitution established, a previously unknown flavonol, that was given the name silymarin.  No other plant principle has been as extensively investigated in recent years as silymarin, with further studies showing that it is effective in supporting a wide range of ailments dealing with the liver.
Constituents of Milk Thistle include:
Minerals: Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, Manganese, Selenium, ChromiumVitamins: Betaine, Beta caroteneFlavonolignans: Silibinin, Isosilybinin, Silichristin, SilidianinOther Phytochemicals: Apigenin, Quercetin, Silybin, Silychristin, Silymarin, Silyhermin, Silymonin, Flavonoids,  Dehydrosilybin, Desoxy-Silydianin,  Silybinomer