Top 10 Milk Thistle Extract Suppliers, Manufacturers, Wholesalers, and Traders in Uganda

Established in 2010, Uganda Botanical Extracts Ltd. (UBEL) is a pioneer in the country's botanical extract industry and a leading milk thistle extract manufacturer . Based in Kampala, UBEL prides itself on a "farm-to-finish" approach, owning over 500 acres of organic milk thistle farms in the fertile regions of Jinja and Mbale. This vertical integration allows them to control every step of the process, from seed selection to extraction, ensuring unmatched traceability and quality.

UBEL specializes in producing high-purity milk thistle extract with silymarin content ranging from 80% to 95%, catering to pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries. Their state-of-the-art extraction facility in Kampala is equipped with supercritical CO2 extraction technology, which preserves the integrity of silymarin without using harsh solvents. Certifications include ISO 9001, EU Organic, and Kosher, making their products suitable for even the most stringent global markets.

What sets UBEL apart is their commitment to sustainability. They work directly with local farming communities, providing training on organic practices and fair wages. For buyers seeking bulk milk thistle extract , UBEL offers flexible packaging options (from 25kg drums to 1-tonne bulk bags) and competitive pricing for orders over 500kg. Their client base includes major supplement brands in Europe and North America, drawn to their consistent quality and ethical sourcing.

Nile Valley Health Ingredients, founded in 2015, is a Jinja-based milk thistle extract supplier with a focus on pharmaceutical-grade products. Located along the banks of the Nile River, the company leverages the region's pure water sources and mineral-rich soils to cultivate premium milk thistle. Their core mission is to bridge the gap between Ugandan agricultural abundance and global demand for high-quality botanical extracts.

Nile Valley's product portfolio includes both standard and customized milk thistle extracts, with silymarin concentrations tailored to client needs (from 60% to 98%). They specialize in powdered extracts but also offer liquid formulations for specific applications like beverages and skincare serums. The company's GMP-certified facility undergoes regular audits by international bodies, ensuring compliance with FDA and EMA standards.

One of Nile Valley's key strengths is their emphasis on research and development. They collaborate with the Makerere University College of Health Sciences to study the milk thistle extract benefits in local populations, contributing to scientific literature on its efficacy. For small to medium buyers, they offer low minimum order quantities (starting at 10kg) without compromising on quality. Their logistics network ensures fast delivery to ports in Mombasa and Dar es Salaam, making them a favorite among traders in East and Southern Africa.

Green Harvest Traders Uganda is a family-owned business based in Mbale, with over 15 years of experience as a trusted milk thistle extract wholesaler . Unlike some larger manufacturers, Green Harvest focuses on connecting local farmers with international buyers, acting as a middleman with a personal touch. They source milk thistle from over 200 smallholder farmers in the Mount Elgon region, known for its high-altitude climates that enhance silymarin potency.

While Green Harvest doesn't own extraction facilities, they partner with certified labs in Kampala to process raw milk thistle into standardized extracts. Their primary offering is bulk, organic milk thistle extract (silymarin 70-80%) at competitive prices, making them ideal for nutraceutical brands and supplement manufacturers working with tight budgets. They also provide custom blending services, allowing buyers to mix milk thistle extract with other botanicals like turmeric or dandelion for specialized products.

What makes Green Harvest stand out is their dedication to building long-term relationships. They offer free sample testing, transparent pricing (with no hidden fees), and flexible payment terms for repeat clients. Their certifications include Fair Trade and USDA Organic, appealing to buyers prioritizing ethical sourcing. If you're new to sourcing from Uganda, Green Harvest's team provides guidance on import regulations and documentation, simplifying the process for first-time buyers.

Kampala Natural Extracts (KNE) is a dynamic milk thistle extract supplier that has quickly made a name for itself since its founding in 2018. Based in the industrial zone of Namanve, KNE focuses on producing innovative, application-specific extracts, including water-soluble milk thistle extract for beverages and liposomal formulations for enhanced bioavailability in supplements.

KNE's extraction facility is equipped with both ethanol and cold-press extraction methods, allowing them to cater to diverse client needs. Their milk thistle extract is particularly popular in the cosmetic industry, where its antioxidant properties support skin health—aligning with the growing demand for natural skincare ingredients. They offer both powdered and liquid forms, with silymarin content ranging from 40% to 90%.

Certifications include ISO 22000 (food safety) and Halal, expanding their reach to markets in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. KNE prides itself on fast turnaround times, with most orders shipped within 5-7 business days. For buyers seeking small quantities (as low as 5kg), KNE is a top choice, though they also handle bulk orders of up to 500kg monthly. Their customer service team, fluent in English, French, and Arabic, ensures smooth communication for international clients.

Equator BioIngredients Ltd., located in Entebbe, is a leading exporter of high quality milk thistle extract with a focus on the European and North American markets. Established in 2012, Equator has built a reputation for precision, offering milk thistle extract with silymarin profiles tested and verified by third-party labs like SGS and Eurofins. Their extracts are standardized to specific isomer ratios (e.g., silybin A/B, isosilybin), making them popular among pharmaceutical companies conducting clinical trials.

Equator's facility is GMP-certified and uses a proprietary "cold extraction" process that maintains the stability of silymarin, ensuring longer shelf life. They also offer micronized milk thistle extract, which dissolves faster and is easier to incorporate into tablets and capsules. In addition to pure extracts, Equator produces milk thistle extract blends with other liver-supporting ingredients like artichoke and schizandra, saving buyers the hassle of sourcing multiple botanicals.

Equator's commitment to quality is evident in their rigorous testing protocols: every batch undergoes HPLC analysis for silymarin content, heavy metal screening, and microbial testing. They also provide detailed COA (Certificate of Analysis) and MSDS documents with each order. For large-scale buyers, Equator offers contract manufacturing services, allowing clients to private-label their milk thistle extract products.

Pearl of Africa Extracts (POAE) is a woman-owned business based in Masaka, dedicated to empowering female farmers while producing top-tier milk thistle extract. Founded in 2015 by agricultural scientist Dr. Amina Nalwanga, POAE works with over 300 women-led farming cooperatives in the Masaka and Rakai districts, providing training and resources to grow organic milk thistle.

POAE's extract facility is small but efficient, focusing on small-batch, artisanal production. Their signature product is a "raw" milk thistle extract (silymarin 60-70%) made using traditional ethanol extraction, which retains more of the plant's natural compounds. This extract is particularly popular among natural skincare brands and herbal tea companies, who value its earthy aroma and holistic benefits.

While POAE doesn't offer the same production capacity as larger manufacturers, they excel in customer service and customization. They can create small-batch extracts with unique silymarin concentrations or blends, and their minimum order quantity is just 1kg—perfect for startups or brands testing new products. Certifications include Fair Trade and Organic (Ecocert), and a portion of their profits goes toward funding women's education programs in rural Uganda. For buyers looking to align their sourcing with social impact, POAE is a standout choice.

East African Botanicals (EAB) is a regional powerhouse with offices in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, making them a leading milk thistle extract supplier in East Africa. Founded in 2008, EAB has a vast network of suppliers, sourcing milk thistle from Uganda's Rift Valley and Kenya's Nakuru region, ensuring a steady supply even during seasonal fluctuations.

EAB's main strength is its scalability. They offer everything from small retail-sized extracts (100g jars) to industrial bulk orders (20-tonne containers), catering to everyone from local herbalists to multinational corporations. Their product range includes both conventional and organic milk thistle extract, with silymarin content from 40% to 90%. They also stock milk thistle seed oil, a byproduct of extraction, which is used in cosmetics for its moisturizing properties.

EAB's logistics team is well-versed in cross-border trade, handling all aspects of shipping, including customs clearance and documentation. They have partnerships with major freight forwarders, offering competitive rates to ports in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. For buyers in landlocked countries, EAB can arrange delivery via road to neighboring countries like Rwanda and South Sudan. Their customer portal allows clients to track orders in real time, adding transparency to the process.

Ugandan Herbal Extracts Co. (UHEC) is a niche player specializing in rare and hard-to-find botanical extracts, with milk thistle being their flagship product. Based in Fort Portal, near the Rwenzori Mountains, UHEC sources milk thistle from wild-harvested plants in protected forest areas, ensuring biodiversity and sustainability. Their wild-crafted milk thistle extract has a unique silymarin profile (rich in isosilybin) that many buyers believe offers enhanced health benefits.

UHEC's extraction process is minimalistic, using only spring water and food-grade ethanol, and their extracts are never heated above 40°C, preserving heat-sensitive compounds. This results in a dark, viscous extract with a strong herbal flavor, ideal for tinctures and liquid supplements. While their silymarin content is slightly lower (50-60%) compared to industrial extracts, UHEC markets their product as "whole plant extract," appealing to holistic health brands.

UHEC is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for sustainable wild harvesting, and they reinvest 10% of profits into reforestation projects. Their small-batch production (maximum 500kg per month) means limited availability, but for buyers seeking a unique, eco-friendly product, UHEC's wild-crafted milk thistle extract is worth the wait. They also offer tours of their extraction facility and wild-harvesting sites, allowing clients to witness their commitment to sustainability firsthand.

Global Health Ingredients Uganda (GHIU) is a subsidiary of a Chinese multinational, bringing global expertise to Uganda's botanical extract industry. With a $10 million extraction facility in the Kampala Industrial Park, GHIU is one of the largest milk thistle extract manufacturers in East Africa, with an annual production capacity of over 500 tonnes.

GHIU specializes in high-volume, low-cost milk thistle extract (silymarin 70-80%) for the dietary supplement and animal feed industries. Their fully automated production line uses solvent extraction (ethanol and hexane) for efficiency, and they offer both powdered and granulated forms. While they don't focus on organic production, their conventional extracts are priced significantly lower than organic alternatives, making them popular for budget-friendly brands.

GHIU's lies in its global supply chain network. They can source raw milk thistle from multiple countries (Uganda, Hungary, Argentina) to ensure year-round availability, and their parent company's distribution centers in China, Europe, and the U.S. allow for fast delivery to major markets. Certifications include ISO 14001 (environmental management) and GMP, and they comply with strict Chinese import standards, making them a top choice for Asian buyers.

Victoria Lake Botanicals (VLB) rounds out our list as a versatile trader and milk thistle extract supplier based in Entebbe, with a focus on the East African and Middle Eastern markets. Founded in 2013, VLB imports raw milk thistle from Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia, processes it into extract at partner facilities, and distributes it to local and regional buyers.

VLB's product range is diverse, including standard milk thistle extract (silymarin 60-80%), oil-soluble extract for cosmetics, and water-soluble extract for beverages. They also offer milk thistle powder (ground seeds) for use in animal feed and functional foods. Their pricing is highly competitive, and they often run promotions for bulk orders (100kg+), making them a favorite among local supplement brands and animal feed manufacturers.

What makes VLB unique is their focus on customer education. They regularly host workshops for local businesses on how to incorporate milk thistle extract into products, and their website features free recipes and formulation guides. For international buyers, VLB provides door-to-door delivery, handling all customs and shipping logistics. While they may not have the same certifications as larger manufacturers, their products undergo basic quality testing, and they offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee—if a batch doesn't meet specifications, they'll ｒｅｐｌａｃｅ it at no cost.