Optimization of Microwave-assisted Extraction of Silymarin from Silybum marianum Straws by Response Surface Methodology and Quantification by High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph Method

Silybum marianum, a member of the Aster family, is a well-known Chinese herb and the source of a popular antioxidant that is extensively used in Asia. The abundant S. marianum straws are still underutilized and wastefully discarded to pollute the environment