The major action of milk thistle is on the liver. The liver performsan incredible number of functions in the body. The major functions of the liver include the production of bile, filtration of the blood and removal of bacteria, and the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins,vitamins, fats and many other compounds used by the body. Milk thistle supports normal liver function and has a protective effect on cell membranes due to its strongantioxidant and free radical scavenging action. This action appears to be largely due to the action of the activeconstituents in milk thistle which are a complex offlavanolignans collectively called silymarin. Silymarin caninhibit the factors that can cause liver damage, as well as stimulating the replacement of old and damaged cells with new liver cells.Silymarin increases the capacity of the liver to detoxify, by increasing glutathione levels in the liver. Glutathione, an important antioxidant compound, is responsible for detoxifying a wide range of drugs, hormones and chemicals in the liver.
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