Assembly and Comparative Analysis of Complete Mitogenome of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertner

Abstract

Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertner. (also known as milk thistle) is a species of the Asteraceae family that it native to the Mediterranean area and has features similar to annual or biennial, self-fertile plants that grow wild throughout the region (Hetz et al. 1993, Leng-Peschlow 1996. Milk thistle is a serious weed in many countries (LeRoy et al. 1997). It grows preferentially in fertile soils, but it can also grow successfully in sandy soils and heavier clay soils (Khan et al. 2009, Karkanis et al. 2011. It tends to occupy areas and eliminate other plant species through competition (Berner et al. 2002). Silybum marianum contains silymarin, which has hepatoprotective effects.Silymarin is highly accumulated in the external cover of Silybum marianum seeds and is composed of flavonolignan isomers (silybin, isosilybin, silychristin, isosilychristin, and silydianin) (Deep et al. 2008, Valková et al. 2021. Silybin is the principal active compound (Saller et al. 2001). Silybum marianum is a troublesome weed, but it can also be cultivated as a medicinal plant because of its silymarin components.