Botanical name: Silybum marianum L.
Family: Asteraceae
Used parts: fruits, leaves
Main properties: hepatoprotective, antioxidant and immunostimulant
Therapeutic uses: hepatopathies, when liver depuration is needed, as an antioxidant for external use
Silybum marianum, or milk thistle, is not wildly well-known, but its properties are so unique it is really worth it to find out more about this plant. Milk thistle main active constituent is silymarin, together with its isomers. Silymarin has the most amazing ability to act on liver cells, increase their well-being and counteract the harmful effects hepatotoxic agents, both natural and chemical, have on the liver. In fact, it seems silymarin can accelerate liver cells regeneration process. WHO and the German E Commission have already confirmed the beneficial effects Silybum marianum has on the liver.
Therefore, milk thistle is a valuable ally for our horses in case of liver disorders or as a treatment after therapies that can lead to liver distress
WHAT DOES UNIKA SUGGESTS?
Hepa-horse: Hepa-horse is the complementary feed formulated on the basis of our knowledge of human phytotherapy in order to help hepatic cells maintain proper liver function. The equine liver is subjected to an intense workload, for it is in charge of all energy metabolism reactions, of the absorption of several vitamins and of the transformation of toxic metabolites into useful substances (for example it transforms homocysteine into methionine).
Hepa-horse is a complementary feed containing extracts of milk thistle’s fruits, which contain a high concentration of silymarin and is very useful to help purify the liver, especially during convalescence after pharmacological treatments and alimentary intoxications ( https://bit.ly/Hepa-Horse_EN ).