Milk thistle in liver diseases: past, present, future

Silybum marianum or milk thistle (MT) is the most well-researched plant in the treatment of liver disease. The active complex of MT is a lipophilic extract from the seeds of the plant and is composed of three isomer flavonolignans (silybin, silydianin, and silychristin) collectively known as silymar...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Phytotherapy research 2010-10, Vol.24 (10), p.1423-1432
Main Authors: Abenavoli, Ludovico, Capasso, Raffaele, Milic, Natasa, Capasso, Francesco
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antioxidants - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Clinical Trials as Topic
General pharmacology
Humans
Lipid Peroxidation
liver diseases
Liver Diseases - drug therapy
Medical sciences
milk thistle
Molecular Structure
Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Phytotherapy
reactive oxygen species
silipide
Silybin
Silybum marianum - chemistry
silymarin
Silymarin - therapeutic use
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Summary:Silybum marianum or milk thistle (MT) is the most well-researched plant in the treatment of liver disease. The active complex of MT is a lipophilic extract from the seeds of the plant and is composed of three isomer flavonolignans (silybin, silydianin, and silychristin) collectively known as silymarin. Silybin is a component with the greatest degree of biological activity and makes up 50% to 70% of silymarin. Silymarin is found in the entire plant but it is concentrated in the fruit and seeds. Silymarin acts as an antioxidant by reducing free radical production and lipid peroxidation, has antifibrotic activity and may act as a toxin blockade agent by inhibiting binding of toxins to the hepatocyte cell membrane receptors. In animals, silymarin reduces liver injury caused by acetaminophen, carbon tetrachloride, radiation, iron overload, phenylhydrazine, alcohol, cold ischaemia and Amanita phalloides. Silymarin has been used to treat alcoholic liver disease, acute and chronic viral hepatitis and toxin-induced liver diseases. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISSN:0951-418X
1099-1573
DOI:10.1002/ptr.3207