Milk thistle (Silybum Marianum) as an antidote or a protective agent against natural or chemical toxicities: a review. (3rd May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fanoudi, Sahar; Alavi, Mohaddeseh Sadat; Karimi, Gholamreza; Hosseinzadeh, Hossein
• Is Part Of: Drug and chemical toxicology. Volume 43:Number 3(2020)
• Page Start: 240
• Page End: 254
• Publication Date: 2020-05-03
• Subjects: Milk thistle -- Silybum marianum -- silymarin -- silibinin -- toxin -- protective; Toxicology -- Periodicals; Drugs -- Toxicology -- Periodicals; Toxicology, Experimental -- Periodicals; 615.9005
• DOI: 10.1080/01480545.2018.1485687
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0148-0545

Abstract

Abstract: Biological and chemical agents cause dangerous effects on human health via different exposing ways. Recently, herbal medicine is considered as a biological and safe treatment for toxicities. Silybum marianum (milk thistle), belongs to the Asteraceae family, possesses different effects such as hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic activities. Several studies have demonstrated that this plant has protective properties against toxic agents. Herein, the protective effects of S. marianum and its main component, silymarin, which is the mixture of flavonolignans including silibinin, silydianin and silychristin acts against different biological (mycotoxins, snake venoms, and bacterial toxins) and chemical (metals, fluoride, pesticides, cardiotoxic, neurotoxic, hepatotoxic, and nephrotoxic agents) poisons have been summarized. This review reveals that main protective effects of milk thistle and its components are attributed to radical scavenging, anti-oxidative, chelating, anti-apoptotic properties, and regulating the inflammatory responses.