Milk Thistle, which was launched on the mainland since 90’s in last centuryhas been around for 40 years. It was introduced to the area of Hanzhong in Shaanxi，Weinan and Panjin, liaoning province by professor Huang Shouxing worked in Xi’an Arboretum, and succeeded in planting.

   The processing of Milk thistle extract is contacted by “Panjin Milk Thistle Synthesizes Plant ”, “Jiangsu Apocynum Factory ” and “Shaanxi Hua County Shaohua Mountain Refinery Factory ”,   and at that time, the plant area of Milk thistle is small, the farming and harvesting are all artificial, planting technology is not mature and the produce capacity of the manufacturer is small, less specifications of extract, also the quality needed to be raised.

   With 40 years effort, manufacturers do a lot of work on the hi-tech innovation and R&D, in the new situation of the global promotion, the demand of Milk thistle extract has greatly increased. The milk thistle extract manufacturers increased to at least 30 or more, most of them distributed in Panjin, liaoning province and Dongtai, jiangsu province. The planting base of Milk Thistle has transferred to Panjin area, Suihua area in Hei Longjiang provice, and Hai la’er area in Nei Menggu province. The planting field management and harvesting has realized the mechanization in this period which improved the quality of raw material and reduced the cost, thus, the raw material can satisfy the need of marketing and get relatively stable price.

   The total quantity of raw material has reached 35000 tons in 2016, the cultivated area of 2017 will reach 50000 to 60000 Mu, estimated yield will be 40000 tons, the quantity can totally meet market demand, the price of the milk thistle extract will be stabilized. If there is no natural disaster in the plant base, the price will be no big fluctuation over two to three years.

Main Specifications for Milk Thistle Extract/Silymarin
   According to the different extract solvents used, Milk thistle extract fall into three classes: Silymarin extracted by Acetone, Silymarin extracted by Ethyl Acetate and Silymarin extracted by Ethanol. Ethyl Acetate and Acetate are the traditional extract solvents used in the process of milk thistle extract producing. Since 2008, Ethanol has applied to milk thistle extracting, and technical progress solved the problem of low content if use ethanol to do extract, and till now, this product has been widely used because of its non-toxic and no side effects.
   According to the standard, Silymarin got from different extract solvents has different contents and can meet different pharmacopoeia requirements, such as EP, USP, DAB and each specification  with different extract solvents running into more than 30 contents.

Separation and purification of Silybin
   As the new products continuously developed, the market of Silybin is increasing, and the contents can be done from 75% to 99%.

Silymarin water soluble and Silybin water soluble, can be absorbed by human body fully and usually work better. Nowadays, silymairn water soluble series products have been developed and launched, and has been widely used.

Price for Milk Thistle extracts
   The price of raw material is the main determinant for the milk thistle extract, 2014-2016, the price of milk thistle seeds has down from CNY 12000 - 13000 per Ton to CNY8500 - 9500 per ton. The main reasons for falling prices as follows:
1. The improvement of farming techniques boosts yields and makes lower cost.
2. The acreage increased, and excessive production.

Development of down stream products
   They basically separate into two types, one is Drug for protecting liver, and the other is health care products.
Develop in increments: Health-care food and health beverage and so on.

Future market trends predicted
   2014-2016, the global demand of Milk thistle extract is around 1000 Tons, thereinto, in china, the domestic demand is around 50 Tons. Within the next five years, this demond will be growing by about 10% to 15% annually. The price of Silymarin will be in the abyss from 2017 to 2018, stability, has no lurches. The price of raw material will hover from CNY 8000 to 10000 per ton.

Application for Milk Thistle Extract
    Milk Thistle Extract play a role in protecting liver, antioxidant properties and anti fibrosis. It can protect the liver cell from toxicant substance abuse, especially for ethanol and environmental pollutants (Pesticides,Heavy Metals and so on); Silymarin has the Powerful antioxidant function to protect the liver cells from free radical damage, and which of function far exceeds VE; Silymarin can promote protein synthesis, speed up the new liver cells of manufacturing or promote the injured liver cells of self-repair. So, Silymarin is also be named of “the Natural liver-protection product ”. Silymarin can resist radiation and aging. In addition, Silymarin has the abundant nutrition, for example: 15-19% plant protein, 22-26% grease, 35% dietary fiber and many Vitamin, mineral substance. It is 100% plant extract with no side or toxic effects, many new products in the field of Medicine, Health Products, Cosmetics and food have been developed, broad prospects for development.