THE EFFECT OF WATER STRESS ON THE GROWTH, YIELD, AND FLAVONOLIGNAN CONTENT IN MILK THISTLE (SILYBUM MARIANUM)

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.) is a medicinal plant, grown worldwide, that contains hepatoprotectant phenolic compounds known as flavonolignans.
These compounds are found primarily in the seeds and are collectively known as silymarin.
This study examined the effect of water stress on plant growth, seed yield, and flavonolignan content in milk thistle.
Plants were hydroponically grown under greenhouse conditions with varying daily water rates (200, 650, 1100, 1550 and 2000 ml/day). The lowest watering rate significantly reduced stem height and bloom diameter.
The highest water treatment also showed the highest count of malformed or immature seeds.
The primary blooms were analyzed separately from the secondary blooms for flavonolignan content.
In primary blooms, the lowest water rate yielded the highest concentration of taxifolin.
In secondary blooms, flavonolignan content was not significantly affected by treatments.

International Symposium on Medicinal and Nutraceutical Plants

A.R. Belitz, C.E. Sams

silymarin, phenolics, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, hepatoprotectant, hydroponic, taxifolin

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.756.27