Le Chardon-Marie

Liver Detox & Drainage

Made in France

€23.90

8 reviews

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients	For 3 capsules	For 3 capsules	For 4 capsules
Milk thistle extract	420	630	840
Of which silymarin	210	315	420
Artichoke extract	111,6	167,4	223,2
of which chlorogenic acid	11,2	16,8	22,4

Ingredients: Milk thistle seed extract (Silybum marianum), Glazing agent: hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (carrot concentrate), Bulking agent: maltodextrin (wheat), Altilix®: artichoke leaf extract (Cynara Cardunculus), Agent anti-caking agent: Magnesium stearate.

Altilix® is a registered trademark of BIONAP.

SCIENCE
Origin of milk thistle

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) belongs to the Asteraceae family and is one of the oldest medicinal herbs. Its legend tells that the Virgin Mary, traveling to Egypt to escape the persecution of King Herod, would have hidden the Child Jesus in thistles while breastfeeding him. The white “veins” of the leaves of this species would also be traces of the milk of the Virgin Mary. From this story, the milk thistle would derive its English names “milk thistle” (“milk thistle”) and French, “chardon-marie”.

Milk thistle has been known for over 2,000 years. Its history is traced from Ancient Greece and its use was described at the time of the Roman Empire. In the 16th century, milk thistle became the most widely used therapeutic plant for the hepatobiliary sphere. It was in 1652 that the English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper referenced milk thistle in his book “The English Physician” as a remedy for the liver. The scientific craze for this plant resumed in the middle of the 20th century, and we have since sought to better understand the virtues of its specific compounds on acute and chronic hepatic manifestations.

Milk thistle is native to the Mediterranean region. This plant was transported by European settlers in the 19th century to North America. It is now found widespread in Central Europe, Asia, North Africa, America and Australia [1,2]. Its botanical characteristics make this plant a very distinguishable entity.

Botanical point on milk thistle

If “milk thistle” is the most used name for this plant, it is also called “silver thistle”, “blessed thistle”, “milk of Our Lady”, “silybe of Mary”. It is a hardy biennial plant measuring about 1.5 meters. Several parts make up milk thistle:

La plante: alternate leaves cut then pointed and thorny going up towards the flower,

La fleur: rose-violet appearing in a flower head,

Seeds: smooth and oval (close to the shape of sunflower seeds).

These seeds, small black achenes, are the fruits of the plant. They contain a set of compounds of interest such as lipids, or a combination of flavonoids and flavonolignans (= a flavonoid + a lignan) referred to as silymarin.

Milk thistle silymarin

Silymarin represents all the interesting and active compounds of milk thistle seeds. This complex of active ingredients combines:

up to 70 to 80%, a mixture of 4 flavonolignans: silybin (or silibinin, the main compound of this mixture, from 50 to 70%), isosilybinin, silichristin and silidianin.

20-30% flavonoids (taxifolin and quercetin) and other phenolic compounds.

From a physico-chemical point of view, silymarin is poorly soluble in water. Its pharmacokinetic properties reveal that if it is rapidly absorbed, only 20 to 50% passes the intestinal barrier to join the enterohepatic circulation. Its metabolism takes place in the liver, where it is notably transformed into numerous metabolites. Then, it is rapidly excreted, mainly via the bile produced by the liver [3].

Silymarin has significant antioxidant action and has been shown to provide targeted benefits for liver disorders by contributing to proper liver function and detoxification pathways.

The functioning of the liver

The liver is an essential organ for metabolic functions. It is the largest organ in terms of size and weight in the human body. Composed of hepatic cells called hepatocytes, its 2 lobes are richly vascularized to filter the blood and the components it carries.

The liver has many functions [4] necessary for our health:
1.A summary function:

It produces bile, a secretion allowing the digestion of lipids (fats) and the elimination of waste from the body,

It synthesizes cholesterol,

It synthesizes many functional proteins: albumin, ferritin, lipoproteins...

It produces blood clotting factors.

2. A storage function :

It stores glucose as glycogen to provide energy to the body.

3.A conversion function:

It is involved in the conversion and regulation of certain hormones.

4.A nutrient metabolizing function :

It metabolizes carbohydrates, proteins and fats so that these nutrients are distributed to the body.

5.An elimination function :

It breaks down unwanted substances in the body: detoxification.

All of these non-exhaustive roles demonstrate that the liver is a key organ and that liver problems can be the cause of many physiological disturbances.

Focus on the detoxification process

The body is daily exposed to various xenobiotics: that is to say foreign or exogenous substances capable of interacting with it and its physiological and cellular processes. These include: pollutants, pesticides, certain compounds of food origin (alcohol or additives for example) and drugs.

The main mission of the liver is to maintain a healthy state of the body by allowing it to eliminate these xenobiotics through a key process: detoxification (or detoxification). Practically, the liver is supplied with blood by the portal vein. Circulating blood comes from the esophagus, stomach and intestines, and carries nutrients and waste products from digestion. The liver filters this blood by processing the xenobiotics, then the waste-laden blood is then evacuated from the liver through the hepatic vein. The waste is then excreted, this is the principle of detoxification.

More specifically, this detoxification process is ensured by liver cells and aims to “treat” xenobiotics (or harmful foreign compounds) via specific enzymatic pathways making the xenobiotics initially fat-soluble (therefore difficult to eliminate by the body). ), water-soluble (easier to remove). We are talking about a physiological process of biotransformation.

Three main phases characterize this toxin treatment process:

Phase I : called activation. This is a phase of transformation of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450 enzymes. Cytochrome P450 enzymes are enzymes produced by liver cells and have a “depolluting” function. By associating with the compound to be eliminated, they neutralize it to better eliminate it afterwards.

Phase II : called conjugation. At the end of phase I, detoxification by-products with deleterious effects for the body may appear, such as free radicals. Phase II overcomes these recalcitrant compounds. Our antioxidant mechanisms then intervene with specific enzymes (UDP-glucuronosyl transferases, glutathione S-transferases, etc.).

Phase III : called excretion or elimination. It is during this phase that the compounds made hydrophilic are transported through the cell membrane [5,6] and then be definitively eliminated.

In a simplified way, the role of the liver is to transform xenobiotics in order to be able to eliminate them. It is the true operator of detoxification and contributes to the drainage of the body.

Depending on the nature of the xenobiotics, other organs intervene and take charge of their elimination. These organs are called emunctories. Among them, the kidneys with the elimination by the urine, the skin with the elimination by the sweat, or the gallbladder with the elimination by the stools.

Liver Benefits and Clinical Dosages of Milk Thistle

Mode of action of milk thistle:

A recent review of scientific work on silymarin reports that it would act on the activation of phase II enzymes of detoxification, which would increase the conjugation, and therefore the excretion of xenobiotic substances [7]. Also, silymarin would have a protective action by limiting oxidative and cellular damage [8–10].

Etudes cliniques :

If milk thistle seems well documented and its health potential well described, additional clinical studies would make it possible to better reveal its mechanisms of action.

The doses most commonly used in food supplements and having demonstrated good efficacy vary between 240 and 800 mg of silymarin per day in divided doses. Nevertheless, existing clinical data demonstrate the good tolerance and safety of oral intake of silymarin at high doses (up to 1,200 - 1,500 mg per day).

Silymarin has low bioavailability. Two approaches are possible to ensure good intakes and therefore overcome this obstacle :

Increase its dosage based on clinically evaluated dosages. The scientific literature shows that the dose of 420 mg of silymarin per day is effective on liver function parameters, over variable periods ranging from 4 weeks to 4 years [10,11]. Dosage may be increased as long as safety is clinically demonstrated.

Improve its bioavailability by complexing it (in phospholipids or beta-cyclodextrins) or by encapsulating it in a liposome.

Finally, it should be noted that studies of milk thistle extracts standardized in silymarin are generally carried out on very specific populations presenting a proven liver problem, or even a pathology where the detoxification pathways are solicited. Thus, if these studies give an essential clinical indication to conclude on an effective dosage, they must however be considered with caution.

The artichoke

Like milk thistle, the artichoke (Cynara scolymus or Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) has been known for over 2,000 years. Native to the Mediterranean region, it is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world. It is related to milk thistle and is also part of the same botanical family Asteraceae. This plant was used as early as the Roman Empire, but also by the Greeks and Egyptians for its medicinal properties on digestion and the liver. It was at the end of the 19th century that the potential of an artichoke extract was really discovered to treat a liver problem, which then inspired scientific research...

The artichoke derives its benefits from its richness in phenolic compounds, mainly mono and dicafeoylquinic acids as well as flavonoids. It is mainly in its leaves that we find the active molecules of interest in the artichoke. The latter are mainly represented by chlorogenic acid (also called major mono-caffeoylquinic acid or 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid), cynarin (also called major di-caffeoylquinic acid or 3-O-dicafeoylquinic acid) and cynaroside (flavonoid also called luteolin-7-glycoside) [12,13].

Benefits of artichoke on the liver

The artichoke has been studied in the context of numerous digestive and metabolic issues. Through its traditional uses, the artichoke is known to contribute to the body's elimination and drainage functions (via the urinary and biliary tracts). Data from the literature show that the artichoke has a wide spectrum of functions in the body. Its active compounds have been the subject of numerous preclinical studies, in particular highlighting [13,14] :

antioxidant activity,

involvement in the inflammation process,

hepatoprotective effects.

Chlorogenic acid is the predominant bioactive polyphenol recognized for its antioxidant properties. Its rapid absorption has been clinically demonstrated and its relatively high bioavailability has also been proven [15].

The proper functioning of the liver thanks to Nutra: the Nutri&Co choice

Self-assessing the proper functioning of your liver is almost impossible. Apart from a medical diagnosis and proven problem, taking a nutraceutical for this sphere must be thought of as a preventive measure against known exposure to the various xenobiotics in our environment. By combining milk thistle and artichoke in the right doses, our formula contributes to detoxification, the proper functioning of the liver and promotes digestion, thanks to the use of extracts standardized in active compounds.

Just the essentials for the liver

The hepatic sphere and detoxification are among the most traditional subjects of study in the scientific literature. To address the hepatic and detox issues, we have focused on the one hand on the best-referenced essential plants, and on the other hand on dosages of active ingredients whose effectiveness is clinically established: a milk thistle and artichoke. Our formula primarily targets the proper functioning of the liver, the central organ for detoxification, nutrient metabolism and digestion.

An extract of milk thistle highly dosed in silymarin

Milk thistle stands as the most established and documented solution for liver detoxification. Its benefits on the hepatic sphere are attributed to silymarin, the dosage of which is a real criterion of choice. There are a variety of extracts and their silymarin concentration is more or less important depending on the extraction method and the solvents used. The milk thistle extract that we have specially chosen comes from an extraction with water and ethanol and concentrates 50% silymarin.

Taking 4 capsules of our formula provides 420 mg of silymarin, an exceptional high dosage referenced and documented by safety and tolerance data. 2 capsules, however, allow an effectiveness demonstrated in the literature.

A patented artichoke extract

Standardized in chlorogenic acid (and derivatives) at 10%, our artichoke extract provides a significant supply of active compounds. It is supported by a clinical study that validated that the intake of 150 mg daily over a period of 6 months significantly improves parameters related to the proper functioning of the liver in subjects with metabolic problems [16].

If our formula promotes, from 2 capsules per day, digestion and the proper functioning of the liver, 3 capsules provide the clinical dose studied, i.e. the equivalent of more than 7 g of artichoke leaves.

A question ?

Our experts answer all your questions.

What is liver detox?

Detoxification is a physiological process essential to our health and carried out by the liver. In a very simple way, it makes it possible to transform the substances outside the body (and which should not accumulate there) so that they can be effectively eliminated. It is often described as a succession of three key stages: phase I, phase II and phase III which successively transform and eliminate toxins.

In which cases should we take our Milk Thistle & Artichoke Detox?

As it is not possible to assess the proper functioning of your liver in the absence of a medical diagnosis, a detox “cure” can be carried out as a preventive measure. And periods of intake are particularly suitable, such as in the event of overeating, a post-diet period with significant weight loss, in the event of stress, etc.

How long does the Milk Thistle & Artichoke Detox take effect?

In the absence of proven liver problems, it is not possible to precisely assess the role of supplementation targeting detoxification functions. This is why our Milk Thistle & Artichoke Detox is presented as a preventive solution to the known exposure to multiple xenobiotics that surround us: pollution, drugs, compounds from food...

For how long should I do my detox cure?

It is possible to take our Milk Thistle & Artichoke Detox formula several times a year as a preventive measure, when the need arises, but also more particularly during seasonal transition periods such as in October or after the holidays. the end of the year. 1 vial covers a catch of 15 to 30 days.

As part of a detox followed by a health professional, it is possible to extend the intake of the product over a longer period.

Can I take Milk Thistle & Artichoke Detox at the same time as a medical treatment?

Taking our formula may be incompatible with certain medications such as antidiabetics and certain antibiotics. In the case of short-term and long-term drug treatment, the advice of your doctor is necessary.

Is the Milk Thistle & Artichoke Detox draining and/or diuretic?

Yes, our formula can have a draining effect (elimination process). Traditionally, the artichoke is used for the elimination functions of the body and its drainage. And because this function is associated with a local renal action, the artichoke is traditionally used for its diuretic benefits. These effects are noticeable after taking 2 capsules of our Milk Thistle & Artichoke Detox.

Does the Milk Thistle & Artichoke Detox allow you to detoxify your liver from alcohol?

Our formula contributes to the proper functioning of the liver, the seat of alcohol metabolism, and can therefore help its metabolism. It is a supportive action, the benefit of which cannot justify or support high and/or repeated alcohol intake.

Does the Milk Thistle & Artichoke Detox make you lose weight?

No, our formula was not designed for weight loss but specifically targets the functioning of the liver, its detoxifying mechanisms and the elimination functions of the body. It is part of a preventive approach, in the absence of proven problems.

Does the Milk Thistle & Artichoke Detox work on digestion?

Yes, our formula can act on digestion by the presence of artichoke. The quantity present in our formula from 2 capsules promotes digestion and contributes to intestinal comfort.

Is the Milk Thistle & Artichoke Detox compatible with liver disease?

In the context of liver disease, we recommend that you seek the advice of your doctor. Our formula can be adapted but the prescription must come from a specialized practitioner.

Where do our ingredients come from?

Encapsulation (putting into capsules) - Strapharm Saint-Hilaire-de-Loulay, France

For more than 30 years, Strapharm has been an expert company in the shaping of food supplements. Their know-how is based in particular on the mastery of certain specific galenic forms.

Milk Thistle - PlantexSaint Michel in Orge, France

With 25 years of experience, the French company Plantex has established itself as a reference in terms of plant extracts. Authenticity, efficiency and innovation are the hallmarks of its commitment to its customers.

Artichoke extract Altilix®- BionapSicily, Italy

Bionap uses plants from the Mount Etna region (Sicily) to develop botanical extracts particularly rich in active compounds, supported by solid scientific expertise and mastery of clinical trials.