• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.68-77
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• 2021

Silymarin is a standardized extract obtained from the seeds and fruits of Silybum marianum L., or commonly called milk thistle, a member of Carduus marianum family that contains mix of flavonolignans. Some epidemiological and preclinical studies revealed that S. marianum L. has been used for herbal remedies for centuries for its pharmacological activity. In this review, pharmacological studies in vitro and in vivo of silymarin are discussed thoroughly stressing on antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-carcinogenic aspects of silymarin. In addition, the protective influences of silymarin on some organs such as heart, liver, bone, and neuron tissue are reviewed as well. This review would be useful for further study regarding the potential of natural plant, notably silymarin, and its therapeutic potential in the prevention and treatment of diseases.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.167-173
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• 2006

A growing body of evidence supports lipid peroxidation as having a role in the pathogenesis of liver disease. Although the probable cause of damage to human hepatocytes may be multifactorial, free radicals have been implicated in a variety of liver diseases, particularly in the presence of iron overload and toxic substances such as ethanol. Consequently, antioxidants, particularly those of plant origin such as flavonoids, may help to reduce the risk of developing these diseases. Silybum (S.) marianum, a medicinal plant widely used in traditional European medicine for the treatment of liver disorders, was evaluated for antioxidant activity. Thin layer chromatography and High Performance Liquid Chromatography analyses of crude extract of the plant confirmed the presence of a number of flavonoids reported in the literature. The antioxidant activity of these flavonoids was measured through inhibition of lipid peroxidation and 1, 1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging. The crude plant extract showed marked antioxidant activity in both assays. These results suggest that S. marianum contains flavonoids with antioxidant activity, capable of inhibiting or scavenging free radicals, thus supporting its traditional use as a hepatoprotective agent.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.297-301
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• 2020

Silymarin (SM) and silybin diastereomers (SD) in milk thistle (Silybum marianum) were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography and quantified using a reverse-phase column in a gradient elution system. UV detection was performed at 288 nm. The content of SM and SD in milk thistle was 3.236 and 0.553 mg/g DW, respectively. Determining the presence and quantifying the content of SM and SD in milk thistle are vital for the pharmaceutical industry to identify optimal sources for developing health supplements or therapeutics.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.489-495
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• 2011

These studies were conducted to investigate the effects an herbal extract composition(MHE) containing $Hovenia$ $dulcis$ T., $Artemisa$ $capillaris$ T., $Pueraria$ $thunbergiana$ B., $Polygonatum$ $falcatum$ A., $Agastache$ $rugosa$ O., $Silybum$ $marianum$ L. and $Glycyrrhiza$ $uralensis$ F. in alcohol administered mice. Prophylactic administration of different doses of MHE(20~100 mg/kg) had beneficial actions toward alcohol degradation in acute alcohol treated mice. In addition, intraperitoneal administration of the MHE showed anti-inflammatory effects in inhibition tests of vascular permeability produced by acetic acid. MHE also reduced the concentrations of nitric oxide(NO) and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-${\alpha}$ in macrophages that were activated by LPS. These results demonstrate that MHE possesses the potential to stimulate alcohol degradation and inhibit inflammatory effects in mice.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.269-275
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• 2000

Silibinin(silybin) is the active component of silymarin from Silybum marianum and has hepato-protective effect. It is water-insoluble and has low bioavailability. To improve its bioavailability, self-micro-emulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) has been developed by Hanmi Pharmaceutical Company (Silyma $n^{R}$ 140 soft capsule). In this study, the pharmacokinetic profiles of Silyma $n^{R}$ were examined and compared it with a reference preparation, L Caps140 of B Pharmaceutical Company. This study was approved by Yonsei University Severance Hospital IRB(approval No. CR0004) and followed the bioequivalence test guideline of Korean FDA. Eighteen healthy adult volunteers were allocated based on 2$\times$2 Latin square cross-over design. They were given 2 capsules (each contains silymarin 140 mg (60 mg as silibinin)) of either drug at each period and crossed over after a week of drug-free washout period. Blood concentration of silibinin was measured by HPLC. The $C_{max}$ and AUC of the Silyma $n^{R}$ were 1542.0 $\pm$ 402.7 ng/ml and 3323.3 $\pm$ 824.7 ng.h/ml, respectively, and were significantly higher than those of reference preparation. The Tmax was 0.8 $\pm$ 0.3 h and significantly shorter than reference preparation. The $K_{e}$ and $T_{1}$2/ of both drugs were comparable. Percent differences in means against reference preparation were +88.3% for AUC, +222.6% for $C_{max}$, and -61.1% for $T_{max}$./.>././.>./.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2017

$C/EBP{\beta}$ and $C/EBP{\delta}$ are required for the initiation of adipogenesis and induce the expression of key adipogenic regulators, such as $PPAR{\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$. In the present study, we have examined the effects of silibinin and its possible molecular mechanisms in regulating adipocyte differentiation and expression of $C/EBP{\beta}$ and $C/EBP{\delta}$ in the early stage of adipogenesis. Silibinin statistically significantly inhibits intracellular lipid accumulation and the mRNA expression of various genes involved at different stages during adipogenesis. Silibinin also suppresses expression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), fatty acid binding protein 4 (AP2), and adiponectin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Thus, the anti-adipogenic effect of silibinin seems to originate from the ability to inhibit the expression of $C/EBP{\beta}$ and $C/EBP{\delta}$. Furthermore, silibinin decreases cell viability for differentiation period and induces apoptotic cell death through capspase-3 activation.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 2009

We found that silymarin exhibited the inhibitory effect on melanogenesis in a spontaneously immortalized mouse melanocyte cell line, Mel-Ab. Silymarin is a standardized extract obtained from the dried seeds of milk thistle (Silybum marianum Gaertn.). Silymarin significantly prevented melanin production in a dose-dependent manner with an $IC_{50}$ value of 28.2 ${\mu}g/mL$ without effects on cell viability. Also, silymarin inhibited tyrosinase activity in melanocyte, while it did not affect the catalytic activity of cell-free tyrosinase. Furthermore, Western blot analysis indicated that silymarin decreased the expression of tyrosinase protein. Silybin A/B and isosilybin A/B were also able to inhibit melanin production and tyrosinase expression in protein level. Double blind study on the clinical efficacy of a cream containing 2 % silymarin showed that silymarin have a significant skin whitening effect. Therefore, this study suggests that silymarin may be useful as a natural skin whitening agent.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2012

The Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway regulates diverse developmental processes and adult tissue homeostasis. Inappropriate regulation of this pathway has been associated with human diseases, such as cancers, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease. Using a cell-based chemical screening with natural compounds, we discovered silybin, a plant flavonoid isolated from the Silybum marianum, which activated the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway in a synergy with Wnt3a-conditioned medium (Wnt3a-CM). In the presence of Wnt3a-CM, silybin up-regulated ${\beta}$-catenin response transcription (CRT) in HEK293-FL reporter cells and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes through stabilization of intracellular ${\beta}$-catenin protein. Silybin and Wnt3a-CM synergistically reduced expression of important adipocyte marker genes including peroxisome-proliferator-activated $receptor{\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) and CAATT enhancer-binding protein ${\alpha}$ (C/$EBP{\alpha}$) in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, accompanied by the activation of Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings indicate that silybin is a small-molecule synergist of the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway and can be used as a controllable reagent for investigating biological processes that involve the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway.