Milk Thistle – Silybum marianum
Love it or hate it, the Silybum marianum (better known as Milk Thistle) is well known around the world. Originally from southern Europe, this plant is now a noxious weed in many parts of the world. It is a prolific seed producer–the beautiful purple blooms develop into cottony seeds, similar to a dandelion. The milk thistle is toxic to grazing animals, but an extract made from the seeds contains silymarin, a very potent compound that protects the liver from certain toxicities. 
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