Milk Thistle Extract Stops Lung Cancer in Mice, Study Shows

Using a treatment with the compound silibinin, a main component of milk thistle, scientists were able to stop the spread of lung cancer in test mice.  The treatment works by suppressing STAT1and STAT1within cells, which in turn eliminates the production of the enzymes COX2 and iNOS.  These enzymes are key to the inflammatory response to perceived "wounds" within the lungs, which can aid in tumor growth.  The study implies that, if perfected, this relatively new method could compete with today's best drugs used for lung cancer treatment, at a fraction of the price and likely with fewer side effects.