Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products MILK THISTLE (Silybum marianum, Carduus marianum) Excerpt: CLINICAL SUMMARY Derived from the seed, pod, or fruit of the plant. Milk thistle is used primarily to manage various liver diseases. Placebo-controlled clinical studies show efficacy in reducing aminotransferases in alcoholic liver disease (9), but studies in other types of hepatic disease have been flawed (10) (11). Animal models suggest that flavonoids in milk thistle have antioxidant and anticancer effects. Flavonoids isolated from milk thistle have been shown to inhibit colon (7) and prostate (8) (12) cancer cells in rats. To date there is no evaluation of survival or quality of life. One case report regarding toxicity (sweating, nausea, vomiting, and weakness) was uncovered in the literature (5), but there are no other reports of toxicity or significant adverse events. Milk thistle inhibits cytochrome p450 3A4 (4). Therefore, increased levels of medications metabolized via this enzyme may occur. http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/11571.cfm?recordid=420 Not an MD I'll tell you where to go! Mayo Clinic in Rochester http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester s Hopkins Medicine http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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