title: Silymarin alleviates bleomycin-induced pulmonary toxicity and lipid peroxidation in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The application of bleomycin is limited due to its side effects including lung toxicity. Silymarin is a flavonoid complex isolated from milk thistle [Silybum marianum L. (Asteraceae)] which has been identified as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates the effect of silymarin on oxidative and inflammatory parameters in the lungs of mice exposed to bleomycin.
  
  
  METHODS
  BALB/c mice were divided into four groups of control, bleomycin (1.5 U/kg), bleomycin plus silymarin (50 and 100 mg/kg). After bleomycin administration, mice received 10 d intraperitoneal silymarin treatment. On 10th day, blood and lung samples were collected for measurement of oxidative and inflammatory factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Silymarin led to a decrease in lung lipid peroxidation (0.19 and 0.17 nmol/mg protein) in bleomycin-injected animals. Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) which was inhibited by bleomycin (32.4 nmol/min/mg protein) induced by higher dose of silymarin (41 nmol/min/mg protein). Silymarin caused an elevation in glutathione (GSH): 2.6 and 3.1 µmol/g lung compare with bleomycin-injected animals 1.8 µmol/g lung. Catalase (CAT) was increased due to high dose of silymarin (65.7 µmol/min/ml protein) compare with bleomycin treated-mice. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) which was induced due to bleomycin (p < 0.05) reduced again by high dose of silymarin (0.51 U/min/mg protein). Bleomycin led to an increase in TNF-α and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (7.9 and 11.8 pg/ml). These parameters were reduced by silymarin (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Silymarin attenuated bleomycin induced-pulmonary toxicity. This protective effect may be due to the ability of silymarin in keeping oxidant-antioxidant balance and regulating of inflammatory mediator release.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacodynamics and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran .
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Razavi-Azarkhiavi
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ali-Omrani
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Solgi
authors.forename: Pezhman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bagheri
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haji-Noormohammadi
authors.forename: Nahid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amani
authors.forename: Mohammad-Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sepand
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D055370:Lung Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012838:Silymarin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D012838:Silymarin; D001761:Bleomycin
keywords: Antioxidant enzymes; inflammation; lipid peroxidation; pulmonary damage