Milk thistle extract may help repair Medication-Damaged livers

NCT ID NCT05144217

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Prof. Dr. Frank Behrens Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether different doses of silymarin, a natural extract from milk thistle, can lower elevated liver enzymes caused by medications. Nineteen adults with drug-induced liver injury took either a placebo or one of three silymarin doses for 35 days. Researchers measured changes in liver enzyme levels to see if higher or more frequent doses offered better liver protection.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: silymarin (milk thistle extract)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could point toward a safe, natural supplement to help protect the liver from damage caused by medications.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase trial with only 19 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Higher doses may cause side effects, and the benefit over placebo is uncertain.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

drug-induced liver injury

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

DRUG INDUCED LIVER INJURY

Contacts and locations

Locations

CIRI

Frankfurt, Hessia, 60596, Germany
Universtity Hospital - clinic for dermatology, venerology and allergology

Frankfurt, Hessia, 60590, Germany

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