title: Inhibitory effect of silibinin on tumour necrosis factor-alpha and hydrogen peroxide production by human monocytes.
abstract: Silibinin is a chemically defined flavonoid and the main active component of silymarin, a polyphenolic complex from Silybum marianum, which has anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and anticarcinogenic properties. Monocytes obtained from healthy individuals were incubated with silibinin to evaluate cell viability, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) release and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) production by these cells. The duration of treatment and different silibinin concentrations had no significant effect on cell viability. Monocytes showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on H(2)O(2) release by phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated monocytes in silibinin concentrations ranging from 6.25 to 50 µg mL(-1). Significant inhibition of TNF-α production by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocytes was observed at concentrations of 12.5, 50 and 100 µg mL(-1) of silibinin. These results suggest that silibinin exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties on human monocytes through an inhibitory effect on H(2)O(2) release and on TNF-α production, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Bannwart
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Peraçoli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nakaira-Takahagi
authors.forename: M T S
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Peraçoli
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D020944:Silybum marianum / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077385:Silybin; D012838:Silymarin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012838:Silymarin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000077385:Silybin; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide