Multitargeted therapy of cancer by silymarin

Abstract Silymarin, a flavonolignan from milk thistle ( Silybum marianum ) plant, is used for the protection against various liver conditions in both clinical settings and experimental models. In this review, we summarize the recent investigations and mechanistic studies regarding possible molecular...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Cancer letters 2008-10, Vol.269 (2), p.352-362
Main Authors:	Ramasamy, Kumaraguruparan, Agarwal, Rajesh
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Angiogenesis Angiogenesis Inhibitors - pharmacology Animals Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology Anticarcinogenic Agents - pharmacology Antioxidants - pharmacology Apoptosis Apoptosis - drug effects Bioavailability Cancer Cancer therapies Carcinogenesis Cell cycle Cell Cycle - drug effects Chemoprevention Clinical Trials as Topic Cytotoxicity Drug dosages Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine Herbal medicine Humans Kinases Lipids Liver Metabolism Metastasis Neoplasm Metastasis - prevention & control Neoplasms - drug therapy Plasma Proteins Rodents Silibinin Silymarin Silymarin - chemistry Silymarin - metabolism Silymarin - pharmacology Studies Toxicity
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Summary:	Abstract Silymarin, a flavonolignan from milk thistle ( Silybum marianum ) plant, is used for the protection against various liver conditions in both clinical settings and experimental models. In this review, we summarize the recent investigations and mechanistic studies regarding possible molecular targets of silymarin for cancer prevention. Number of studies has established the cancer chemopreventive role of silymarin in both in vivo and in vitro models. Silymarin modulates imbalance between cell survival and apoptosis through interference with the expressions of cell cycle regulators and proteins involved in apoptosis. In addition, silymarin also showed anti-inflammatory as well as anti-metastatic activity. Further, the protective effects of silymarin and its major active constituent, silibinin, studied in various tissues, suggest a clinical application in cancer patients as an adjunct to established therapies, to prevent or reduce chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy-induced toxicity. This review focuses on the chemistry and analogues of silymarin, multiple possible molecular mechanisms, in vitro as well as in vivo anti-cancer activities, and studies on human clinical trials.
ISSN:	0304-3835 1872-7980