Effect Of Silybin Research Articles

Effects of silybin on histamine release from human basophil leucocytes.

1. Effects of a naturally occurring flavonoid, silybin, on histamine release from human basophils were examined, in order to assess the potential utility in the treatment of allergic disorders. 2. The f-met peptide and anti-IgE-induced histamine release was significantly (P less than 0.05) inhibited in a concentration-dependent fashion. Conversely, no significant (P greater than 0.05) effect on calcium ionophore A23187-induced histamine secretion was documented. The inhibitory activity was significantly (P less than 0.05) reversed by elevating extracellular calcium concentrations. 3. The anti-allergic properties of silybin can be reasonably ascribed to a membrane-stabilizing activity, possibly related to an interference in calcium influx. These results indicate that an in vivo evaluation of the anti-allergic activity of silybin would be worthwhile.

Effect of silybin on biliary lipid composition in rats

The authors studied the influence of Silybin in rats, administered i.p. for 7 days (daily dose of 100 mg/kg/b.w.) on the biliary lipid composition and on the maximal excretory rate of bile salts. Following this treatment, biliary cholesterol excretion was reduced, while the other lipids and bile flow were not significantly modified. After sodium cholate infusion (1.6 mumol/min/100 g b.w. i.v. for 80 minutes), the Tm of bile salts and bile flow remained unchanged in Silybin pretreated rats. The mechanism by which Silybin treatment reduces cholesterol excretion, is discussed.

Effect of silybin on phalloidin-actin interactions in vitro

The possible antagonism between silybin and phalloidin on F-actin has been examined in vitro. Phalloidin protects F-actin against denaturation by potassium iodine, cytochalasin B, DNase and pronase. Silybin does not counteract the effect of phalloidin on F-actin. However, silybin alone slowed the rate of polymerization of actin, but this effect was moderate and obtained with very high concentrations. These results indicate that the site of action in vitro of silybin is not actin.