Almighty Allah has bestowed a variety of flora with amazing properties. Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum) is an ancient plant native to Europe is an annual or biennial herb, belongs to family composite. It grows abundantly in Pakistanas a weed with wheat crop as well as on unutilized, barren ground. Its peak maturity period is April to July. This plant has tremendous potential to be exploited.

The seeds, fruit and leaves of Milk Thistle have been used since the Roman times as a liver tonic, excellent food for cattle and horses. The standardized extract “Silymarin”is used in supportive therapy of liver disorder like stimulates protein synthesis in hepatic cells, improves disturbed hepatic functions. It contains mixture of flavonoids which contribute greatly to dietary sources of antioxidants and their intakes decreased the risk of coronary heart diseases and increases immunity to infectious cells and inhibit the growth of tumors.

The seeds of plant have been evaluated at NIFA for its oil, protein, fiber and mineral contents. The proximate composition of Milk Thistle seeds presented as follows:

Minerals and Nutrients: The role of trace elements in human nutrition and disease cannot be overemphasized.  Even though the mineral elements form a small portion of total composition of most plant materials and of total body weight and they do not contribute to energy value of food, but they are of great physiological importance particularly in body metabolism .The results indicates that the seeds of test plant contains Mg 2,225ppm, Ca 778.5ppm, Cu 108.3ppm, Fe 74.3ppm, Zn 69.4ppm, Pb 44.3ppm, Ni 35.5, Mn 23.5ppm, Cr 6.8ppm and the Cd 3.2ppm showed the lowest concentration. It can be deduced that the seeds of Milk Thistle if consumed, could be a good source of minerals. Presences of rich amount of calcium and Magnesium are a special feature.

Milk Thistle Protein:The defatted seeds contain an excellent quality and quantity of protein, ranging from 20-24%. The qualitative analysis of protein hydrolyzate revealed ten amino acids. Among these Aspartic acid, Glutamic acid, Glycine, and cystin were the major amino acids. Therefore the Milk Thistle meal as by product after its crush for oil could be used as a high protein animal and poultry feed. The unique composition of amino acids and important nutritional minerals make it rich feed.

The seeds of Milk Thistle contain 26-39% fixed oil. Fatty acid composition of milk thistle oil in comparison to sunflower oil is presented in Table. The composition of the seed oil revealed that linoleic acid (64.59%) and oleic acid (23.59%) are the predominant fatty acids. The linoleic and oleic acid contents are similar to that in sunflower oil. Milk thistle oil is fairly high in polyunsaturated fatty acids particularly an essential fatty acid i.e., linoleic acid (Omega-3), which is believed to be helpful in lowering cholesterol, when induced in the diet.

Back to main page of Food Nutrition Group