Milk Thistle Extract supplier specification
Nutrition BioTech is a bulk milk thistle extract ingredient supplier and manufacturer, supplying Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. seed extract (CAS 84604-20-6) standardized to an agreed silymarin content and released with the figure reported both by UV and by HPLC, produced by solvent extraction and purification of the fruit and seed, for B2B nutraceutical formulation.
Milk thistle extract is a multi-constituent botanical extract, not a single molecule, so it is defined by botanical identity, plant part, extraction ratio, solvent and the standardization marker rather than by a molecular formula. Every lot ships with a Certificate of Analysis stating botanical identity, the standardization figure and the analytical method used to obtain it.
| Ingredient name | Milk Thistle Extract (Silybum marianum seed extract) |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | Silybum marianum extract; milk thistle seed extract; St. Mary’s thistle extract; Carduus marianus extract; silymarin extract |
| CAS number | 84604-20-6 (Silybum marianum extract). Standardization marker complex: silymarin, CAS 65666-07-1. |
| Molecular formula / weight | Not applicable — multi-constituent botanical extract. Silymarin is itself a flavonolignan complex (silybin A and B, isosilybin, silychristin, silydianin) rather than a single compound, so no single molecular formula or molecular weight describes the material. Identity is established by botanical source, plant part and marker profile. |
| Botanical identity | Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn., family Asteraceae. Plant part: fruit and seed (achene). Identity confirmed by macroscopic, microscopic and chromatographic (HPLC or TLC) comparison against a reference; identity documentation supplied per lot. |
| Standardization / assay | Standardized to an agreed silymarin content, reported both by UV and by HPLC on the Certificate of Analysis for each lot. The exact grade is specified per order; grade options available on request. The two figures are not interchangeable: UV-spectrophotometric silymarin and HPLC sum-of-flavonolignans measure the material differently, so the same lot reads differently by each method. Because both are reported per lot, the buyer can align the incoming release specification to whichever method their own monograph or customer specification is written against, without re-testing. |
| Extraction ratio and solvent | Extraction ratio (e.g. drug-to-extract ratio) and extraction solvent are specified per order and stated on the specification sheet. Residual solvent results are reported per lot against the applicable pharmacopoeial limits. |
| Carrier / excipient declaration | Any carrier used for standardization or flowability (for example maltodextrin or silicon dioxide) is declared on the specification sheet with its inclusion level, so that the buyer’s label and allergen statement can be built correctly. |
| Appearance | Light yellow to yellowish-brown fine powder, characteristic odour and bitter taste |
| Solubility | Flavonolignans are practically insoluble in water and soluble in ethanol, methanol and acetone. Water-dispersible and solubility-enhanced formats are handled as separate specifications; dissolution behaviour should be confirmed for the intended dosage form. |
| Stability / storage | Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry place, protected from light and moisture. Flavonolignans are sensitive to prolonged heat, high humidity and light; stability data available on request. |
| Typical applications | Capsules, tablets, softgels, powder blends and sachets for B2B nutraceutical manufacturing; commonly formulated alongside NAC, TUDCA, dihydromyricetin and artichoke extract |
| Documentation | Download public specification sheet Public sheet prepared from the current product-page specification block; not a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis. Lot-specific COA and supporting records are available for qualified buyer review when appropriate. |
| Quality system | ISO 22000:2018, FSSC 22000, HACCP and GMP (certificates provided on request) |
| Supplier | Nutrition BioTech, 1601 W. Mission Blvd, Suite 103 (DL#29), Pomona, CA 91766, United States |
Milk Thistle Extract
Milk Thistle Extract for liver wellness and classic botanical supplement formulas.
Why brands ask for it
Milk Thistle Extract is a well-recognized liver wellness ingredient for capsule, tablet and recovery-positioned formulas. The product page should emphasize silymarin standardization, solvent control, botanical identity and documentation readiness.
Finished-product fit
Liver support, recovery routine, wellness cleanse, metabolic recovery blends. The strongest conversations start with format, serving size, documentation, and how the material behaves in the intended formula.
What makes the sample useful
- Silymarin standardization
- Mature consumer market
- Pairs with NAC, TUDCA, DHM, artichoke
Before the sample ships
- Confirm silymarin %.
- Request contaminant, residual solvent, and microbiology files as needed.
- Confirm extraction ratio.
- Confirm organic.
File Package
Ask for the material files that match your market, dosage form, and internal review process.
Available documents may include: COA / Specification / Allergen Statement / GMO Statement / Vegan Statement / Heavy Metals / Microbial Limits / Manufacturing Flow Chart / Residual Solvent / Country of Origin / Composition Statement.
Regulatory & Facility Support
Regulatory review notes for the target market can be provided. Nutrition BioTech does not hold and does not claim any GRAS notification or NDI notification for this material.
Facility and quality system support follows the same certificate set named in the specification table: ISO 22000:2018, FSSC 22000, HACCP and GMP. The holding entity for each certificate is named on the certificate and confirmed under buyer review.
Specification FAQ
What is the CAS number for Milk Thistle Extract?
The CAS number for Milk Thistle Extract is 84604-20-6 (Silybum marianum extract). Standardization marker complex: silymarin, CAS 65666-07-1.
Is Milk Thistle Extract soluble in water?
Flavonolignans are practically insoluble in water and soluble in ethanol, methanol and acetone. Water-dispersible and solubility-enhanced formats are handled as separate specifications; dissolution behaviour should be confirmed for the intended dosage form.
Published research context
Silymarin, the flavonolignan complex of milk thistle extract, has a long peer-reviewed literature. The studies below are provided as technical context for formulators evaluating this raw material. These entries summarise what the cited publications report. They are not claims about Nutrition BioTech material, and no health, therapeutic or cosmetic outcome is claimed or implied for any finished product. Buyers are responsible for the claims they make on their own labels and for confirming what is permitted in their market.
- Stereochemical identity: silybin A and silybin BReviewed the chemistry of silybin, a flavonolignan first described from Silybum marianum seeds in 1959, and described the determination of the absolute configurations of silybin A and silybin B together with the development of methods for separating the two diastereoisomers, as well as semisynthetic derivatives prepared to modify physical properties such as solubility.Biedermann D, Vavrikova E, Cvak L, Kren V. Nat Prod Rep. 2014;31(9):1138-1157. PMID 24977260. DOI 10.1039/c3np70122k. source
- Reported aqueous solubility of silymarinReviewed formulation approaches for silymarin and reported low water solubility, below 50 ug/mL, together with poor intestinal absorption, as the physicochemical limitations those approaches are designed to address.Di Costanzo A, Angelico R. Molecules. 2019;24(11):2155. PMID 31181687. DOI 10.3390/molecules24112155. source
- Cocrystal formation and dissolution behaviourPrepared a silybin-L-proline cocrystal and characterised it by powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and FTIR. Dissolution testing across a pH range reported improved dissolution performance, particularly in acidic media, and the precipitation inhibitor PVP prolonged the supersaturation period.Zhu B, Ding Z, Rong X, Li S, Mei X. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2025;18(1):90. PMID 39861153. DOI 10.3390/ph18010090. source
