A.vogel Milk Thistle Traditionally used to treat: disorders of the liver, spleen and gall bladder hepatic, splenic or renal congestion gallstones hepatic pain and swelling. Sugar-, gluten- and lactose-free A.Vogel’s Milk Thistle extract is prepared with great care. The silky hairs covering the Milk Thistle fruit are removed so that only the fruit is used in the tincture. This tincture contains silybin, silydianin, silychristin, isosilybin, small quantities of silandrin, silymonin and silybinomere, flavonoids like quercetin and taxifolin, phytosterols like sitosterols, and mucilage. Milk Thistle’s action mechanisms have not all been elucidated but its antioxidant(1), anti-inflammatory(2) and anti-proliferative(3) effects are acknowledged. Although clinically proven, its liver protection effect has not yet been explained.The German Commission E acknowledges its benefits in cases of: dyspeptic complaints; toxic liver damage; supportive treatment in chronic inflammatory liver disease and hepatic cirrhosis.(4) Composition Each ml contains tincture of: Medicinal ingredient: Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) fruit (1:2) …923 mg, equivalent to 461 mg fruit. Daily dose (30 drops) contains 839 mg of Milk Thistle tincture. Non-medicinal ingredient: 1 mL of tincture contains 0.61 mL alcohol (ethanol).1 mL = 33 drops. Dropper included. Dosage Adults: Take 10 drops with water, 3 to 5 times daily. Insalivate before swallowing. Duration of use: Consult a healthcare practitioner for a prolonged use. Historical overview Milk Thistle is a magnificent plant with its leaves covered by large white veins and spots. There is a medieval tradition saying that the milk-white veins of the leaves come from the milk of the Virgin Mary, which once fell upon a plant of thistle. Milk Thistle seeds are probably the best liver regenerator in existence. Their active ingredients are flavones and flavo-lignans, collectively called silymarin. These molecules have antioxidant effects, some of which are still being discovered. Scientific studies A study on patients taking a medication for Alzheimer’s disease, Tacrine, demonstrated that Milk Thistle reduces the gastrointestinal and cholinergic side effects of the medication.(5) Milk Thistle’s hepatoprotective effect has been evaluated on Hungarian workers exposed to industrial solvents containing toluene. After 30 days of treatment with Milk Thistle, all liver function parameters (blood enzymes) and blood platelets were significantly improved.(6) An in vivo study proved silymarin’s ability to reverse the effects of aflatoxin B1 on the liver cells.(7) Many reports mention Milk Thistle’s efficacy in the treatment of mushroom poisoning by death cap (Amanita phalloides). Silybin and silybinin would be responsible for this effect.(8-9) Precautions, contraindications and interactions In case of impaired liver function, seek medical advice prior to use. Do not use during pregnancy or nursing without medical advice. Avoid taking in case of known allergy to any of the ingredients in the product. Do not use if safety seal is broken. Keep out of reach of children. References 1-Jiang C, Agarwal R, Lu J. Anti-angiogenic potential of a cancer chemopreventive flavonoid antioxidant, silymarin: inhibition of key attributes of vascular endothelial cells and angiogenic cytokine secretion by cancer epithelial cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2000 Sep 16;276(1):371-8 2-Gupta OP, Sing S, Bani S, Sharma N et al. Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities of silymarin acting through inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase. Phytomedicine 2000;7(1):21-4. 3-Bhatia N, Agarwal R. Detrimental effect of cancer preventive phytochemicals silymarin, genistein and epigallocatechin 3-gallate on epigenetic events in human prostate carcinoma DU145 cells. <>Prostate 2001 Feb 1;46(2):98-107 4-The Complete German Commission E Monographs, Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Blumenthal M et al 1998. American Botanical Council, 6200 Manor Rd, Austin, Texas, 78723. 5-Allain H, Schuck S, Lebreton S et al. Aminotransferase levels and silymarin in de novo tacrine-treated patients with Alzheimer's disease. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 1999 May-Jun;10(3):181-5 6-Szilard S, Szentgyorgyi D, Demeter I. Protective effect of Legalon in workers exposed to organic solvents. Acta Med Hung 1988;45(2):249-56 7-Rastogi R, Srivastava AK, Srivastava M, Rastogi AK. Hepatocurative effect of picroliv and silymarin against aflatoxin B1 induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Planta Med 2000 Dec;66(8):709-13 8-Carducci R, Armellino MF, Volpe C et al. Silibinin and acute poisoning with Amanita phalloides. Minerva Anestesiol 1996 May;62(5):187-93 9-Daoudal P, Noirot A, Wagschal G et al. Traitement des empoisonnements aux phalloïdes avec la silymarine et le ceftazidime. Presse Med 1989 Sep 2-9;18(27):1341-2 10-Natural Medicines Comprehensive DataBase 2001. Pharmacist's Letter 3120 W. March Lane, PO Box 8190, Stockton, CA 95208. Tel: 1-209-472-2244 (Web site continually updated. (www.naturaldatabase.com)