Milk thistle, with its distinctive purple flowers and spiny leaves, has been a cornerstone of herbal medicine for centuries. At the heart of its healing power lies silymarin, a potent antioxidant compound celebrated for its ability to support liver health, aid detoxification, and promote overall wellness. Today, this humble plant has found its way into supplements, pharmaceuticals, and even skincare products, making high quality milk thistle extract a sought-after commodity worldwide.
For businesses and buyers looking to source this valuable ingredient, choosing the right supplier is critical. Quality, consistency, and reliability aren't just buzzwords—they're the foundation of a successful partnership. Enter Montenegro: a small Balkan nation with a growing reputation as a hub for herbal extracts. Nestled along the Adriatic Sea, Montenegro's fertile coastal plains and mountainous interiors provide ideal conditions for cultivating milk thistle, while its adherence to EU quality standards and sustainable farming practices ensures that the extracts produced here meet rigorous global benchmarks.
Whether you're a supplement manufacturer in need of bulk quantities, a pharmaceutical company seeking pharmaceutical-grade silymarin, or a skincare brand hunting for organic-certified ingredients, Montenegro's diverse network of suppliers, manufacturers, wholesalers, and traders has something to offer. To help you navigate this landscape, we've compiled a list of the top 10 milk thistle extract providers in the country, each bringing unique strengths to the table.
| Company Name | Location | Core Products | Certifications | Key Markets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montenegrin Herbal Extracts Ltd. | Podgorica | Organic milk thistle extract (silymarin 70-80%) | EU Organic, GMP, ISO 22000 | EU, North America, Australia |
| Adriatic Botanicals | Budva | Bulk milk thistle extract, silymarin powder | ISO 9001, Kosher, Halal | Balkans, Central Europe, Middle East |
| Balkan Natural Ingredients | Bar | Organic & conventional milk thistle extract | EU Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified | Southeast Europe, Turkey, Russia |
| Podgorica Extracts Co. | Podgorica | Pharmaceutical-grade milk thistle extract (silymarin 95%) | GMP, ISO 13485, EDQM | European Pharma, UK, Scandinavia |
| Coastal Bioactives | Ulcinj | Cold-pressed milk thistle extract, liquid extracts | Ecocert, Cosmos Organic | Cosmetics, Natural Supplements (EU, US) |
| Northern Herbs Montenegro | Bijelo Polje | Traditional milk thistle extract, silymarin-rich powder | ISO 9001, Local Organic Certification | Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina |
| Mediterranean Extract Solutions | Tivat | Standardized milk thistle extract (silymarin 80-90%) | GMP, ISO 14001, Halal | Middle East, North Africa, Asia |
| Montane Health Ingredients | Kotor | Organic milk thistle extract, herbal blend extracts | EU Organic, USDA Organic, GMP | US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand |
| Danube-Balkan Exports | Niksic | Bulk milk thistle extract (trader) | ISO 9001, FSSAI | India, Southeast Asia, Africa |
| Green Adriatic Pharma | Herceg Novi | Pharmaceutical & nutraceutical milk thistle extract | ISO 9001, GMP, ISO 14001 | EU Pharma, Nutraceuticals (France, Germany) |
1. Montenegrin Herbal Extracts Ltd.
As one of Montenegro's pioneering herbal extract manufacturers, Montenegrin Herbal Extracts Ltd. has built a reputation for prioritizing organic integrity and sustainable sourcing. Located in the capital city of Podgorica, the company partners with over 50 local farmers in the Zeta Valley, where milk thistle grows wild in nutrient-rich, pesticide-free soils. Their flagship product is an organic milk thistle extract standardized to 70-80% silymarin, made using a gentle water-based extraction process that preserves the plant's natural compounds.
What sets them apart? A commitment to transparency. They welcome clients to visit their GMP-certified facility, where every batch undergoes third-party testing for heavy metals, pesticides, and silymarin content. With EU Organic and ISO 22000 certifications, they're a trusted milk thistle extract supplier for organic supplement brands in Europe, North America, and Australia. Their minimum order quantity (MOQ) starts at 25kg for bulk orders, with customizable packaging options for small to large businesses.
2. Adriatic Botanicals
Nestled between the Adriatic Sea and the Dinaric Alps, Adriatic Botanicals has carved a niche as a leading wholesaler of bulk milk thistle extract. Specializing in high-volume orders, they source raw milk thistle seeds from sustainable farms across Montenegro and Croatia, then process them in their state-of-the-art facility in Budva. Their product line includes both standard extract (silymarin 80%) and pure silymarin powder, catering to everything from budget-friendly supplements to premium nutraceuticals.
Known for their competitive pricing and fast turnaround times, Adriatic Botanicals prides itself on flexibility. They offer MOQs as low as 50kg for local buyers and 200kg for international exports, with discounts for orders over 1 ton. Certifications like ISO 9001, Kosher, and Halal make them a versatile choice for clients in the Balkans, Central Europe, and the Middle East. Their in-house lab conducts microbiological and potency testing, ensuring consistency batch after batch.
3. Balkan Natural Ingredients
Bar's strategic port location makes Balkan Natural Ingredients a logistical powerhouse for regional and international trade. This family-owned business started as a small farm cooperative and has grown into a full-service manufacturer and trader, offering both organic and conventional milk thistle extract options. Their organic line, certified by the EU Organic label, is sourced from 100% Montenegrin-grown milk thistle, while their conventional extract is sourced from trusted partners in Serbia and Bosnia.
What clients love most is their personalized service. Whether you need a small sample for product development or a bulk order of 5 tons, their team works closely with you to tailor specifications—from silymarin concentration (60-85%) to particle size and packaging. They're particularly popular in Southeast Europe, where their network of local distributors ensures timely deliveries. Recent expansions into Turkey and Russia have solidified their status as a regional leader in natural ingredients.
4. Podgorica Extracts Co.
For pharmaceutical companies and high-end supplement brands, Podgorica Extracts Co. is the go-to for pharmaceutical-grade milk thistle extract. Their facility, located in Podgorica's industrial zone, operates under strict GMP and ISO 13485 guidelines, producing extract with silymarin concentrations up to 95%—among the highest in the region. They also hold an EDQM certificate, a mark of quality recognized by regulatory bodies across Europe.
Innovation drives their process: they use supercritical CO2 extraction, which avoids harsh solvents and yields a purer, more stable product. This attention to detail has made them a preferred supplier for European pharmaceutical giants, who rely on their extract for liver-support medications. While their MOQ is higher (starting at 100kg), they offer technical support and documentation to help clients navigate regulatory hurdles, from EFSA claims to FDA filings.
5. Coastal Bioactives
Coastal Bioactives is redefining natural extraction with their cold-pressed milk thistle extract, a method that preserves heat-sensitive compounds often lost in traditional processing. Based in Ulcinj, a coastal town known for its organic farming communities, the company focuses on ingredients for the cosmetics and natural supplement industries. Their liquid milk thistle extract, rich in silymarin and fatty acids, is a favorite among skincare brands for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Certified by Ecocert and Cosmos Organic, Coastal Bioactives caters to the growing demand for clean beauty and wellness products. They offer small-batch production (MOQ 10kg) for indie brands and larger volumes for multinational companies. Their customer base spans the EU and US, with clients praising their commitment to sustainability—they use 100% renewable energy in their facility and offset carbon emissions through reforestation projects in Montenegro's interior.
6. Northern Herbs Montenegro
In the mountainous north of Montenegro, Northern Herbs Montenegro keeps traditional extraction alive. This family-run business has been processing milk thistle using time-honored methods since 2003, combining modern quality control with age-old wisdom. Their extract is made from seeds harvested in the Bjelasica Mountains, where the cool climate and mineral-dense soil are said to enhance silymarin potency.
While they primarily serve the local market—supplying health food stores and pharmacies across Montenegro—they also export small quantities to neighboring Serbia and Bosnia. Their claim to fame? A proprietary extraction process that results in a higher-than-average silymarin content (often 85-90%) without synthetic additives. Though they lack some international certifications, their ISO 9001 stamp and local organic certification (recognized by Montenegro's Ministry of Agriculture) speak to their commitment to quality.
7. Mediterranean Extract Solutions
Tivat's modern marina and international airport make Mediterranean Extract Solutions a logistics standout for global exports. Founded by a team of biochemists, this tech-driven company uses advanced extraction techniques—including ultrasonic-assisted extraction—to maximize silymarin yield and purity. Their product line includes standardized milk thistle extract with silymarin concentrations ranging from 80-90%, targeting the nutraceutical and functional food industries.
What sets them apart is their focus on sustainability. Their facility runs on solar power, and they've implemented a closed-loop water system to minimize waste. Certifications like ISO 14001 (environmental management) and Halal make them a popular choice in the Middle East and North Africa, where eco-friendly and culturally compliant ingredients are in high demand. They also offer custom formulations, blending milk thistle with other herbs like artichoke or dandelion for synergistic health benefits.
8. Montane Health Ingredients
Kotor's UNESCO-listed bay isn't just a tourist destination—it's also home to Montane Health Ingredients, a premium supplier of organic milk thistle extract. Specializing in high-end markets like the US, Canada, and Australia, they've built their brand on three pillars: purity, sustainability, and traceability. Every batch of their extract can be traced back to the specific farm in Montenegro's Durmitor National Park where the milk thistle was grown, giving clients full transparency.
Their USDA Organic and EU Organic certifications are complemented by a rigorous testing protocol that includes HPLC for silymarin content and GC-MS for solvent residues. While their prices are higher than some competitors, clients say the quality is worth it—especially for brands marketing "clean label" or "single-origin" supplements. They also produce herbal blend extracts, combining milk thistle with ingredients like turmeric or ginger for targeted health formulas.
9. Danube-Balkan Exports
Niksic, a industrial hub in central Montenegro, is home to Danube-Balkan Exports, a trader specializing in bulk milk thistle extract and other herbal ingredients. Unlike manufacturers, they don't process their own extract—instead, they partner with a network of vetted producers across the Balkans to offer a wide range of products at competitive prices. This model allows them to be flexible, sourcing everything from budget-friendly conventional extract to premium organic options.
Their key markets are India, Southeast Asia, and Africa, where they've built strong relationships with distributors and manufacturers. With an MOQ of 100kg and container-load discounts, they're ideal for businesses looking to scale quickly. While they don't hold production certifications themselves, they ensure all suppliers meet ISO 9001 and FSSAI standards, providing clients with full documentation and COAs (Certificates of Analysis) for every order.
10. Green Adriatic Pharma
Herceg Novi's proximity to Croatia and Bosnia makes Green Adriatic Pharma a strategic player in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sectors. This GMP-certified manufacturer produces both pharmaceutical-grade milk thistle extract (silymarin 95%) for medications and standardized extract (80% silymarin) for supplements. Their facility, which includes a dedicated cleanroom for sterile processing, meets the strictest EU pharmaceutical standards.
What makes them unique is their focus on research and development. They collaborate with the University of Montenegro's Faculty of Pharmacy to innovate extraction methods and study silymarin's potential applications in new therapeutic areas. This commitment to science has earned them partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies in France and Germany. They also prioritize sustainability, with an ISO 14001 certification and a zero-waste policy that repurposes extraction byproducts as animal feed.
From the coastal plains to the mountainous north, Montenegro's milk thistle extract suppliers offer a diverse range of options to suit every need—whether you're a small skincare brand seeking organic, cold-pressed extract or a multinational pharmaceutical company requiring ultra-pure silymarin. By prioritizing quality, sustainability, and customer service, these 10 companies have not only put Montenegro on the map as a reliable source for herbal extracts but also set a high bar for the global industry.
When choosing a supplier, consider your priorities: Are certifications like Organic or GMP non-negotiable? Do you need small-batch flexibility or bulk pricing? Are you targeting local markets or exporting internationally? Whatever your goals, Montenegro's network of manufacturers, wholesalers, and traders has the expertise and resources to help you succeed. Reach out to a few on this list, request samples, and start building a partnership that grows with your business.



