Silybum
Milk thistle
Silybum, commonly known as milk thistle, is a resilient perennial herb celebrated for its potent medicinal properties. Renowned for containing silymarin, this plant serves as a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. It is most widely utilized in herbal medicine to support liver health and promote cellular regeneration.
- Scientific name: Silybum
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Further taxonomic progression places it in the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae and is categorized under the genus Silybum.
| 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, is recognized by various common names across different languages and regions. In Poland, it is called Ostropest, while in Germany, it is referred to as Mariendiesteln. The Arabic-speaking world identifies it as سلبين, and in Russia, it is known as Расторопша. Additionally, in Azerbaijan, it is commonly called Alaqanqal.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pl | Ostropest | Wikidata |
| de | Mariendisteln | Wikidata |
| ar | سلبين | Wikidata |
| ru | Расторопша | Wikidata |
| az | Alaqanqal | Wikidata |
| lt | Margainis | Wikidata |
| ku | Kerbeş | Wikidata |
| it | Cardo Mariano | Wikidata |
| zh | 水飞蓟属 | Wikidata |
| de-ch | Mariendisteln | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily found across various regions of Northern Europe. Its presence is well-documented throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Additionally, the species can be located in the coastal areas of Norway. It also grows within the territories of Denmark and the Faroe Islands. These specific locations define its current geographical distribution in the northern hemisphere.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Føroyar | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
Activities
Silybum has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiprotozoal.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antiprotozoal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |