TECHNOLOGY OF OBTAINING BIOACTIVE EXTRACTS FROM SILYBUM MARIANUM BY THE MACERATION METHOD

Abstract

Silybum marianum* (milk thistle) is a well-known medicinal plant widely used in pharmaceutical practice due to its pronounced hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. These therapeutic effects are mainly attributed to a complex of flavonolignans collectively known as silymarin. The efficiency and quality of herbal medicinal products largely depend on the extraction method employed for isolating bioactive compounds from plant raw materials. Among conventional extraction techniques, maceration remains one of the most commonly used methods due to its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and suitability for thermolabile compounds.