Antioxidant activity
Silymarin and silibinin (silybin) are antioxidants that react with free radicals (e.g. reactive oxygen species) transforming them into more stable and less reactive compounds.
Hepatoprotective properties
In vitro studies using isolated hepatocytes have documented the protective activity of silymarin and several of its components against cell damage induced by various cytotoxic substances.
Nephroprotective properties
Silibinin injected into rats prior to administration of cisplatin afforded protection of glomerular and proximal tubular function.
Anticancer activity
Silybin at concentrations of 0.1–20 mmol/L inhibited the growth of drug-resistant ovarian cancer cells and doxorubicin-resistant breast cancer cells in vitro.
Anti-inflammatory activity
Silymarin administered orally reduced foot-pad abscesses in a dose dependent manner in the carrageenan rat-paw oedema test.
Gastric ulcer protective effects
Oral administration of silymarin to rats prevented gastric ulceration induced by cold-restraint stress.
Other effects
Silymarin has been shown to prevent alloxaninduced diabetes mellitus in rats, possibly due to its antioxidant activity and increases in plasma and pancreatic glutathione concentrations.
Recommended Use
The recommended dosage is 140 mg of silymarin (160-200 mg of extract), 2-3 times daily. In clinical trials, the daily oral dose of silymarin used ranged from 280 to 800 mg. This is equivalent to 400 to 1140 mg of standardised extract containing 70-80% silymarin.
