Chemical Structure:

Silymarine is derived from a flowering plant Milk Thistle (genus silybum adans) Silybum marianum is an extraordinarily useful herb in today’s world. With our increasingly polluted environment, our expanding reliance on often toxic medications and drugs, and our exposure to infectious organisms that damage the liver, our need for liver protection is tremendous.

Silymarine figures prominently in our arsenal of hepatic protection. Silymarine provides hepatocellular protection by stabilizing hepatic cell membranes. It alters the structure of the outer cell membrane of the hepatocytes in such a way as to prevent the penetration of the liver toxins into interior of the cell, so prevent the absorption of toxins into interior the hepatocytes. Anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties have also been documented.

Silymarine in liver disorders:

• Silymarine acts as antioxidants, scavengers and regulators of the intracellular content of glutathione.
• Silymarine acts as cell membrane stabilizers and permeability regulators that prevent hepatoxic agents from entering hepatocytes.
• As promoters of ribosomal RNA synthesis, stimulating liver regeneration and restoration of normal functions of liver.
• Silymarine is well tolerated and is reported to have very good safely profile.

Clinical Evidences

• Clinical properties of Silymarine in the management of hepatic disorders.
In patients with early onset of liver disease Silymarine 140 mg twice a day was shown to improve indices of liver function. [AST, ALT, gamma-glutamyl transferase and bilirubin] Even in patients with liver disease of various aetiology. Oral dosages of 280 mg/day have shown some therapeutic potential, with good tolerability. BioDrugs. 2001;15(7):465-89.

• Silymarine stimulates healing and the production of new liver cells and cause the liver to increase production of new liver cells and cause the liver to increase production of glutathione, an essential antioxidant for liver.
BioDrugs. 2001; 15(7):465-89. Am Fam Physician. 2005 Oct1;72(7):1285-8

• In acute clinical hepatitis patients receiving Silymarine had earlier improvement in subjective and clinical markers of biliary excretion. Phytomedicine. 2009 May;16(5):391-400