Milk Thistle May Protect Against Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is rampant worldwide. It is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer, and third most common cause of death from cancer with the majority of cases occurring in Asia. (Cancer Research UK). Several types of cancer can form in the liver. The most common type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma.

Liver cancer is difficult to cure, as it is most often not caught in the early stage. When successfully treated, Liver cancer may never go away completely, so follow-up is very important, Unfortunately, the overall five-year survival rate for liver cancer is only 15% (American Cancer Society).

Researchers investigated Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) as it has been widely utilized for liver health and liver diseases.
Silibinin, one of the silymarin compounds is a polyphenolic flavonoid and the major biologically active compound of milk thistle. They noted “It is well known that milk thistle is safe and well-tolerated, and it protects the liver from drug or alcohol-related injury.”  Building from that, research has demonstrated silibinin’s (and milk thistle’s) inhibitory effects on multiple cancer cell lines, including prostate, colon, skin, bladder and lung cancers.

The study found that silibinin significantly reduced growth of multiple liver cancer cell types and promoted cancer cell apoptosis (destruction).

Pure-lē Organic Certified Organic Milk Thistle Concentrate Organicaps are guaranteed to contain 80% Silymarin compounds of which 30% are Silybin and Isosilybin.

Effects and mechanisms of silibinin on human hepatoma cell lines