Journal of Medicinal Plants
Year:2005 | Volume:4 | Issue:Supplement|Papers Count:8

Backgrond: Silymarin, the seed extract of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn., contains flavonolignan compounds with powerful anti-oxidant properties. The favourable effects of herbal medicine with ant-ioxidant properties on lipid profile have been reported in several experimental studies. Objective: The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of cultivated and endemic silymarins and levostatin with ant-ioxidant properties on serum lipoproteins levels and atherosclerosis development in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Method: Hypercholesterolemic foods were fed to 5 groups of 8 rabbits, each for 60 days. One group negative control, second group received levostatin (10mg/kg) and other two groups received cultivated and endemic silymarins (200 mg/kg) daily one hour before feeding. The last group did not receive any drugs (positive control). The fasting blood total cholesterol, LDL and HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels were determind before starting the experiments and also after 30 and 60 days during the study. At the end of the study rabbits were killed and the extent of aortic atherosclerotic plaque were determined. Results: Results showed that, levostatin, cultivated and endemic silymarins caused a significant decrease in fasting serum cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol compared to control group. HDL-cholesterol increased and triglyceride level was significantly decreased in cultivated and endemic silymarins treated groups, as compared to positive control group. In addition, atherosclerotic plaque development was significantly decreased in levostatin, cultivated and endemic silymarins treated groups. Conclusion: Treatment of hypercholesterolemic rabbits with levostatin, cultivated and endemic silymarins showed favourable effects on serum lipid profile, as well as atherosclerotic plaque development.

Background: Cisplatin is an important anticancer drug, can be used in the treatment of several kinds of tumor. But its sever advese effect i.e. kidney toxicity limited its uses. Objective: the present study undertaken to find out the protective effect of methanolic extract of Silybum marianum seeds (MES) and standard silymarin against cisplatin-induced renal toxicity. Materials and Methods: 48 male 10-8 week old wistar rats randomly divided in to 6 group. They caged in same environmental condition. First group kept as control received salin, and second group received cisplantin (3 mg/kg) by single intraperitoneal injection. 3rd and 4th groups received silymarin and MES 2 hour before cicplatin adminstration. 5th and 6th group received silymarin and MES 2 hour after cisplatin administration. Results: Over five days, cisplatin treated rats showed kidney tubular necrosis and elevation in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr). Pretreatment of animals with silymarin (50 mg/kg) and MES (600 mg/kg) 2h before cisplatin administration reduced BUN and Scr as well as prevent the kidney tubular damage significantly. Rats treated with silymarin and MES 2h after cisplatin administration had BUN lower but mild to moderate kidney tubular necrosis was observed. Conclusion: These results suggested that silymarin as wellas MES may protect kidney against cisplatin-induced renal toxicity and might serve as a novel combination agent with cisplatin to limit renal injury if clinical study proved its efficacy.

Background: Silymarin is a free radical scavenger and cell membrane stabilizer, that may reduce insulin secretion without increasing blood-glucose concentration and this combination of effect could be useful in states of hyperinsulinaemic hyperglycemia, such as non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of silymarine on glycemic control of type II diabetes. Material and Methods: A 4-month randomized clinical trial study was conducted in two-well-matched groups of type II diabetes. One group (n=30) received 750mg silymarin into divided three doses per day plus standard therapy, while the control group (n=30) received standard therapy and placebo. At the beginning and the end of the study HbA1C, FBS, serum Insulin, SGOT and SGPT were measured. Results: The mean age of patients was 53.5 ±6.2 years and the mean duration of disease was 9.6±5.9 years. There was a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose (FBS) levels from 155± 46 mg/dl to 133±39 mg/dl (p=0.001), also HbA1C levels from 7.82 ± 2.01 to 6.78 ± 1.05 (p=0.001). There was a significant decrease in SGOT (p=0.008) and SGPT (p=0.0001) levels, after 4-months treatment in the silymarin group. In addition, there was a non significant decrease in Blood Pressure and weight in this group. Conclusion: The results show that treatment with silymarin reduces the FBS and HbA1c. The effect of silymarine may be due to Antioxidative effects, reduction of the lipoproxidation of cell membranes and other unknown effects.

Background: Silymarin complex consisted of five flavonolignans (silybin A & B, Isosylibin A & B, silychristin, silydianin and taxifolin) isolated from dried fruiets of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. Silybin is the main component of silymarin complex. Hepatoprotective activeity of silymarin may related to its antioxidant property. Objective: This study was conducted to understand the environmental condition on silymarin methabolism. Methods: Silymarin extraction and flavolignans assay by spectrophotometery, TLC and HPLC was performed on Milk thistle seeds collected from different areas of Iran, Hungarian seeds cultivated in greenhouse and field in karaj. Results: Valasht and Borazjan had the highest levels of silymain content by spectrophotometery method. In TLC method all 5 components were identified. We analyzed the flavolignans contents by HPLC and results showed that Borazjan had the highest level of silymarin. Conclusion: To produce commercially silymarin we need to search for the best genotype.

Milk thisle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.) is endemic of several European, African and Asian country like Iran. Althuogh litrature on its uses in Iranian traditional medicine in is not published, but it used extensively in some European country. Several clinical and experimental study undertaken to investigate efficacy of milk thistle seed extract (Silymarin) in several chronic disease. Silymarin contain several compound like flavonoid with antioxidative property and scavengering free radical. Free radicals are by-product of abnormal body metabolism in several chronic diseases and are important factor for late complication and secondary disease. Here in this article the published data on silymarin its effect on oxidative stress and cancer are reviewed

Background: Cirrhosis is the irreversible sequel of various disorders that damage liver cells permanently over time. Presently, the use of herbal medicines for prevention and control of chronic liver diseases is in the focus of attention for both the physicians and the patients; the reasons for such shift toward the use of herbals include the expensive cost of conventional drugs, adverse drug reactions, and their inefficacy. Objective: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of herbal medicine Khar maryam or silymarin on liver cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis patients compare to placebo therapy. Method: 60 chronic hepatitis B cirrhotic patients were selected out of 500 patients referred to Tehran Hepatic Center. The patients were randomly divided in two groups of 30 patients. One group received silymarin 150mg/kg three times a day and the other group placebo received for twelve months. The outcome measures included child-pugh score, ascitis, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total billirubin, albumin, prothrombin time, platelet and white blood cells counts. The indices were recorded in all patients before and after 12 months of drug or placebo treatment. Results: The results demonstrated that the patients treated with silymarin for 12 months had significantly better child-pugh score, decreased ascitis, decreased serum AST and ALT. In placebo administered patients all the clinical parameters recorded before and after 12 months were not significantly different. Conclusion: We conclude that silymarin treatment for 12 months in cirrhotic patients has hepatoprotective effect. To investigate the effects of this herbal remedy on the mortality rate of cirrhotic ratients, a similar study, over an extended period has to carried out.

Background: The seeds extract of Milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.) is named silymarin. It is used widely in the treatment of cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolemia. There are different methods for production of this compound but the best method is patented. Objective: In this study, we study the power of different solvents on silymarin production. Method: 10g of three samples (Marzanabad, Golshan and Hungarian samples cultivated in our research farm), powdered and defatted by petroleum ether, the defatted powders were extracted with one of the following solvents: Methanol, ethanol aceton, ethylacetate, and acetonitril. The silymarin content was assayed by HPLC. Results: The results showed that methanol is the best solvent in extracting silymarin and all of its components. After methanol, acetone and acetonitril had good power, in extracting silymarin and silybin. Conclusion: Methanol is the best solvent for silymarin extraction and then aceton and acetonitril could be replaced for it.

Bachground: One of the major role of liver is metabolism of xenobiotics and detoxification. But sometimes, during metabolism of xenobiotics produce active and more toxic agents which cause liver damege and disease. Use of nature products from vegetables in the treatment of diseases and liver diseases has a long history, especially in Eastern medicine. Materials and Methods: In this study, we have investigate the protective effects of polyphenolic extracts of Silybum marianum and Cichorium intybus. Liver damage induced with hepatotoxin, thioacethamide. Extracts was injected every day for a duration of 3 days, to rats, at a dosis of 25 mg/kg body weight together with thioacetamide at a dosis of 50 mg/kg body weight. In order to investigation the hepatoprotective effect of extracts against thioacetamide, activities of serum aminotrasferases (SGOT and SGPT), alkalin phosphatase, bilirubin, Na+ and K+ were measured. Results: Activities of serum aminotrasferases (SGOT and SGPT), alkalin phosphatase and bilirubin were decreased significantly in rats treatmented with extracts in compared to thioacetamide group. Conclusion: The results showed potent protective effects of these extracts against the thioacetamide induced hepatotoxicity that are due to antioxidant effet of polyphenolic compound.