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Milk thistle in liver diseases: past, present, future
Author(s) -
Abenavoli Ludovico,
Capasso Raffaele,
Milic Natasa,
Capasso Francesco
Publication year - 2010
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/ptr.3207
Subject(s) - silybum marianum , milk thistle , silibinin , pharmacology , carbon tetrachloride , hepatocyte , lipid peroxidation , hepatoprotection , toxin , traditional medicine , antioxidant , liver injury , chemistry , biochemistry , alcoholic liver disease , phytotherapy , medicine , cirrhosis , glutathione , in vitro , enzyme , alternative medicine , organic chemistry , pathology
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.