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Fetoprotectivity of the flavanolignan compound siliphos against ethanol‐induced toxicity
Author(s) -
Edwards Joel,
Grange Linda La,
Wang Mu,
Reyes Edward
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/1099-1573(200011)14:7<517::aid-ptr654>3.0.co;2-w
Subject(s) - silybum marianum , fetus , glutathione , toxicity , ethanol , pregnancy , endocrinology , pharmacology , medicine , chemistry , biology , traditional medicine , biochemistry , enzyme , genetics
Of the three flavanolignans that are found in silymarin ( Silybum marianum [L.] Gaertn.), silybin is thought to be the primary therapeutic constituent. To test the capacity of silybin to protect the rat fetus from toxic effects of maternally ingested EtOH we did the following: Adult female rats were assigned to one of four groups; EtOH, EtOH/silybin, pair‐fed control, and chow fed control. Silybin was orally administered as Siliphos®, which is one part silybin to two parts phosphatidylcholine. All groups except the chow‐fed control were maintained on a liquid diet throughout pregnancy. On day 21 of pregnancy the rats were killed and the fetuses removed. Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) activity and glutathione (GSH) levels were determined for liver and brain tissue for both the fetuses and the dams. Maternal and fetal GGTP activity in the EtOH rats was significantly higher than that of pair‐fed controls, whereas the GGTP activity observed in the Siliphos®/EtOH rats was not elevated. Fetal mortality rates in the EtOH rats significantly exceeded those of all three other groups. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.