Therapeutic Effect of Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum L) Seeds on Carbon Tetrachloride - Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Abstract

The current research aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of milk thistle (Silybum marianum L) seeds (MTS) powder compared with hepaticum drug on carbon-tetrachloride (CCl4) caused hepatotoxicity in rats. Thirty six female albino rats weighting 140±20g were divided into 6 groups. The 1 st group was fed on basal diet as the negative control group (G1), while the other five groups were injected by CCl4 (i.p). The 2 nd group was the positive control group (G2). Groups from 3 rd to 5 th were fed on basal diet contain different ratio of MTS powder 1, 2 and 3 %,respectively. While, the last group (G6) was fed on basal diet contain the hepaticum drug. Liver weight, relative liver weight to the body weight (L/B %), serum liver enzymes activity, total protein, albumin, bilirubin, kidney function, serum lipid profile and histopathological examination were determined. All data were statistically analyzed and the results showed that, milk thistle seeds are rich in protein, fat and fiber. Also, its oil rich in fatty acids as linoleic acid (55.12%), oleic acid (21.78%) and palmitic acid (8.80%). Feeding hepatotoxic rats with 3 % of MTS and drug caused a significant (P ≤0.05) increase in liver weight compared to the positive control group. While, there was no significant differences (P >0.05) between the positive control group and therapeutic groups for L/B %. On the other hand, adding 1, 2 and 3% of MTS to standard diet caused a significant decrease (P ≤0.05) in ALT and AST enzymes activities level compared to the positive control group. Also, feeding hepatotoxic rats on 1, 2 and 3% of MTS and drug caused a significant (P ≤0.05) decrease in serum urea and creatinine levels. So, by increasing the levels of adding MTS powder (2 and 3%) to standard diet caused a significant improvement in liver function and histopathological examination.

Intestinal, liver and lipid disorders in genetically obese rats are more efficiently reduced by dietary milk thistle seeds than their oil

“…This indicate that the negative effect of oils on the HDL-cholesterol level is strain-related and specific for obese Zucker rats. Nevertheless, our results are in accordance with the study by Zaki et al 53 who observed that a dietary supplementation with only 1% milk thistle seeds can reduce plasma cholesterol concentration in rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity, whereas 3% supplementation can normalize the cholesterol to a level found in healthy rats. Our study also shows that the cholesterol-lowering effect of milk thistle seeds is associated with their lipid fraction of which PUFAs are its most important part.…”

Effect of Ginger Nanoparticles on Hepato-renal Toxicity Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Rats

“…Silymarin was used in this study as a reference herbal drug for its well-identified hepatoprotective mechanism. The hepatoprotective actions of silymarin have been previously imputed to its antioxidant properties [56, 57,58,59]. It was reported that silymarin inhibits liver injury by maintaining the integrity of the plasma membrane, inhibits the secretion of liver enzymes in blood, and suppresses apoptosis in the hepatocytes [60].…”