Agata Walkowiak, Bogumiła Kupcewicz, Kacper Wnuk, Mariusz Zapadka

Analysis of drugs and dietary supplements with the fruit of the milk thistle extract using high-performance liquid
2019-01-31

Sylibum marianum (L.) Geartner is a pharmacopoeial plant material known mainly for its beneficial effects on liver function. Extract of ground milk thistle fruit contains 65–80% silymarin, which is the main ingredient of the extract. It is a complex of flavonolignans (Silybin A, Silybin B, Isosilybin A, Isosilybin B, Silychristin, Isosilichristin and Silydianin) and active flavonoids (Taxifolin). In many studies, different quality of commercial silymarin preparations has been noticed. The aim of the work was chromatographic analysis (RP-HPLC) of drugs (5) and dietary supplements (12) with milk thistle extract available on the Polish pharmaceutical market. The total content of silymarin was consistent with declared value for the drugs tested, whereas there was a difference in the group of dietary supplements. In turn, percentage of individual components in the sample differed significantly for both the drugs and dietary supplements. The significant differences were also found in the recommended daily dose of individual preparations.

Keywords: milk thistle, dietary supplements, liquid chromatography, herbal medicinal products.

© Farm Pol, 2019, 75(1): 3–7