title: Extrahepatic biliary obstruction: can silymarin protect liver function?
abstract: The hepatoprotective property of silymarin is well known. However, it is not known whether the antioxidant silymarin might have a beneficial effect in extrahepatic cholestasis in common bile duct ligated rats. Malonaldehyde property concentrations, the hydrogen-donating ability and reducing power were measured in liver homogenates by spectrophotometry, as well as free SH-group levels and glutathione-reductase activities in sera. The total scavenger capacity of the livers was quantified by a chemiluminometric method. The elevated lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant capacity of liver homogenates and sera could be observed in ligated rats. Silymarin pretreatment improved the antioxidant capacity of the liver, diminished the direct bilirubin concentration and caused an increase of liver enzyme activities compared with the groups without treatment. These effects of silymarin suggest that it may be a useful agent for improving the antioxidant defensive system in extrahepatic cholestasis, but its choleretic property should be considered.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Semmelweiss University, Szentkirályi u 26, H-1088 Budapest, Hungary. hkriszti@bel2.sote.hu
authors.forename: Krisztina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hagymási
authors.forename: Ibolya
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kocsis
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lugasi
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fehér
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blázovics
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001651:Cholestasis, Extrahepatic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012838:Silymarin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D012838:Silymarin