Milk thistle is also known by the scientific name Silybum marianum. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), it has been used for thousands of years to treat many health conditions. Milk thistle contains silymarin, which is an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory that can benefit the the body, including the liver and heart.
Liver Protection
One of the most well-known benefits of milk thistle is its ability to protect the liver from disease. The silymarin compound in milk thistle is composed of several flavonoids that, the UMMC states, help protects the liver's cells from damage that can be caused by toxic substances, such as over the counter medications and alcohol. It also repairs the cells in the liver that are already damaged. According to the NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) support group, it repairs liver damage by stimulating the development of new cells to replace the damaged ones.
Cholesterol Benefits
A report in the 1998 medical journal Physiological Research, the silymarin in milk thistle is believed to protect the body from high cholesterol and atherosclerosis. The reason for this is the benefit that silymarin has on the liver, which metabolizes cholesterol and fats.
Cancer Protection
Milk thistle has been shown to exhibit anti-cancer properties. A study in the January 2005 edition of the International Journal of Oncology states that silymarin holds promise in protecting against skin cancer caused by the sun, as well as cancer in other parts of the body caused by the chemical mutation of cells. According to the UMMC, the silymarin, as well as other ingredients in milk thistle, keep the cancer cells from dividing and multiplying. This also reduces the blood supply to tumors that are growing.
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