title: Silymarin for HCV infection.
abstract: Silymarin, an extract of milk thistle seeds, and silymarin-derived compounds have been considered hepatoprotective since the plant was first described in ancient times. Hepatoprotection is defined as several non-mutually exclusive biological activities including antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory functions. Despite clear evidence for silymarin-induced hepatoprotection in cell culture and animal models, evidence for beneficial effects in humans has been equivocal. This review will summarize the current state of knowledge on silymarin in the context of HCV infection. The information was collated from a recent workshop on silibinin in Germany.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. polyak@uw.edu
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Polyak
authors.forename: Nicholas H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Oberlies
authors.forename: Eve-Isabelle
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Pécheur
authors.forename: Harel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dahari
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferenci
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pawlotsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077385:Silybin; D012838:Silymarin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012838:Silymarin; D000077385:Silybin