Diseases of the Liver
Silymarin is thought to act as a liver-protectant. However, evidence of benefit in liver disease has been mixed. One preliminary study of a specific silybinin preparation improved liver function in people with chronic active hepatitis. However, most studies in patients with hepatitis B or C have generally not shown an improvement in mortality or liver function using milk thistle or preparations of milk thistle. Similarly, in alcoholic liver disease, some preliminary clinical studies suggested that milk thistle might improve liver function and mortality. However, an analysis of several studies did not show a significant effect. Preliminary evidence suggests that milk thistle extract standardized to 70% - 80% silymarin may protect the liver against damage from certain toxins, including drugs such as acetaminophen and phenytoin (Dilantin).
This is hardly scientific. It states "
some preliminary clinical studies suggest..." and "However, an analysis of
several studies..." This wording makes it sound as if most studies are negative while few are positive. I have gone through several dozen studies on pubmed and elsewhere for silymarin, milk thistle, silibin, etc. Most studies are positive. Here are a few.. there are literally hundreds more.
Hepatoprotective effects of misoprostol and silymarin on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage in rats.
Salam OM, Sleem AA, Omara EA, Hassan NS.
Department of Pharmacology, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt. omasalam@hotmail.com
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of misoprostol, silymarin or the co-administration of misoprostol + silymarin on the carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatic injury in rats. Misoprostol (10, 100, 1000 microg/kg), silymarin (25 mg/kg) or misoprostol (100 microg/kg) + silymarin (25 mg/kg) was given once daily orally simultaneously with CCl(4) and for 15 days thereafter. The results showed that misoprostol (10, 100 or 1000 microg/kg) conferred significant protection against the hepatotoxic actions of CCl(4) in rats, reducing serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels by 24.7%, 42.6% and 49.4%, respectively compared with controls. Misoprostol, given at 100 or 1000 microg/kg, decreased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) by 28 and 43.6% and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) by 19.3% and 53.4% respectively. Meanwhile, silymarin reduced ALT, AST and ALP levels by 62.7%, 66.1% and 65.1% respectively. The co-administration of misoprostol (100 microg/kg) and silymarin (25 mg/kg) resulted in 61.4%, 66.1% and 57.5% reduction in ALT, AST and ALP levels respectively. Histopathological alterations and depletion of hepatocyte glycogen and DNA content by CCl(4) were markedly reduced after treatment with misoprostol, silymarin or misoprostol + silymarin. Image analysis of liver specimens revealed a marked reduction in liver necrosis; area of damage: 32.4%, 24% and 10.2% after misoprostol (10, 100 or 1000 microg/kg), 7.2% after silymarin and 10.9% after treatment with misoprostol 100 microg/kg + silymarin, compared with CCl(4) control group (46.7%). These results indicate that treatment with misoprostol protects against hepatocellular necrosis induced by CCl(4). This study suggests a potential therapeutic use for misoprostol in liver injury.
[Silymarin in the treatment of chronic liver diseases: past and future]
[Article in Hungarian]
Fehér J, Lengyel G.
Semmelweis Egyetem, Altalános Orvostudományi Kar II. Belgyógyászati Klinika Budapest Szentkirályi u. 46. 1088. feher@bel2.sote.hu
In the treatment of chronic liver diseases adequate therapy can be chosen only in the knowledge of pathogenetic processes. In the liver diseases caused by oxidative stress (alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver and steatohepatitis, drug and compound induced liver toxicity) the antioxidant drugs, like silymarin, in chronic hepatitis caused by hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus, combined peginterferon and nucleosid treatments are the primary therapy modalities to be selected. The main effects of silymarin are the membrane stabilising and antioxidant effects, it is able to help the liver cell regeneration, it can decrease the inflammatory reaction and inhibit the fibrogenesis in the liver. These results have been established by experimental and clinical trials. According to open studies, the long administration of silymarin significantly increased the survival time of patients with alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis. Recently it was demonstrated that high-dosage silibinin infusion treatment could significantly decrease the number of hepatitis C viruses after four-week application. On the basis of the results with the methods of molecular biology, silymarin is able to decrease significantly tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis as well as insulin resistance. These results support the administration of silymarin preparations in the therapy of chronic liver diseases, especially in alcoholic and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in current clinical practice, and as it can be awaited, also in the future. In some neoplastic diseases they could also be administered as adjuvant therapy.
An updated systematic review with meta-analysis for the clinical evidence of silymarin.
Saller R, Brignoli R, Melzer J, Meier R.
Institute of Complementary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. reinhard.saller@usz.ch
BACKGROUND: The potential benefit of silymarin (special extract from the fruits of Silybum marianum) in the treatment of liver diseases remains a controversial issue. METHODS: For this systematic review electronic databases identified 65 papers for the search terms silymarin, silibinin, silicristin or milk thistle and clinical trial. Only 19 complied with the criteria'double-' or 'single-blind'. These publications were analysed from a clinical point of view and meta-analytic calculations were performed. RESULTS: The clinical evidence ofa therapeutic effect of silymarin in toxic liver diseases is scarce. There is no evidence of a favourable influence on the evolution of viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis C. In alcoholic liver disease, comparing with placebo, aspartate aminotransferase was reduced in the silymarin-treated groups (p = 0.01) while alkaline phosphatase was not. In liver cirrhosis, mostly alcoholic, total mortality was 16.1% with silymarin vs. 20.5% with placebo (n.s.); liver-related mortality was 10.0% with silymarin vs. 17.3% with placebo(p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the available clinical evidence it can be concluded - concerning possible risks /probable benefits - that it is reasonable to employ silymarin as a supportive element in the therapy of Amanita phalloides poisoning but also (alcoholic and grade Child 'A') liver cirrhosis. A consistent research programme, consolidating existing evidence and exploring new potential uses,would be very welcome.
There are too many liver studies, and I don't have the time to sort through them all over again. Knock yourself out -
http://www.ncbi.nlm....;=related_queryNeuro Protective
In an experimental animal model designed to induce nerve damage from chemical exposure that causes Alzheimer’s-like brain tangles and plaque to form, silymarin treatment following injection of the chemical dramatically reduced neurotoxicity. Memory was maintained, free radical damage was prevented (lowering of iNOS), and brain inflammation was curtailed (lowering of TNFa). The researchers concluded that silymarin “attenuates memory impairment through amelioration of oxidative stress and inflammatory response induced by Abeta [the drug] and may be a potential candidate for an Alzheimer’s Disease medication.”
Kidneys
In another animal experiment mice were exposed to a powerful toxin (ferric nitrilotriacetate) that causes kidney damage and kidney cancer. The drug rapidly depletes antioxidants and detoxification function, in turn leading to a highly inflammatory state. It was found that silymarin protected the kidneys against this toxin by turning down the underlying inflammatory gene signal NF-kappaB. It also prevented the development of kidney cancer. The scientists summarized their findings, “from these results, it could be concluded that silymarin markedly protects against chemically induced renal cancer and acts plausibly by virtue of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative activities.”
Cholesterol
A report in the 1998 medical journal Physiological Research, the silymarin in milk thistle is believed to protect the body from high cholesterol and atherosclerosis. The reason for this is the benefit that silymarin has on the liver, which metabolizes cholesterol and fats.
Cancer
Milk thistle has been shown to exhibit anti-cancer properties. A study in the January 2005 edition of the International Journal of Oncology states that silymarin holds promise in protecting against skin cancer caused by the sun, as well as cancer in other parts of the body caused by the chemical mutation of cells. According to the UMMC, the silymarin, as well as other ingredients in milk thistle, keep the cancer cells from dividing and multiplying. This also reduces the blood supply to tumors that are growing.
The potential of milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.), an Israeli native, as a source of edible sprouts rich in antioxidants.
Vaknin Y, Hadas R, Schafferman D, Murkhovsky L, Bashan N.
Department of Agronomy and Natural Resources, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. yiftachv@volcani.agri.gov.il
The potential of wild plants in Israel as sources of edible sprouts has not been investigated until now. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.) is native to the Mediterranean basin and is now widespread throughout the world; its young fleshy stems are traditionally eaten by the local Arab sector in Israel, and its sprouts are rich in antioxidants and have been used as a traditional medicine for diseases of the liver and biliary tract. The active extract of milk thistle, silymarin, is a mixture of flavonolignans and is a strong antioxidant that has been proved to promote liver cell regeneration, to reduce blood cholesterol and to help prevent cancer. The present objective was to investigate the potential of milk thistle as a source of edible sprouts rich in antioxidants. We found that seed germination within 3-4 days was high (96%, except for striated seeds). Exposure to light significantly reduced sprout growth and significantly increased the polyphenol content and antioxidative capacity. The polyphenol content was 30% higher in seeds originating from purple inflorescences than in those from white ones. We thus found milk thistle to be a good candidate source of healthy edible sprouts.
where is the evidence that it does anything useful for people with relatively normal livers?
This is a loaded question. I
said most people find the compound useful because of its protective properties. Silymarin has been prescribed mass-scale for liver treatment in European hospitals for a long time. The liver, brain, kidneys and other organs are exposed to toxins (ie: pesticides) all the time, and thus many people find silymarin to be useful. In addition, it activates SIRT1.
I happen to lean toward this Dr.'s opinion as well:
"Milk thistle strengthens your liver and reduces the damage from environmental irritants like pesticides," says Jennifer Brett, N.D., a naturopathic doctor at the Wilton Naturopathic Center in Stratford, Connecticut.
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