title: A Mini Review on the Chemistry and Neuroprotective Effects of Silymarin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The plant milk thistle and silymarin has been traditionally used as a natural remedy for the treatment of various ailments including neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and cerebral ischemia for over 2000 years.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this article we review the neuroprotective effects of silymarin against various neurological dysfunctions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The neuroprotective effects conferred by silymarin include modulation of various antioxidant mechanisms, and several kinases involved in cell signaling pathways, inhibition of the inflammatory response generated during neurodegeneration, neurotropic effects, regulation of neurotransmitters and inhibition of apoptosis. The ease of availability, comparative low cost and safety profile provide additional advantages for the use of this compound as a potent drug with immense clinical benefit. However, there is a growing need for improvements in the bioavailability of silymarin and related products, and more consistent and reliable human trials are required to accurately validate the neuroprotective efficacy of this natural compound.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The promising outcomes of the studies mentioned in this review provide renewed insight into the clinical relevance of silymarin in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders where neuroinflammation and oxidative stress are pathologically relevant to disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi-630 004, Tamil Nadu. India.
authors.forename: Kasi Pandima
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Devi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi-630 004, Tamil Nadu. India.
authors.forename: Dicson Sheeja
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Malar
authors.affiliation: Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Nady
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Braidy
authors.affiliation: Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Mohammad
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nabavi
authors.affiliation: Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Fazel
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Nabavi
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012838:Silymarin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012838:Silymarin
keywords: Alzhemer's disease; Parkinson’s disease; neurodegeneration; neuroprotective effects; oxidative stress; silymarin