Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle is a species of thistle known for its medicinal properties. It is an annual or biennial plant with red to purple flowers and shiny pale green leaves with white veins. The plant can grow up to 200 cm tall and has a conical shape. It is native to Southern Europe through Asia but has spread worldwide.
Details
Asterales
Asteraceae
Silybum
Milk thistle extract is primarily composed of silymarin, a flavonolignan complex containing several polyphenolic molecules. It includes seven closely related flavonolignans and one flavonoid, with silibinin being a significant component.
Milk thistle has been traditionally used for its medicinal properties, particularly in treating liver diseases. However, clinical evidence supporting these uses is limited.
June to August in the Northern Hemisphere, December to February in the Southern Hemisphere
Autumn or Spring, depending on climate conditions
30 to 200 cm
Red-purple
Sunny, warm ruderal meadows, regularly disturbed places such as rubble deposits, at the foot of south-exposed walls or villages and on urban fallow land or on cattle pastures.
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Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.
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