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Abstract
SUMMARY
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SUMMARY
* Overview:
Milk thistle, Mary thistle, holy thistle; milk thistle is sometimes called
silymarin, which is actually a mixture of the herb’s active components, including
silybin (also called silibinin). Milk thistle is believed to have protective effects
on the liver and improves its function. It is typically used to treat liver cirrhosis,
chronic hepatitis and gallbladder disorders. Treatment claims also include
lowering cholesterol levels, reducing insulin resistance in people with type П
diabetes who also have cirrhosis and reducing the growth of cancer cells in
breast, cervical, and prostate cancers. Silymarin, which can be extracted from
the seeds (in fruit) of the milk thistle plant (vegetable growths), is believed to be
the biologically active part of the herb.
* Aim of the study:
The aim of the present work is to study the effect of milk thistle herb and
its active product silymarin at different levels (0.5, 1.0, 1.5%) on some
biological and biochemical indices including body weight gain, blood lipid
profile, functions of liver and kidney, serum mineral levels and immunological
indicators represented by measuring of detoxifying enzymes levels by the use of
animal models (42 male albino rats, 120-130 gm each).
SUMMARY
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* Results:
The Results could be summarized in the following topics:
1- Body weight:
The results showed that the total body weight gain (BWG) was
significantly higher in rat groups fed milk thistle at the levels of 1.0 and 1.5%,
whereas the other rat groups fed 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% of silymarin and 0.5% of
milk thistle showed non-significant differences regarding (BWG) when
compared with control rat group. In absence of any deterioration indices
increase of (BWG), thereby indicates a health growth.
2- Food intake:
Food intake (FI) was significantly increased for rat group fed on 1.0 and
1.5% of milk thistle. Other groups showed non-significant changes compared to
the control rats.
3- Food efficiency ratio:
Food efficiency ratio (FER) was the same (about 0.2) for all rat groups
fed with 0.5-1.5% of milk thistle or silymarin compared to control (-) group.
4- Organs weight:
Obtained results indicated that levels of 0.5 and 1.0% of silymarin had
mostly no effect against relative liver, kidney and spleen weight, whereas milk
thistle at levels of 1.0 and 1.5% and silymarin 1.5% exerted significant increase
in the relative weights of previously mentioned internal organs. Such increase
may be desired; in absence of any deterioration of studied indices of
metabolism; may be considered just a favorable growth.
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5- Blood lipid profile:
The results has revealed that the values of total cholesterol (TC),
triglycerides and LDL-C were lower & HDL higher for 1.0 and 1.5% milk
thistle and silymarin, differences were significant (P < 0.05) as compared with
control group. Milk thistle groups showed always less TC and LDL & higher
HDL than that of silymarin rats, indicating better biological status.
6- Iron, ferritin, hemoglobin and hematocrit:
Levels of iron, ferritin, hemoglobin and hematocrit showed nonsignificant
changes with silymarin & milk thistle at 0.5 and 1.0% levels, while at
1.5% levels mentioned parameters have significantly increased, provided that
the increase was higher for milk thistle diets.
7- Ca, P, Mg, Zn and I:
As compared with control group, non-significant changes were recorded
in serum Ca, P, Mg, Zn and I for rats fed on 0.5 and possibly 1.0% silymarin or
milk thistle. Meanwhile at 1.5% levels of silymarin or herb significant
increments were observed, provided that the increase in case of the milk thistle
diet was much greater than for the silymarin rats; Percent increases compared to
control group when feeding on 1.5% milk thistle diet were 10-26%, being 5-
21% for the silymarin diet.
8- Liver functions:
The results showed that all the values of AST, ALT and ALP activities
were not affected by any levels of consumed milk thistle and silymarin,
indicating that both herb and extract were safe.
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9- Kidney functions:
The results showed the all values of creatinine and urea in serum were not
affected by 0.5 & 1.0% levels of consumed milk thistle and silymarin.
Meanwhile at 1.5% levels creatinine and urea were significantly declined,
provided that the decrease was more pronounced for milk thistle 1.5% diet.
Accordingly such diet may be of value for correcting kidney disorders.
10- Levels of detoxifying enzyme activities:
Glutathione, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione
– S - transferase were increased significantly when feeding silymarin and
specially milk thistle, percent increase were 28-100 and 32-110% respectively.
This indicated the value of 1.5% milk thistle for health of liver and body.
11- The merit of using silymarin and milk thistle diets:
The merit of using silymarin and milk thistle diets, their extracts using
different extraction solvent and when using different test microorganisms
revealed the much better bacterial aspects, particularly when using milk thistle.
Different tested microorganisms where staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus,
E. coli, Y. enterocolitica and Salmonella typhi. Solvents tested were (besides
water) hexane, diethyl ether, acetone, chloroform and benzene. Anyhow milk
thistle was of much better effect than silymarin. Also influence on bacterial
enzymes (amylase, protease & lipase) was evaluated.