Milk Thistle

[Biggs]

20.Inhibition of Kupffer cell functions as an explanation for the hepatoprotective properties of silibinin.

Hepatology 1996 Apr;23(4):749-54

Dehmlow C, Erhard J, de Groot H.

Institut fur Physiologische Chemie, Universitatsklinikum, Essen, Germany.

The flavonoid silibinin, the main compound extracted from the milk thistle Silybum marianum, displays hepatoprotective properties in acute and chronic liver injury. To further elucidate the mechanisms by which it acts, we studied the effects of silibinin on different functions of isolated rat Kupffer cells, namely the formation of superoxide anion radical (02-), nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), and leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)). Production of 02- and NO were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner, with an 50 percent inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) value around 80 micro mol/L. No effect on TNF-alpha formation was detected. Opposite effects were found on the cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism. Whereas no influence on PGE(2) formation was observed with silibinin concentrations up to 100 micro mol/L, a strong inhibitory effect on LTB(4) formation became evident. The IC(50)-value for inhibiting the formation of this eicosanoid was determined to be 15 micro mol/L silibinin. The strong inhibition of LTB(4), formation by silibinin was confirmed in experiments with phagocytic cells isolated from human liver. Hence, while rather high concentrations of silibinin are necessary to diminish free radical formation by activated Kupffer cells, significant inhibition of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway already occurs at silibinin concentrations which are achieved in vivo. Selective inhibition of leukotriene formation by Kupffer cells can at least partly account for the hepatoprotective properties of silibinin.

[Biggs]

21.Randomized controlled trial of silymarin treatment in patients with cirrhosis of the liver.

J Hepatol 1989 Jul;9(1):105-13

Ferenci P, Dragosics B, Dittrich H, Frank H, Benda L, Lochs H, Meryn S, Base W, Schneider B.

1st Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Vienna, Austria.

Silymarin, the active principle of the milk thistle Silybum marianum, protects experimental animals against various hepatotoxic substances. To determine the effect of silymarin on the outcome of patients with cirrhosis, a double blind, prospective, randomized study was performed in 170 patients with cirrhosis. 87 patients (alcoholic 46, non-alcoholic 41; 61 male, 26 female; Child A, 47; B, 37; C, 3; mean age 57) received 140 mg silymarin three times daily. 83 patients (alcoholic 45, non-alcoholic 38; 62 male, 21 female; Child A, 42; B, 32; C, 9: mean age 58) received a placebo. Non-compliant patients and patients who failed to come to a control were considered as 'drop outs' and were withdrawn from the study. All patients received the same treatment until the last patient entered had finished 2-years of treatment. The mean observation period was 41 months. There were 10 drop outs in the placebo group and 14 in the treatment group. In the placebo group, 37 (+2 drop outs) patients had died, and in 31 of these, death was related to liver disease. In the treatment group, 24 (+4 drop outs) had died, and in 18 of these, death was related to liver disease. The 4-year survival rate was 58 +/- 9% (S.E.) in silymarin-treated patients and 39 +/- 9% in the placebo group (P = 0.036). Analysis of subgroups indicated that treatment was effective in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (P = 0.01) and in patients initially rated 'Child A' (P = 0.03). No side effects of drug treatment were observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[RaulJimenez]

Great post , nice to find an herb to threat some liver diseases out there

[Draven]

I thought yoiu said you had no extra time there biggin

Nice job bro!

[Biggs]

yeah, well... I'm a nerd, what can I say... doesn't really take too long to compile this stuff... organizing and highliting is a different matter, but oh well... yeah, I should be studying for finals. mebbe some sort of subconscious diversionary tactic... ? (... must... procrastinate...)

[RaulJimenez]

yeah im doing the same biggin, procrastinating for Calculus and **** hehe

[msclbldrguy]

great stuff...i staeted takin this about a month ago....nice to know its backed up by science...cool. btw...i remember finals..heh

[labrad]

Yeah, I always take milk thistle and saw palmetto when "on". Thanks Biggin' for letting me know I am doing the right thing. As I am too lazy to do the homework myself.

[Iron Warrior]

LOL Biggin I feel you bro. Sometimes I wanna study but I'm becoming addicted to AM

[John.K]

Also of <a href="http://www.ahrq.org/clinic/epcsums/milktsum.htm">interest</a>.