Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/541817
Silymarin Silymarin is one of the most potent liver protectors ever found. Silymarin is derived from the milk thistle plant (also known commonly as marian thistle and St. Mary's thistle and scientifically as Silybum marianum or Cardaus marianum). e fruit, seeds, and leaves of the milk thistle contain silymarin, which is a mixture of flavanolignans, especially silybin, silydianin, silychristine and many others. Of these, silybin has the most biological activity. Silybum marianum extracts are used extensively in Europe for treating liver disorders. As an antioxidant, silymarin is many times more potent than vitamin E. Not only does it prevent the depletion of glutathione caused by alcohol, acetaminophen, and other liver toxins, it also increases the basal glutathione level in the liver by 35%. e ability of Silybum extract to prevent liver destruction and enhance liver function derives primarily from the inhibition by silymarin of hepato-destructive factors, such as free radicals and leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are produced by the enzyme lipoxygenase during the oxidation of polyunsaturated fats. Silymarin is a potent inhibitor of lipoxygenase activity. Silymarin also protects against damage caused by leukotrienes and prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are a product of the inflammatory process which are formed by free radical damage to membrane structures due to organic disease or alcohol or drug intoxication. By suppressing the pathological decomposition of membrane lipids (lipolysis), silymarin inhibits prostaglandin formation. Silybum's protective effects have been demonstrated in a large number of experimental and clinical studies. For example, liver damage can be experimentally induced in laboratory animals by exposing them to a diverse array of toxic chemicals, such as carbon tetrachloride, galactosamine, and ethanol. Treating these animals with silymarin has been shown to offer significant protection from these and many other liver toxins. Silymarin's protective effects are most impressively demonstrated in cases of severe poisoning caused by the death cap or toadstool mushroom (Amanita phalloidesI). Ingesting these mushrooms causes death about one third of the time. In experimental animals, when the silymarin was given before poisoning with Amanita toxin, it provided 100% protection. Even when it was given 10 minutes aer ingestion of Amanita toxin, silymarin completely counteracted the toxic effects. And when given within 24 hours of poisoning, silymarin could still prevent death and significantly reduce liver damage. ese protective actions are complemented by the ability of Silybum to stimulate liver protein synthesis, an essential step in the replacement of damage cells. Scientists are always wary of any substance that stimulates cell growth Abby's Magazine - July/August 2015 | Page 37