Sarcouncil Journal of Biomedical Sciences

Abstract: The Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn is a medicinal herb containing many polyphenol and flavonoid compounds with important biological activities, especially antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of extracts from milk thistle. The raw materials were extracted using ethanol–water solvent and analyzed parameters including total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging ability, ability to form complexes with Cu²⁺ metal ion and anti-inflammatory activity through the albumin denaturation inhibition model (BSA). The results showed that milk thistle extract has significant antioxidant activity with DPPH value reaching 23.59 mg TE/g and ABTS reaching 27.96 mg TE/g. The extract also demonstrated anti-correlation analysis showed that TPC and TFC had a strong positive correlation with ABTS activity and anti-inflammatory activity, showing the important role of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in the biological activity of the extract. The research results provide a scientific basis for the exploitation and application of the Silybum marianum in the field of medicinal herbs and functional foods.