Silybum eburneum

Silybum eburneum, commonly known as the ivory thistle, is a remarkable medicinal plant native to the Mediterranean region. Renowned for its potent bioactive compounds, it is frequently studied for its hepatoprotective properties. This species offers significant therapeutic potential, particularly in supporting liver health and combating oxidative stress naturally.

  • Scientific name: Silybum eburneum
  • Family: Asteraceae
  • Native range: Europe

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asterales, it is classified under the family Asteraceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Silybum as Silybum eburneum.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Asterales WCVP
Family Asteraceae WCVP
Genus Silybum WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Silybum eburneum, is recognized by different common names depending on the language and region. In Arabic, it is referred to as سلبين عاجي, while in Chinese, it is commonly known as 象牙蓟.
Language Common Name Source
ar سلبين عاجي Wikidata
zh 象牙蓟 Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct regions. In Southwestern Europe, its presence is specifically noted within the borders of Spain. Moving across the Mediterranean, it is widely found throughout Northern Africa, including Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. Furthermore, its range extends into the Northeast Tropical Africa region, where it can be found in Ethiopia. Together, these locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in diverse Mediterranean and tropical environments.

Region Area Source
Southwestern Europe Spain WCVP
Northern Africa Algeria WCVP
Northern Africa Morocco WCVP
Northern Africa Tunisia WCVP
Northeast Tropical Africa Ethiopia WCVP

Chemicals

Silybum eburneum has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include isosilychristin, silymarin.

Total chemicals
2
Scientific sources
2

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
isosilychristin 1 ★☆☆☆☆
silymarin 1 ★☆☆☆☆