Drainage basin: The area drained by a river and its tributaries. A drainage basin is considered to be an open system because water can be added or lost from a drainage basin. Source: The beginning of a river. A river may have multiple sources.
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a thorny plant presenting decorative leaves with a white pattern of veins and purple flower heads. The plant originates from mountains of the Mediterranean region, where it forms scrub on a rocky base.
Milk thistle contains a complex of antioxidant flavonoids, collectively known as silymarin, which have shown evidence of specific protective effects on liver cells exposed to a variety of poisons. Such poisons have included dry-cleaning fluids, various solvents, acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) and others.