Milk thistle fruits
(Cardui mariae fructus)
Milk thistle fruits (Cardui mariae fructus) – a crowned plant that protects the liver
The active ingredient complex silymarin contained in the fruits and seeds of St. Mary’s thistle, which has a strong cell-protecting effect and shields the liver cells from many toxins, helped the milk thistle to become well-known as an effective, natural liver remedy. Milk thistle’s benefits include its mucosa-protective properties, which unfold in the stomach. In addition, they can fight off free radicals and are anti-inflammatory.
During the antiquity St. Mary’s thistle was predominantly known as a vegetable. Due to its tasty, edible fruits, milk thistle has also been called "wild artichoke", the spiky bracts eaten exactly like its namesake, the globe artichoke.
Its therapeutic effect as a medicinal plant became wildly known only in the mid-19th century. Historically milk thistle has been used for liver disorders, e.g. hepatitis and cirrhosis, and problems with the gallbladder.
Originally native to the rocky mountains in the Mediterranean, milk thistle has spread considerably over the millennia and can now be found throughout the world, from North America, over Asia Minor and even in Australia.
Extracts of Mary’s thistle have a strong cell-protecting effect and shields the liver cells from many toxins. Additionally, Milk thistle’s benefits include its mucosa-protective properties, which unfold in the stomach fighting off free radicals and showing anti-inflammatory properties.
The active ingredient complex silymarin contained in the fruits and seeds of St. Mary’s thistle (Silybi mariani fructus), shields the liver cells from many toxins, helped the milk thistle to become well-known as an effective, natural liver remedy.
The extracts are even used as antidote for intoxications with cytotoxic mushrooms (Amanita phalloides and related species).
Milk thistle seeds are cultivated for pharmaceutical processing. They are grown as a biennial in Europe, including Germany. Cultivating it as a perennial reduces soil erosion and leaching of nutrients in the field. Milk thistle can be cultivated in a variety of soils and is largely unfussy when it comes to location. Milk thistle originates from the Mediterranean where it favors sunny climates. In the first year, seeds are sown from early autumn. A good supply of water is also required for a two-year cycle so that healthy plants can establish themselves and survive the winter.
Weed control largely takes place using mechanical hoes and manual hoes in the second year.
In its second year, milk thistle produces beautiful, violet flowers which are popular with bumblebees and worker bees.
Milk thistle’s origin and uses
According to legend, Saint Mary’s thistle (Silybum marianum) derives its name from the unmistakable white marbling on its leaves – thought to be markings from the Virgin Mary’s milk. Also known as milk thistle, the leaves produce a milky white sap when broken off from the stem. In some cultures it became the name “Christ’s Crown”, based on the spiky appearance of its reddish-violet coloured flowers.
Originally native to the rocky mountains in the Mediterranean, milk thistle has spread considerably over the millennia and can now be found throughout the world, from North America, over Asia Minor and even in Australia.
The medicinal plant, sometimes reaching up to 1.5 meters high, is related to the daisy family and can often be found in gardens around the world, where its large purplish flower heads have an ornamental value. In the wild, it grows mainly in warm, sunny places on nutrient-rich soils.
During the antiquity St. Mary’s thistle was predominantly known as a vegetable. All of its parts were thought to be edible – either raw or cooked – roots, leaves, stem and even the spiky flower buds, when properly cleaned. Due to its tasty, edible fruits, milk thistle has also been called "wild artichoke", the spiky bracts eaten exactly like its namesake, the globe artichoke.
Its therapeutic effect as a medicinal plant became wildly known only in the mid-19th century. Historically milk thistle has been used for liver disorders, e.g. hepatitis and cirrhosis, and problems with the gallbladder.
Interesting facts about St. Mary’s thistle
Did you know, that:
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Milk thistle originated in the Mediterranean and North Africa?
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It purple flowers bloom from June to September?
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St Mary’s thistle is considered a weed in some parts of the world? The plant can mature in less than a year and can spread rapidly.
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The active ingredient in milk thistle is called silymarin and is a mixture of flavonoids?
The effect of milk thistle fruits on the gastrointestinal tract
Nowadays most usage is centred around the 7mm long, greyish-brown seeds and their extracts. The active ingredient complex silymarin contained in the fruits and seeds of St. Mary’s thistle (Silybi mariani fructus), which has a strong cell-protecting effect and shields the liver cells from many toxins, helped the milk thistle to become well-known as an effective, natural liver remedy. Milk thistle’s benefits include its mucosa-protective properties, which unfold in the stomach. In addition, they can fight off free radicals and are anti-inflammatory.
All of these properties contribute to the multi-target effect, if milk thistle is combined with other medicinal plants – as is the case with Iberogast®. This herbal preparation includes extracts from nine highly effective, natural herbs, to offer effective relief on complaints like stomach pain, nausea, feeling of fullness and abdominal cramps – symptoms of functional digestive disorders, like irritable stomach or irritable bowel.
At a glance: This is how milk thistle fruits contained in Iberogast® work
The following table shows the different active benefits of milk thistle fruits in Iberogast®:
| Active benefits of milk thistle fruits in the frame of irritable stomach | |
| Activation of the musculature in the lower stomach | |
| Relaxation of the musculature in the upper stomach | |
| Anti-inflammatory |
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| Regulation of acid production |
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| Protection of the mucosa |
|
Legend:
| High impact |
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| Medium impact |
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| Light impact |
|
The below video is an example only. Please localize the videos in the content packages (can be found on eDAM) and here with your local market Vimeo/YouTube links
This is a sample video only. Please replace with your own local country Vimeo/YouTube videos.
Medicinal Plants
Iberogast® combines a total of nine highly effective medicinal plant extracts into a unique combination. Whether pain, bloating or pressure in the abdomen - with the concentrated power of nature, functional and motility-related digestive symptoms are quickly alleviated. The sum of all 9 plants containing numerous active ingredients provide the multi-target effect relieving several symptoms at once.
Any questions left?
Here are the questions and answers that interest our users most.
Iberogast®
Disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract are usually not only extremely unpleasant and associated with numerous symptoms, they often make a normal everyday life harder. It’s good that there is Iberogast®: The combination of nine medicinal plants treats both the underlying causes and the annoying symptoms - simultaneously.
Buy Iberogast® prescription-free from your pharmacy.
Get the power of nature into your home!
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European Medicines Agency: EMA/HMPC/294188/2013 – “Assessment report on Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn., fructus.” Published 5 June 2018. Available from: https://www.ema.europa.eu/documents/herbal-report/final-assessment-report-silybum-marianum-l-gaertn-fructus_en.pdf.
Fructus Silybi Mariae, WHO monograph 2002.
Silybi mariani fructus, ESCOP monographs 2009.
Abenavoli L. et al., „Milk thistle (Silybum marianum): A concise overview on ist chemistry, pharmacological, and nutraceutical uses in liver diseases“. Phytotherapy Research. 2018;32:2202–2213
