Abstract
This review critically surveys the literature published mainly within this millennium on the new and emerging applications of silybin (pure, chemically defined substance) and silymarin (flavonoid complex from Silybum marianum - milk thistle seeds). These compounds used so far mostly as hepatoprotectants were shown to have other interesting activities, e.g. anticancer and canceroprotective and also hypocholesterolemic activity. These effects were demonstrated in a large variety of illnesses of different organs, e.g. prostate, lungs, CNS, kidneys, pancreas and also in the skin protection. Besides the cytoprotective activity of silybin mediated by its antioxidative and radical-scavenging properties also new functions based on the specific receptor interaction were discovered. These were studied on the molecular level and modulation of various cell-signaling pathways with silybin was disclosed - e.g. NF-κ B, inhibition of EGFR-MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling, activity upon Rb and E2F proteins, IGF-receptor signaling. Proapoptotic activity of silybin in pre- and/or cancerogenic cells and anti-angiogenic activity of silybin are other important findings that bring silymarin preparations closer to respective application in the cancer treatment. Discovery of the inhibition and modulation of drug transporters, Pglycoproteins, estrogenic receptors, nuclear receptors by silybin and some of its new derivatives contribute further to the better understanding of silybin activity on the molecular level. Silymarin application in veterinary medicine is reviewed as well. Recent works using optically pure silybin diastereomers clearly indicate extreme importance of the use of optically active silybin namely in the receptor studies. Significance of silymarin and its components in the medicine is clearly indicated by an exponential growth of publications on this topic - over 800 papers in the last 5 years.
Keywords: Silymarin, silybin, silibinin, anticancer activity, P-glycoprotein, receptors
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Silybin and Silymarin - New and Emerging Applications in Medicine
Volume: 14 Issue: 3
Author(s): Radek Gazak, Daniela Walterova and Vladimir Kren
Affiliation:
Keywords: Silymarin, silybin, silibinin, anticancer activity, P-glycoprotein, receptors
Abstract: This review critically surveys the literature published mainly within this millennium on the new and emerging applications of silybin (pure, chemically defined substance) and silymarin (flavonoid complex from Silybum marianum - milk thistle seeds). These compounds used so far mostly as hepatoprotectants were shown to have other interesting activities, e.g. anticancer and canceroprotective and also hypocholesterolemic activity. These effects were demonstrated in a large variety of illnesses of different organs, e.g. prostate, lungs, CNS, kidneys, pancreas and also in the skin protection. Besides the cytoprotective activity of silybin mediated by its antioxidative and radical-scavenging properties also new functions based on the specific receptor interaction were discovered. These were studied on the molecular level and modulation of various cell-signaling pathways with silybin was disclosed - e.g. NF-κ B, inhibition of EGFR-MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling, activity upon Rb and E2F proteins, IGF-receptor signaling. Proapoptotic activity of silybin in pre- and/or cancerogenic cells and anti-angiogenic activity of silybin are other important findings that bring silymarin preparations closer to respective application in the cancer treatment. Discovery of the inhibition and modulation of drug transporters, Pglycoproteins, estrogenic receptors, nuclear receptors by silybin and some of its new derivatives contribute further to the better understanding of silybin activity on the molecular level. Silymarin application in veterinary medicine is reviewed as well. Recent works using optically pure silybin diastereomers clearly indicate extreme importance of the use of optically active silybin namely in the receptor studies. Significance of silymarin and its components in the medicine is clearly indicated by an exponential growth of publications on this topic - over 800 papers in the last 5 years.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Gazak Radek, Walterova Daniela and Kren Vladimir, Silybin and Silymarin - New and Emerging Applications in Medicine, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2007; 14 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986707779941159
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986707779941159 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.
The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in ...read more
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications
The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize ...read more
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues
Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in ...read more
Current advances in inherited cardiomyopathy
Describe in detail all novel advances in multimodality imaging related to inherited cardiomyopathy diagnosis and prognosis. Shed light to deeper phenotypic characterization. Acknowledge recent advances in genetics, genomics and precision medicineread more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
DNMT Inhibitors in Cancer, Current Treatments and Future Promising Approach: Inhibition of Specific DNMT-Including Complexes
Epigenetic Diagnosis & Therapy (Discontinued) Glutathione Transferases: Emerging Multidisciplinary Tools in Red and Green Biotechnology
Recent Patents on Biotechnology Subtype-Selective Dopamine Receptor Radioligands for PET Imaging: Current Status and Recent Developments
Current Medicinal Chemistry Drug Delivery to CNS: Challenges and Opportunities with Emphasis on Biomaterials Based Drug Delivery Strategies
Current Pharmaceutical Design MUC1 is a Promising Therapeutic Target for Prostate Cancer Therapy
Current Cancer Drug Targets Sugars and Sweeteners: Structure, Properties and In Silico Modeling
Current Medicinal Chemistry Patent Selections
Recent Patents on DNA & Gene Sequences Targeting Synthetic Lethality in DNA Damage Repair Pathways as an Anti-Cancer Strategy
Current Drug Targets Exosome Limitations in the Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases
Current Pharmaceutical Design Oxidative stress in carcinogenesis: new synthetic compounds with dual effects upon free radicals and cancer.
Current Medicinal Chemistry Biomarkers to Assess the Targeting of DNA Repair Pathways to Augment Tumor Response to Therapy
Current Molecular Medicine Phytochemicals as Adjunctive with Conventional Anticancer Therapies
Current Pharmaceutical Design Laminin and Collagen IV: Two Polypeptides as Marker of Dystocic Labor
Current Protein & Peptide Science The Yin and Yang of microRNA Assay Methods
MicroRNA Antitumor Activity of Cyclodextrin-based Supramolecular Platinum Prodrug In vitro and In vivo
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Microarrays and Colon Cancer in the Road for Translational Medicine
Current Bioinformatics Cancer Invasion and Metastasis: Discovering New Targets For Diagnosis and Therapeutics
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Aminolevulinic Acid Derivatives and Liposome Delivery as Strategies for Improving 5-Aminolevulinic Acid- Mediated Photodynamic Therapy
Current Medicinal Chemistry Extracellular ATP and Neurodegeneration
Current Drug Targets - CNS & Neurological Disorders Radiolabeled Probes Targeting G-Protein-Coupled Receptors for Personalized Medicine
Current Pharmaceutical Design