title: Effects of silybum marianum on patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Silymarin derived from silybum marianum (milk thistle), a flowering member of the daisy family, may benefit liver function in people infected with the hepatitis C virus. The aims of this pilot study were to assess the efficacy and safety of silymarin on serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA, serum aminotransferases (ALT, AST) levels, liver fibrosis and well-being in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective self-controlled trial study was conducted from March to September 2006 at Department of Gastroenterology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 55 patients with HCV (10 female and 45 male) with a mean age of 31.8 ± 6.4 years (10-67 years) were participated in the study. Patients received 24 weeks of silymarin (630 mg/day). Baseline virological biochemical, liver fibrosis (by a serum fibrosis markers, including YKL-40 and Hyaluronic acid), and SF-36 questionnaire were performed with biochemical tests repeated at the end of the treatment period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was statistically difference in mean of ALT (108.7 ± 86.6 vs 70.3 ± 57.7) before and after the treatment (p < 0.001). The means of AST were 99.4 ± 139.7 and 59.7 ± 64.32 before and after the treatment with statistically differences (p = 0.004). After the treatment, nine patients were found with negative HCV-RNA (p = 0.004) and statistically significant improvement in results of liver fibrosis markers were found only in fibrosis group (p = 0.015). Quality of life was improved significantly (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicated that in patients with CHC performing silymarin (650 mg/day) for 6 months, improved serum HCV-RNA titer, serum aminotransferases (ALT, AST), hepatic fibrosis and patient's quality of life. More future studies are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kalantari
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shahshahan
authors.forename: Sayed Mehdi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hejazi
authors.forename: Taghi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ghafghazi
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sebghatolahi
references.citation: Hepatology. 2010 Jun;51(6):1912-21
references.pmid: 20512985
references.citation: Med J Aust. 1999 Mar 1;170(5):218-9
references.pmid: 10092919
references.citation: J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2006 Jan;21(1 Pt 2):275-80
references.pmid: 16460486
references.citation: Altern Med Rev. 1998 Dec;3(6):410-21
references.pmid: 9855566
references.citation: J Hepatol. 2000 Jun;32(6):911-20
references.pmid: 10898311
references.citation: J Viral Hepat. 2005 Nov;12(6):559-67
references.pmid: 16255756
references.citation: J Res Med Sci. 2010 Nov;15(6):310-6
references.pmid: 21526103
references.citation: Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol. 1993 Sep;31(9):456-60
references.pmid: 8225695
references.citation: Clin Chem. 1996 Apr;42(4):558-63
references.pmid: 8605673
references.citation: Dig Liver Dis. 2004 Nov;36(11):752-9
references.pmid: 15571006
references.citation: Scand J Gastroenterol. 1982 Jun;17(4):517-21
references.pmid: 6753109
references.citation: Hepatology. 2003 May;37(5):972-4
references.pmid: 12717376
references.citation: Biochem Pharmacol. 1994 Aug 17;48(4):753-9
references.pmid: 8080448
references.citation: Arch Sci Med (Torino). 1979 Jul-Sep;136(3):443-54
references.pmid: 549550
references.citation: Vrach Delo. 1990 Jul;(7):86-7
references.pmid: 2238610
references.citation: Qual Life Res. 2005 Apr;14(3):875-82
references.pmid: 16022079