<div>Background: A high prevalence of global liver diseases compels the availability of affordable drugs with fewer side effects. Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. is being used as a traditional medicine for centuries to treat a range of liver and gallbladder disorders. In tropical regions especially in Indonesia, S. marianum is scarcely cultivated. Therefore, cultivation on a large scale to initiate the independency of providing domestic medicinal raw materials demand is needed. This research was conducted to find out a suitable method in producing silymarin from S. marianum by optimizing cultivation technique by using foliar fertilizer (FF) applied to different planting periods and various spacing protocols.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The experiment of nine treatment packages consisted of a combination plant spacing (S) and foliar fertilizer/FF dosage (D) factors, also applied time of planting (P), were examined to obtain the highest silymarin content. This field study was designed using a randomized complete block design (RCBD).&nbsp; 
 
Result: The results showed that a combination of the plant spacing of 140 x 140 cm, FF of 2 mg per plant and planting period in May, obtained the best results in the silymarin content of 1.52 &plusmn; 0.07%. It also gave the highest estimated silymarin production per unit area that was 13.79 &plusmn; 1.42 kg.ha-1.</div>

​Optimizing Cultivation Technique of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. under Tropical Climate

Background: The use of growth-promoting antibiotics in poultry feed at sub-therapeutic doses can lead to the development of antibiotic resistance, which can reduce their effectiveness in treating both animal and human health issues. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of adding Milk thistle seeds to broiler feed and drinking water on zootechnical and production performance, as well as on various biochemical parameters. 
 
Methods: One hundred Cobb 500 broiler chicks were weighed and divided into four equal groups of 25 chicks each. The control group was fed a conventional diet. The experimental groups were as follows: group 2 received a diet containing 3% ground Milk thistle seeds, group 3 was treated with water infused with 3% Milk thistle seeds and group 4 received a diet with 1.5% ground Milk thistle seeds and drinking water infused with 1.5% Milk thistle seeds. All chicks had unlimited access to food and water during the 43-day rearing period. 
 
Result: The study revealed that the group labeled as control had the highest feed intake at 4300.32 g, while the chickens that were fed a ration containing 3% Milk thistle seeds consumed a lower quantity, approximately 3674.12 g. The inclusion of Milk thistle seeds at a rate of 1.5% in the feed and 1.5% in the drinking water significantly increased the slaughter weight of the chickens (2803.50 g) compared to the control group (2578.90 g) (P&lt;0.05). The control group chickens, which were fed a conventional diet, had a lower carcass weight compared to those in group 4 (P&lt;0.05). However, the inclusion of Milk thistle seeds in the different groups did not affect carcass yield, abdominal mass,biochemical profile (P&gt;0.05).

​Optimizing Cultivation Technique of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. under Tropical Climate

Effects of Silybum marianum Seeds as a Feed Additive on Broiler Production Performance and Quality

Optimizing Cultivation Technique of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. under Tropical Climate