Milk Thistle
Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) is a traditional herbal remedy widely recognized for its hepatoprotective effects. Its primary active component, a flavonoid complex known as silymarin, comprises several compounds, including silybin, which are believed to be responsible for its therapeutic benefits. This herb has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to support liver health. Silymarin acts as a powerful antioxidant, helping to protect liver cells from damage caused by toxins, free radicals, and inflammation. It can also aid in regenerating liver cells and supporting the liver's natural detoxification processes. Beyond liver support, Milk Thistle exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, potentially benefiting overall cellular health. Commonly available as an extract, capsule, or tea, Milk Thistle is often sought by individuals looking to support liver function, especially those exposed to environmental toxins or seeking general wellness. Its broad-spectrum antioxidant capabilities make it a valuable botanical for holistic health.
Native to the Mediterranean regionCultivated in various parts of the world
Cheapest Milk Thistle supplements
Compare the cheapest Milk Thistle botanical supplements for detoxification.
Best Milk Thistle Supplements
Find the best Milk Thistle supplements for detoxification.
Value Milk Thistle Supplements for Detoxification
Explore our curated list of value-priced Milk Thistle supplements, specifically chosen to support your detoxification goals.
Minimum150 mg
Maximum300 mg
add_circle_outline Positive Interactions
Vitamin C
Provides synergistic antioxidant effects, enhancing cellular protection against oxidative stress.
Vitamin E
Offers synergistic antioxidant benefits, particularly in protecting cell membranes from damage.
Selenium
Functions as an antioxidant and supports detoxification pathways, complementing milk thistle's liver support.
Gluthathione
Milk thistle may help support the body's natural glutathione levels, a major antioxidant crucial for liver detoxification.
Curcumin
Both are potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents, potentially offering enhanced protection against cellular damage and supporting liver health.
Choline
Essential for liver health and fat metabolism, it can complement milk thistle's liver protective actions.
Green Tea
Contains catechins with antioxidant properties, which can synergize with silymarin in protecting cells from oxidative stress.
Coenzyme Q-10
A potent antioxidant that can enhance cellular energy production and protect cells from oxidative damage, synergistic with Milk Thistle's antioxidant effects.
remove_circle_outline Negative Interactions
Caffeine
Milk thistle may inhibit liver enzymes (CYP1A2) responsible for caffeine metabolism, potentially leading to increased caffeine levels and effects.
Melatonin
Milk thistle may affect the metabolism of melatonin by inhibiting certain liver enzymes (CYP1A2, CYP2C19), potentially altering its effects.
St. John's Wort
Both ingredients can influence liver enzymes (e.g., CYP3A4) but with potentially opposing effects, which could lead to unpredictable alterations in the metabolism of other compounds.
55 Best 
Milk Thistle
Oregon's Wild Harvest
4.7
★★★★★
(6 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 1000 mg
An organic liquid milk thistle at a high price, lacking silymarin standardization and with very few customer reviews.
78 Best 
Milk Thistle
Oregon's Wild Harvest
4.7
★★★★★
(1721 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 1260 mg
An organic, 'full-spectrum' milk thistle product combining whole herb with standardized silymarin extract, offered at a premium price.
75 Budget 
Milk Thistle (Silymarin)
Mason Natural
4.7
★★★★★
(267 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 300 mg
An affordable capsule offering 300mg of standardized Milk Thistle (Silymarin), with a small amount of added calcium.
68 Best 
Milk Thistle Extract 1000 mg
The Vitamin Shoppe
4.6
★★★★★
(24 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 1000 mg
An organic liquid milk thistle extract, offering a convenient form, but without specified silymarin standardization, making its potency less clear.
74 Value 
Milk Thistle Dandelion & Yellow Dock
Swanson
4.7
★★★★★
(1642 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 700 mg
A multi-herb blend for broad detoxification support, including milk thistle, dandelion, yellow dock, and beet, but without silymarin standardization for the milk thistle.
85 Value 
Milk Thistle 525 mg
Natrol
4.6
★★★★★
(5607 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 525 mg
This popular and affordable capsule provides a high 525mg of Milk Thistle extract, plus a blend of complementary herbs like Dandelion and Ginger.
82 Best 
Milk Thistle
Oregon's Wild Harvest
4.7
★★★★★
(1715 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 1260 mg
This organic capsule offers a very high total of 1500mg Milk Thistle, combining whole herb with a standardized extract for concentrated herbal support.
48 Best 
Full Spectrum Milk Thistle Seed Extract 260 mg
Planetary Herbals
4.3
★★★★★
(3 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 840 mg
A high-quantity milk thistle blend in tablet form, but lacks silymarin standardization, comes at a high price, and has very limited customer reviews.
83 Budget 
Silymarin Milk Thistle Extract 150 mg
NOW
4.7
★★★★★
(12530 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 300 mg
This product delivers a combination of Milk Thistle (with Silymarin Flavonoids) and Turmeric, often chosen for liver support and general antioxidant activity in a convenient capsule.
88 Best 
Advanced Milk Thistle
Life Extension
4.6
★★★★★
(7673 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 760 mg
A Milk Thistle softgel featuring Siliphos Phytosome for potentially enhanced absorption, along with a proprietary blend.
88 Budget 
Milk Thistle
Paradise
4.7
★★★★★
(2570 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 250 mg
This exceptionally affordable capsule provides a pure 250mg Milk Thistle extract with Silymarin, making it a great value for straightforward support.
95 Budget 
Double Strength Silymarin 300 mg
NOW
4.8
★★★★★
(131190 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 300 mg
An exceptionally popular and cost-effective multi-herb formula, providing 300 mg standardized Silymarin, Dandelion, and Artichoke for comprehensive liver support.
91 Budget 
Advanced Liver Support
Super Nutrition
4.8
★★★★★
(3852 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 300 mg
Super Nutrition's Advanced Liver Support offers a comprehensive blend of milk thistle, glutathione precursors, various antioxidants, and botanicals, featuring strong dosages of key ingredients at a very competitive price.
87 Budget 
Artichoke
Nature's Way
4.9
★★★★★
(22186 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 300 mg
This highly popular and affordable capsule combines a high, standardized Artichoke extract with a supportive dose of Milk Thistle for broader herbal wellness.
85 Best 
Liver & Gallbladder Support
Eclectic Herb
4.5
★★★★★
(413 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 1632 mg
This blend delivers a robust combination of freeze-dried Milk Thistle, Dandelion, Beet, and other herbs, all chosen to support liver and gallbladder function effectively.
75 Best 
Milk Thistle Seed 2000 mg Alcohol-Free
Nature's Answer
4.8
★★★★★
(7508 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 2000 mg
This alcohol-free liquid delivers a very high 2000mg dose of Milk Thistle seed extract, appealing to those seeking potent liquid support.
75 Budget 
Milk Thistle 1000 mg
Nature's Bounty
4.7
★★★★★
(11628 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 250 mg
A popular, affordable milk thistle softgel providing 250 mg of extract, but without specified silymarin standardization.
72 Budget 
Milk Thistle 240 mg
Sundown
4.7
★★★★★
(230 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 240 mg
This affordable capsule offers 240mg of Milk Thistle extract with Silymarin, alongside an undisclosed "XTRA Premium Blend."
62 Best 
Milk Thistle 600 mg
Eclectic Herb
4.6
★★★★★
(1450 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 2400 mg
A high-dose, whole, freeze-dried Milk Thistle supplement without specified silymarin standardization, appealing to those seeking full-spectrum herbal benefits.
58 Value 
Milk Thistle 500 mg
Mason Natural
4.7
★★★★★
(1119 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 500 mg
A basic, economical Milk Thistle supplement offering 500mg per capsule, suitable for those new to the herb, but without specified silymarin standardization.
60 Best 
Milk Thistle 600 mg
Eclectic Institute
4.8
★★★★★
(48 ratings)
Milk Thistle: 2400 mg
An organic, high-dose freeze-dried whole milk thistle product, but without silymarin standardization, comes at a high price, and has limited reviews.
Average$25.25
Median$22.99
Average$0.62
Median$0.49
Average$0.14
Median$0.09
Reference amount: 100 mg
Silymarin is a complex of flavonolignans (silybin A, silybin B, isosilybin A, isosilybin B, silychristin, silydianin) extracted from the seeds of the milk thistle plant (Silybum marianum). It is the most well-studied component and is recognized for its potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties, particularly in supporting liver health and detoxification pathways.
- Most active and well-researched compound of milk thistle.
- Potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Directly supports liver cell protection and regeneration.
- Often standardized for consistent dosing.
- Can have poor bioavailability in its unformulated state.
- May be more expensive than whole extracts.
Avg$27.13
Med$26.96
Avg$0.56
Med$0.51
Avg$0.16
Med$0.10
Price distribution
Silymarin flavonoids encompass the various flavonoid compounds present in milk thistle, with the silymarin complex (including silybin, silychristin, and silydianin) being the most significant. These compounds work synergistically to exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and liver-protective effects, contributing to the plant's overall therapeutic benefits for liver health and detoxification.
- Represents the key active components of milk thistle.
- Comprehensive benefits from the complex of compounds.
- Supports liver health and antioxidant defense.
- Bioavailability challenges similar to unformulated silymarin.
- The term 'Flavonoids' can be slightly broader, potentially less precise than 'Silymarin' alone depending on standardization.
Avg$17.55
Med$19.17
Avg$0.30
Med$0.24
Avg$0.10
Med$0.08
Price distribution
Milk Thistle Fruit Extract refers to a preparation derived from the mature fruits (which are technically achenes, commonly known as seeds) of the milk thistle plant. This extract is highly valued for its silymarin content, a complex of flavonolignans known for its significant hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory actions. It is widely used to support liver function, aid in detoxification processes, and protect against liver damage.
- Concentrated and potent source of active silymarin.
- Often standardized for consistent efficacy.
- Supports liver regeneration and antioxidant defense.
- Terminology 'fruit' may occasionally cause botanical confusion.
- Bioavailability can be a factor if not specifically formulated.
Avg$8.00
Med$8.00
Avg$0.25
Med$0.25
Avg$0.03
Med$0.03
Price distribution
Milk Thistle Fruit Extract refers to a preparation derived from the mature fruits (which are technically achenes, commonly known as seeds) of the milk thistle plant. This extract is highly valued for its silymarin content, a complex of flavonolignans known for its significant hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory actions. It is widely used to support liver function, aid in detoxification processes, and protect against liver damage.
- Concentrated and potent source of active silymarin.
- Often standardized for consistent efficacy.
- Supports liver regeneration and antioxidant defense.
- Terminology 'fruit' may occasionally cause botanical confusion.
- Bioavailability can be a factor if not specifically formulated.
Avg$8.00
Med$8.00
Avg$0.25
Med$0.25
Avg$0.03
Med$0.03
Price distribution
Milk Thistle Seed Extract is obtained by processing the seeds of Silybum marianum to concentrate its beneficial compounds. These extracts are typically standardized to contain a certain percentage of silymarin (e.g., 70-80%), which is the primary active complex responsible for the plant's liver-protective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. The extraction process aims to provide a more potent and consistent dose of the active constituents compared to raw seed powder.
- Concentrated form of beneficial compounds.
- Often standardized for consistent silymarin content.
- Offers a broader spectrum of phytochemicals from the seed.
- Potency can vary if not explicitly standardized.
- Still faces bioavailability challenges if not formulated for enhanced absorption.
Avg$8.00
Med$8.00
Avg$0.25
Med$0.25
Avg$0.03
Med$0.03
Price distribution
Silybin (also known as silybinin, a mixture of silybin A and silybin B) is the primary and most pharmacologically active constituent within the silymarin complex. It is responsible for the majority of milk thistle's hepatoprotective effects, including its strong antioxidant activity, ability to stabilize liver cell membranes, promote liver cell regeneration, and inhibit toxins from entering liver cells. Due to its superior activity, it is often isolated or concentrated in advanced milk thistle formulations.
- Most active and potent component of silymarin.
- Strongest evidence for liver protection and regeneration.
- Often included in enhanced bioavailability formulations (e.g., phytosomes).
- Naturally has poor bioavailability, often requiring specialized formulations for optimal absorption.
- More expensive due to isolation and purification.
Avg$32.08
Med$27.49
Avg$0.33
Med$0.38
Avg$0.05
Med$0.04
Price distribution
Silybum marianum is the scientific name for milk thistle, an herbaceous plant native to the Mediterranean region. When used as an ingredient, 'Silybum marianum' often refers to the dried herb, powdered seeds, or a non-standardized preparation. While it contains the active compounds like silymarin, the concentration and consistency of these compounds are generally lower and more variable compared to standardized extracts.
- Represents the whole plant profile, including potential synergistic compounds.
- Traditional form of usage.
- Highly variable potency of active compounds (silymarin).
- Requires larger doses for comparable effects to extracts.
- Less effective for targeted therapeutic uses due to lower concentration.
Avg$22.99
Med$22.99
Avg$0.38
Med$0.38
Avg$0.04
Med$0.04
Price distribution