SILYMARIN

PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION

CAS RN

EINECS RN

FORMULA

MOLE WEIGHT

CHEMICAL FAMILY

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

PHYSICAL STATE

yellow powder

MELTING POINT

BOILING POINT

DENSITY

SOLUBILITY IN WATER

pH

VAPOR DENSITY

REFRACTIVE INDEX

FLASH POINT

INCOMPATIBLE MATERIALS

Strong oxidizing agents

TOXICOLOGICAL

SAFETY

HAZARD NOTES

EYE

May cause eye irritation. In case of eye contact, flush eyes with water as a precaution.

SKIN

May be harmful if absorbed through skin. In case of skin contact, wash off with soap and plenty of water.

INGESTION

May be harmful if swallowed. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Rinse mouth with water.

INHALATION

May be harmful if inhaled. May cause respiratory tract irritation. If breathed in, move person into fresh air. If not breathing give artificial respiration.

TARGET ORGANS

Liver

CHRONIC

TRANSPORT & REGULATORY INFORMATION

UN NO.

HAZARD SYMBOL

XI

RISK PHRASES

SAFETY PHRASES

26-37/39

Wikipedia Linking: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silymarin

Silymarin is derived from Milk Thistle (seed extract from the flower of silymarin plant). The Milk thistle herb is a flowering plant of Silybum Adans genus, a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae). It grows mainly in North Africa, the Mediterranean region and the Middle East (now also grown in the U.S.) but is marketed and is widely available in the Philippines as a herbal liver supplement (silymarin capsules, trademark: Liveraide). Silymarin and milk thistle are frequently used interchangeably. Laboratory experiments on animals (rats, baboons, dogs) shows that silymarin works by modifying hepatic cell membranes in a way that prevents liver toxins from entering the interior of the cells. The toxins that may damage the liver are expelled through the kidneys instead. Silymarin is a polyphenolic flavanoid consisting of three chemicals: silybin, silicristin and silidianin which are antioxidants that neutralizes and breaks down free radicals. When there is an existing liver damage, research shows that silymarin may help repair the damage and help regenerate new liver cells but is unlikely to help in the late stages of liver cirrhosis. Many studies have been published on the health benefits of milk thistle and silymarin on humans but many are inconclusive or poorly done. Further studies are needed to fully appreciate the health benefits of silymarin on humans. However, anecdotal data suggests that it helps alleviate liver diseases and other aliments. http://www.philippineherbalmedicine.org/silymarin_milk-thistle.htm

Milk thistle is a flower, more specifically a member of the aster family. Its seeds and roots have been used for an assortment of medical purposes for thousands of years. Three biochemicals of interest have been isolated from the milk thistle: silychristine, silydianin, and silybin, which is also called “silybinin” and is considered the most powerful of them all. The mixture of these three substances is called “silymarin.” Silymarin has been traditionally used in the treatment of liver disease and, while it has recently been advocated for use in pets, most scientific information available concerns human use. The biological mechanism of action is yet unknown but several theories exist:

• Silymarin may control cell membrane permeability which means that silymarin may control what substances actually enter the interior of a cell.
• Silymarin may inhibit chemical pathways leading to inflammatory biochemicals.
• Silymarin may have free radical scavenging properties which means that it may absorb harmful reactive atoms that could damage other molecules.
• Silymarin may increase protein production by liver cells.
• Silymarin may stabilize mast cells (cells containing inflammatory granules).
• Silymarin in higher doses increases the flow of bile. (http://www.marvistavet.com/)

Silymarin, the active ingredient in Milk Thistle, exerts numerous effects of interest to Dermatologists. Although it has been primarily know as a herb for the liver, it exerts a number of important effects in the skin. It not only demonstrates anti-carcinogenic and anti-pruritic effects on the skin, but also holds great interest as a potential agent to reduce or ameliorate the liver toxicity caused by certain drugs employed by dermatologists. (http://dermatology.cdlib.org/)

SALES SPECIFICATION

APPEARANCE

yellow powder

pass (TLC)

CONTENT

80.0% min (Silymarin)

LOSS ON DRYING

5.0% max

5ppm max

1.0% max

100 mesh (95%)

PACKING

PRICE INFORMATION