The liver is a large glandular organ, whose functions include decomposition of red blood cells, plasma protein synthesis, hormone production, secretion of bile, and conversion of sugars into glycogen, which it stores. The liver is also responsible for processing many vitamins and nutrients into a form that can be utilized by the body, as well as detoxification of various substances. Modern living involves daily exposure to substances that are toxic to our bodies, which imposes a heavy load on the liver. Therefore, a healthy liver is critical to well-being. It is important to ensure that the liver is being maintained at its functional best for optimal health. In Europe and Asia, herbal liver tonics have been in common use for centuries. The effectiveness of the herbs used has been validated during the past decades through modern research and clinical studies. These herbs generally contain antioxidants, cell membrane-stabilizing agents, bile secretion-enhancing compounds, or nutrients that inhibit the depletion of endogenous antioxidants such as glutathione. Hepatoprotection is beneficial not only for the liver but also for the overall health and vitality of the body. Milk thistle extract has long been valued for its role in ensuring healthy liver function, and it is also a powerful antioxidant. Milk thistle extract consists of silibinins and other similar compounds. Until recently, scientists focused their research on silibinins, as they were the most abundant and biologically active ingredient found in milk thistle extract.7,8 Highly advanced extraction technology has now enabled scientists to isolate other silymarin constituents and test their efficacy against various cell lines. Among the compounds tested, a silymarin constituent called isosilybin B proved to be the most efficient in maintaining healthy cell division. European Milk Thistle contains standardized, top-grade potencies of silymarin, silibinins, isosilybin A and isosilybin B, providing the full spectrum of milk thistle’s liver- and prostate-supportive compounds. The botanical extract in European Milk Thistle is a triple standardized milk thistle extract. In addition to an optimal 80% standardization of the main active compounds, silymarin flavonolignans, this formula is further standardized to three highly active isomers — silibinins and isosilybin A and B.
