Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn Silybum marianum is also known as "milk thistle", a name derived from the story of the Virgin Mary hiding under the prickly leaves of the milk thistle while breastfeeding the baby Jesus.1. The main components of the whole plant contain flavonoids and fumaric acid, and the seeds contain silybinin A, B ( Silydianin, Silychristin, etc.), which are collectively known as Silydianin and Silychristin. Silybinin A, B), Silydianin (Silydianin), Silychristin (Silychristin), etc., collectively known as Silymarin. Silymarin consists of 65% to 80% of a complex of flavonoid lignans: silybin A, silybin B, isosilybin A, isosilybin B, silychristin, isosilychristin, silybinin, and the flavonoid. The remainder consists of fatty acids, betaine, apigenin, silymarinol, proteins, fixed oils and polyphenolic compounds. Read More