CARDO MARIANO AND ITS PROPERTIES

CARDO MARIANO

Silybum Marianum L.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION - Robust plant. It measures between 60 and 150 cm in height. It has a thick and branched root, which gives rise to a rosette of oval leaves, surrounded by irregular teeth. During the second year a straight stem develops, which at the top has few leaves and branches. The leaves of the stem are alternate and the upper ones are surrounded by yellow spines. The stems are crowned by purple or white flowers. The fruits are brown and speckled achenes. It blooms from July to September.

COLLECTION - The fruits as they mature.
DRUGS - Dried fruits.
ACTIVE PRINCIPLES - Silymarin, flavonoids, linoleic, oleic and palmitic acid and tocopherol.

PROPERTIES - Hepato-detoxifying action, hepatic cell regenerator, choleretic and collagenous, cardiac tonic and hypotensive. Digestive, venotonic, diuretic and antipyretic.

USES and APPLICATIONS - Hepatobiliary insufficiency, acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, inappetence, dyspepsia, haemorrhages, influenza, colds and cystitis.