Milk Thistle (Silymarin / Silybin)
Flavonolignan complex extracted from Silybum marianum seeds. Active component silybin (silibinin) has hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Stabilizes hepatocyte membranes, stimulates RNA polymerase I (promoting protein synthesis/regeneration), and scavenges free radicals. Poor oral bioavailability (20-50%) — phytosome formulations (silybin-phosphatidylcholine) improve absorption 4-10x. Used for liver support, including alcoholic/non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. IV silibinin used for Amanita mushroom poisoning.
Projected serum levels — 250 mg, once daily
Maintenance schedule: 250 mg once daily (oral).
Modeled steady state after ~1 days: peak ≈ 30.7 mg, trough ≈ 0.003 mg body load. Population-based estimate over 15 days for a 250 mg dose at a 70 kg reference body mass — the interactive app scales curves to your doses, timing, and body mass.
Key facts
- Category
- Herb
- Route modeled
- Oral
- Model confidence
- inferred
- Half-life
- 1.4 h
- Common dose
- 250 mg
- Suggested maximum
- 800 mg/day
- Reference dose range
- 125–800 mg (single dose)
- Suggested cadence
- once daily
Documented interactions
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danger
7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) + Milk Thistle (Silymarin / Silybin)
Milk Thistle (Silymarin / Silybin) reversible_inhibitor of CYP3A4 predicted to change 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) AUC by ~2.20x
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danger
Alfuzosin (Uroxatral) + Milk Thistle (Silymarin / Silybin)
Milk Thistle (Silymarin / Silybin) reversible_inhibitor of CYP3A4 predicted to change Alfuzosin (Uroxatral) AUC by ~3.33x
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danger
Alprazolam (Xanax) + Milk Thistle (Silymarin / Silybin)
Milk Thistle (Silymarin / Silybin) reversible_inhibitor of CYP3A4 predicted to change Alprazolam (Xanax) AUC by ~3.33x
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danger
Amlodipine (Norvasc) + Milk Thistle (Silymarin / Silybin)
Milk Thistle (Silymarin / Silybin) reversible_inhibitor of CYP3A4 predicted to change Amlodipine (Norvasc) AUC by ~3.33x
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danger
Anastrozole (Arimidex) + Milk Thistle (Silymarin / Silybin)
Milk Thistle (Silymarin / Silybin) reversible_inhibitor of CYP3A4 predicted to change Anastrozole (Arimidex) AUC by ~2.68x
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danger
Astaxanthin + Milk Thistle (Silymarin / Silybin)
Milk Thistle (Silymarin / Silybin) reversible_inhibitor of CYP3A4 predicted to change Astaxanthin AUC by ~3.33x
Serum checks 337 modeled interaction pairings for milk thistle (silymarin / silybin) across your whole stack — absorption conflicts, enzyme inhibition, and nutrient depletion included.
Research behind this entry
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Silymarin for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Meta-analysis of 8 RCTs finding silymarin significantly reduced ALT and AST levels in NAFLD patients versus placebo/controls, suggesting hepatoprotective benefit though heterogeneity in formulations limits definitive…
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Silibinin: old drug with new perspectives in hepatology
Comprehensive review of silybin's mechanisms: membrane stabilization, antioxidant radical scavenging, anti-fibrotic TGF-β suppression, and RNA polymerase stimulation for hepatocyte regeneration.
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CYP2C9-mediated warfarin and milk thistle interaction.
This citation reports a laboratory or cell study involving Milk Thistle (Silymarin / Silybin). It does not by itself establish a qualified dose, safety profile, efficacy claim, or pharmacokinetic route for this record.
3 published studies referenced in the app, each with a plain-language summary.