title: Positive effect of silymarin on cell growth and differentiation in bovine and murine mammary cells.
abstract: Silymarin, a naturally acknowledged hepatoprotector used in humans to treat liver diseases has been tested in murine (HC11) and bovine (BME-UV) mammary epithelial cell lines to evaluate a possible direct effect on cell growth and differentiation in mammary gland. Silymarin enhanced cell proliferation (p < 0.05) from 10 to 1000 ng/ml in association with growth factors, (up to 20%) or alone (up to 15%) versus controls. Furthermore, silymarin (100 ng/ml) was able to increase (p < 0.05) beta-casein gene expression alone or in association with prolactin (5 microg/ml). These effects may be related with protein kinase B (AKT) activation induced by silymarin treatment (p < 0.05) and/or by a dose-related inhibitory effect (p < 0.05) on caspase-3 activity related to a protective role in cell apoptosis. These data suggest that silymarin should be considered a candidate to support mammary gland activity during a lactogenetic state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Morphophysiology, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Starvaggi Cucuzza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miretti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Macchi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martignani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Accornero
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baratta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D002364:Caseins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049108:Cell Enlargement; D002460:Cell Line; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D011388:Prolactin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012838:Silymarin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002364:Caseins; D012838:Silymarin; D011388:Prolactin; D053148:Caspase 3