Milk thistle is commonly found growing wild in a variety of settings, including roadsides. The Latin name is Silybum marianum. The seeds of the dried flower are used. The active ingredient in the plant is a flavonoid called silymarin, an antioxidant said to protect liver cells from toxins. Silymarin apparently promotes liver cell protein synthesis and decreases the oxidation of glutathione. The plant's flowers and seeds have been used for more than 2,000 years to treat disorders of the liver and gallbladder.
