Milk thistle for treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

ABSTRACT

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] is one the most common causes of chronic liver disorders in the Western world. These patients have many significant comorbidities. The therapeutic approach to NAFLD is based on lifestyle intervention, but there is no consensus on the ideal pharmacological treatment. Silybum marianum, commonly known as milk thistle [MT], is one of the oldest and most extensively researched plants in the treatment of liver diseases. Many studies have demonstrated that the active components of MT silymarin have many hepatoprotective properties. In recent years, several preclinical and clinical reports have described the efficacy of silymarin as a treatment for NAFLD. The chief aim of this review is to discuss the newest and most promising applications of MT in the treatment of NAFLD