Silybum marianum: non-medical exploitation of the species

Abstract

Silybum marianum (milk thistle) is currently utilised as a medicinal plant which provides raw material for the production of silymarin. Silymarin is composed of a group of flavonolignans that are well known and studied for their medicinal properties. However, the biomass yield potential and the chemical composition of its biomass suggest opportunities for much broader utilisation of S. marianum. This paper reviews the available literature about S. marianum biomass productivity and composition and about properties of products and byproducts of silymarin extraction. Alternative uses of whole plant biomass include fodder, bioenergy production and phytoremediation. Byproducts of silymarin extraction such as oil and flour have possible applications in food, feed and cosmetics. Moreover, the review explores potential alternative applications of silymarin. We conclude that a pivotal issue for further utilisation of S. marianum is the development of improved cultivars suited for the different possible utilisations.

Experimental Paper. The effect of colour grading of milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.) seeds on their quality for sowing

“…seeds on their quality for sowing Milk thistle seed germination at the first and final counts in all examined samples was low because of the high percentage of diseased seedlings and dead seeds (tab. [3][4][5][6]. In sample I, germination at the first count of beige seeds was significantly higher than brown and non-graded seeds.…”

“…Dietary supplements containing the extract of milk thistle fruit are the best-selling plant pharmaceuticals in the United States and Europe. Poland is one of the most important producers of raw material and medicinal preparations based on extract of milk thistle fruit in Europe [2,3].…”

Identification of Milk Thistle Shatter‐Resistant Mutant Lines with Altered Lignocellulosic Profile for the Complete Domestication of the Species

“…As for cold tolerance, the plant is hardy to Zone 8b (USDA classification, personal observation); as a crop, it can be grown using an overwintering growth cycle in such a condition. On the contrary, in cooler climates, the species is grown as a summer annual crop (Andrzejewska et al, 2015).…”

“…Milk thistle has been used for medicinal purposes for >2000 yr (Morazzoni and Bombardelli, 1995), and at present, it is usually cultivated as an officinal plant prevalently in Europe and Asia (Andrzejewska et al, 2015). Medicinal and officinal formulations derived from this species are among the most marketed herbal products in the United States and Italy (ISMEA, 2013; Smith et al, 2016).…”

“…Other than silymarin, milk thistle fruit also contains valuable products such as oil and protein, and it was tested as potential commercial seed crop in Canada and New Zealand (Carrier et al, 2002; Martin et al, 2006). Byproducts generated from silymarin extraction have been shown to possess different nonmedical applications such as human and animal nutrition and biofuel production (Andrzejewska et al, 2015). Milk thistle lignocellulosic biomass was tested for biogas production with positive results (Kalamaras and Kotsopoulos, 2014).…”