Milk Thistle Seeds Research Articles

Здравословни растителни масла и съставки за намалено съдържание на свинска гръбна мазнина и оценка на въздействието им върху хранителните аспекти на смлените варени колбаси

This study compares three healthy vegetable oils, from chia, milk thistle and pumpkin seeds, added as emulsions for partial substitution of animal fat and evaluation of the effect of quinoa flour as a potato starch substitute in the meat matrix of cooked sausages. For the purpose of evaluating the nutritional properties of the samples, the fatty acid composition, the cholesterol content and the oxidative changes in the lipid fraction were determined, and testing was performed for examination of sensory perception of the reformulated cooked sausages. Lower malondialdehyde (MDA) quantities were found in the sausages made with the addition of quinoa flour compared to the respective potato starch samples. In the reformulated meat products, the highest polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid (PUFA/SFA) ratio of 0.67 was recorded in the sample made with chia oil and quinoa flour. The same sample was given the highest overall sensory score, whereas the respective sample made with potato starch received a lower overall score, statistically indiscernible in relation to the milk thistle samples (P>0.05). The lowest sensory acceptance was reported for the samples made with pumpkin seed oil. The milk thistle oil, characterised by negligible cholesterol content and high phytosterol content, proved most interesting and capable of enrichment with unsaturated fatty acids.

Cold-pressed milk thistle seed oil: physico-chemical properties, composition and sensory analysis

Cold pressed oil was produced from milk thistle seeds, and its composition and sensorial properties were determined. The seeds were found to contain 14.98% oil, 17.31% protein and 4.14% ash. The peroxide value of the oil (11.39 meqO2/kg oil) was within acceptable limits according to codex, but the free fatty acidity value (3.45%) exceeded the limit. The oil melted at -20.18 °C and crystallized at -3.71 °C. Linoleic acid (51.97%), β-sitosterol (67.56 mg/100 g oil) and γ-tocopherol (53.60 mg/kg oil) were determined as the main components, respectively. Six sensory descriptive terms (sweet, spicy, raw vegetable, straw, roasted and throat-catching) were described for the oil. Consumer tests proved that cold-pressed milk thistle seed oil had intermediate acceptance scores and consumer satisfaction was moderate. In conclusion, it is thought that milk thistle seeds could be used for the production of edible gourmet oil. Further studies regarding the composition of the bio-active molecules in the oil are anticipated.

The Effect of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum L.) Fortification, Rich in Dietary Fibre and Antioxidants, on Structure and Physicochemical Properties of Biscuits

In the present study, an attempt was made to enrich cookies with ground seeds of milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.) and to determine the effect of this addition on the quality of cookies. The content of nutrients, fibre, and calorific value, as well as, texture, spreadability factor, volume, colour and sensory parameters were tested. The biscuits were characterized by lower caloric value, hardness and volume, but higher spreadability. The cookies with 5% of milk thistle gained high consumer acceptance, but greater than 20% addition caused a worsening quality of the product. The biscuit fortification with ground milk thistle seeds seems to be justified, through enrichment of the products with fibre and the antioxidant compounds having health-promoting properties.

Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Milk Thistle Seeds (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.)

Milk Thistle Seeds (MTS) purifies the liver from all toxic and harmful substances, supports the regeneration of liver cells. In this study, the chemical composition of milk thistle seeds (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertner = Carduus marianus L.) and also its biological activity were determined. Essential oil was analyzed using by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. After that, the essential oil was tested against bacteria and fungi by agar well diffusion and micro dilution methods. The essential oil yield was 1.1% (v/w). Eight constituents were comprised the 97.3% of the total oil extract of the Milk thistle seeds. The major compounds were determined as oleic acid (45.6%), linoleic acid (29.0%), ethylbenzene (7.0%) and stearic acid (5.7%). The seed essential oils of MTS significantly inhibited the growth of Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Streptococcus sp.) bacteria (p < 0.05). The oils also showed fungicidal activity against Candida tropicalis and C. globrata.

Green extraction of silymarin from Milk thistle seeds and its encapsulation using the spray drying method

Green extraction of silymarin from Milk thistle seeds and its encapsulation using the spray drying method

Fatty acid profile of the liver lipids under acute fungicide action and intake of a biologically active preparation in rats

The widespread use of fungicides in agriculture leads to a negative consequences for both humans and the environment. The acute effect of fungicides containing tebuconazole alone or in combination with triadimefon on fatty acid (FAs) composition of the total lipids in the liver of rats was studied. FAs content was analyzed by gas chromatography with the use of flame ionization detector. The results obtained indicate that the acute effect of triazole fungicides one-time oral administration to rats is characterized by toxic reactions and is accompanied by the total liver lipids FAs profile redistribution, similar for the studied fungicides. In particular, the reduction in the total content of monounsaturated FAs (by 26% – 37%) and in the ω3/ω6 ratio was observed. It was demonstrated that the subsequent two-week introduction of the preparation based on Milk thistle seeds oil extract had a positive effect and improved the FAs profile of lipids in dynamics after fungicide intake. Keywords: fatty acids, fungicides, Milk thistle seeds extract, rat liver lipids, triazoles

Purification, Phenolic Profile and In vitro Antioxidant Activity of Bioactive Compounds in Milk Thistle Seed (Silybum Marianum)

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum L.) seed extract possesses bioactive compounds. The study aimed to investigate the influence on time, temperature, solvent, and solid ratio as optimal conditions for the efficiency of extraction of polyphenol, flavonoids, and antioxidant properties obtained from milk thistle seeds. The optimized conditions model (time (60min), temperature (70 °C), solvent (80 %), and solid ratio (1:10)) showed a better correlation between the prophesied and experimental values. Overall, the results revealed that the purification of flavonolignans was optimized by dynamic state (2BV) with the most favorable state AB-8 for the separation of impurities and high contents of polyphenols. Silymarin (SMR) is the basic compound with a molecular weight is 481 m/z in milk thistle, identified by optimized HPLC condition and characterized by ESI-MS/MS; active fractions were isolated by ÄKTA purifier with 40% methanol. Furthermore, each compound had good antioxidant activity on RAW 264.7 cells. %DPPH activity is much higher in SMR rather than components; hence, TXF is the most effective compound of SMR as free radical and hydroxyl radical antioxidant activity, SCN and SDN also showed effect as a total antioxidant activity rather than SBN and ISBN.

Urinary excretion of silibinin diastereoisomers and their conjugated metabolites in rat and human at different dosages.

Silibinin is a mixture of two flavonoid lignan silibinins A and B from the seeds of milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.). Using ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight-MS (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS), a total of 18 metabolites were identified in rat and human urine samples after oral administration of silibinin capsule. Furthermore, nine glucuronides and/or sulfated metabolites and two prototype compounds were simultaneously quantified in rat urine after oral administration of silibinin capsule at 50 and 100 mg/kg. Over a 72-h period, 27.6% and 23.3% of silibinin were excreted in the form of metabolites (n = 11) in urine, among which five major metabolites, including silibinin A-7-O-β-glucuronide (SA-7G), silibinin B-7-O-β-glucuronide (SB-7G), silibinin A-5-O-β-glucuronide (SA-5G), silibinin B-5-O-β-glucuronide (SB-5G) and silibinin A-20-O-glucuronide (SA-20G), accounted for 20.5% and 15.5% of the dosages, respectively, when administered at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg. These results suggested that glucuronidation at the C7-, C5- and C20-hydroxyls was the primary metabolic pathway of silibinin diastereoisomers in vivo. The present results provide helpful information about the in vivo metabolism and clinical usage of silibinin capsule.

Comparative Evaluation of the Antioxidative and Antimicrobial Nutritive Properties and Potential Bioaccessibility of Plant Seeds and Algae Rich in Protein and Polyphenolic Compounds

Spice plants are not only a source of nutrition compounds but also supply secondary plant metabolites, such as polyphenols. Therefore, their bioaccessibility is an important issue. In order to understand the biological activity of polyphenols present in spice plants, it is necessary to broaden knowledge about the factors influencing their bioaccessibility, including nutritional factors. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine the antioxidative and antimicrobial nutritive properties and potential bioaccessibility of plant seeds and microalgae rich in protein and polyphenolic compounds. Plant seeds rich in protein—i.e., black cumin, milk thistle, fenugreek, almonds, white sesame, white mustard, eggfruit and the two most popular algae, chlorella and spirulina—were analyzed for total polyphenolic compounds (TPC) and antioxidant properties (ABTS, FRAP), as well as their potential bioaccessibility, antimicrobial activity, basic chemical composition and amino acid profiles. With regard to the TPC, the highest levels were found in star anise, followed by milk thistle, white mustard and fenugreek, whereas the lowest were noted in white sesame, almonds, eggfruit, spirulina and chlorella. White mustard and milk thistle showed the highest antioxidant capacities and almonds, eggfruit, spirulina, and chlorella the lowest according to the ABTS and FRAP assays. The widest spectrum of microbial growth inhibition was detected for fenugreek extract, which showed antimicrobial activity against four analyzed microorganisms: B. subtilis, P. mirabilis, V. harveyi and C. albicans. The protein from seeds of black cumin, milk thistle, white mustard and eggfruit and chlorella was not limited by any essential amino acids. Among all analyzed plants, fenugreek seeds were judged to have potential for use in food formulation operations in view of their antioxidant activity and amino acid profile. Based on the results, intake of polyphenols together with protein in plant seeds does not have a major impact on the potential bioaccessibility of a range of polyphenols and phenolic metabolites.

Green manufacturing of high-value extracts from milk thistle seeds: Parameters that affect the supercritical CO2 extraction process

The aim of this study was to provide insights into parameters that affect the oil extraction from an industrially valuable raw material (milk thistle) using green solvent supercritical CO2. The effect of plant origin, cultivation year, and seeds storage on extraction yield has been explored. Furthermore, the effects of high-pressure unit design and initial plant material amount have been examined. Pressure (200–450 bar) and temperature (40–80 °C) have been tested to improve the recovery of essential fatty acids and phenolic compounds. Moreover, solid residues after the material pretreatment and supercritical CO2 extraction served as the substrates for waste valorization. The characterization of obtained high-value extracts has been carried out by chromatographic (using gas chromatographs combined with mass spectrometer and flame ionization detection) and spectrophotometric assays (for total phenolic and flavonoid compounds as well as a radical scavenging ability). It was shown that the tested supercritical CO2 extraction process parameters determined extraction kinetics and allowed the extract separation from raw milk thistle seeds and waste material (3–32 mass %) rich in linoleic acid (up to 515 mg/g) and total phenolic compounds (up to 30 mg GAE/g).

Investigation of thermophysical properties of milk thistle seeds and oils with the differential scanning calorimetry method

The purpose of work was to study the possibility of increasing the information content of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data when studying properties of various samples of milk thistle seeds and oils. The possibility of DSC method application for studying milk thistle oils thermophysical properties is shown, and the method for conducting temperature measurements is described in the work. The results of thermal analysis of milk thistle raw materials and oils obtained with cold pressing by the DSC method showed noticeable differences in oils melting profiles. When analyzing samples of milk thistle oils, differing from each other in the variety, place and growing conditions, it can be seen that the melting curves have differences with the general similarity of the profiles. The peaks of the DSC profile curves of oil stored at room temperature for six months are shifted towards higher temperatures compared to the DSC profile of freshly pressed oil, which is explained by oxidative deterioration and leads to an increase in the temperature of triacylglycerols phase transitions. This confirms the assumption that the DSC method can be used as an independent method for quality control of liquid vegetable oils. The selection of phase transitions temperatures of oils and raw materials was carried out with double differentiation. The use of the NETZSCH Peak Separation program according to the general algorithm for calculating the second melting curves derivatives and determining the endothermic peaks area made it possible to increase the information content of thermograms obtained by the DSC method. Thermal analysis showed an increased residual content of unsaturated fats in the meal obtained by cold pressing oil extracting.

Epigallocatechin gallate ameliorates tetrahydrochloride-induced liver toxicity in rats via inhibition of TGFβ / p-ERK/p-Smad1/2 signaling, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activity

Chronic liver disease is a worldwide health problem. Carbon tetra hydrochloride is an environmental toxin which is regarded as highly toxic and a potential human carcinogen. It can cause liver damage through the generation of metabolites and production of free radicals. Green tea contains catechins such as Epigallocatechin gallate which has been found to reduce the inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis in experimental animal models. Hence, it represents a good source to prevent or ameliorate several chronic diseases. Silymarin is extracted from milk thistle seeds and has been found to be an effective agent to reduce the oxidative stress and free radical production and thereby exert protective effects in chronic liver conditions. The present study was planned to keep in view the above-mentioned facts. We included thirty rats in our study and divided them into five groups, each having six rats and the study continued for 8 weeks. Group I received normal saline; Group 2 received i.p. CCl4 injections; Group 3 received CCl4 i.p. injection and Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) oral gavage, Group 4 received CCl4 i.p. injection and silymarin by oral gavage; and Group 5 received CCl4 i.p. injection and combined EGCG + silymarin by oral gavage. The study found that in group 2, CCl4 induced significant elevation of ALT and MDA and reduced GSH thereby signifying increased oxidative stress. CCl4 also significantly increased inflammatory (TNFα, NFκB, IL1β, and TGFβ) as well as fibrotic markers (p-ERK and p-Smad1/2 protein expression). EGCG and silymarin significantly reversed the previously mentioned parameters either alone or in combination; however, the effect was more pronounced in case of EGCG. We conclude that EGCG and silymarin possess liver protective effects through their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic action.

Abstract 716: Silibinin: A novel potential therapeutic agent against UVB-induced basal cell carcinoma

Abstract Herein, we report silibinin (a natural flavonolignan from milk thistle seeds) efficacy against basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the major non-melanoma skin cancer. To determine the preventive/therapeutic activity of silibinin on the progression of UVB-induced microscopic BCC lesions to more advanced BCC, both male and female 8 weeks old Ptch1+/- mice were irradiated with 240 mJ/cm2 UVB dose 3 times/week (M, W, F) for 26 weeks, and thereafter, UVB irradiation was stopped. At this point (after initial UVB exposure for 26 weeks was stopped), these Ptch1+/- mice were randomized into 3 groups: Baseline group (mice euthanized for baseline data); Vehicle group: mice treated topically with acetone for 20 more weeks, and Silibinin group: mice treated topically with silibinin (9 mg in 200 µL acetone), once a day for five days/week for 20 more weeks i.e., till 54 weeks of mice age. Assessment of BCC and non-BCC lesion pathology was performed following β-galactosidase and H&E based histopathological analysis. Results indicated that compared to BCC-associated pathologies observed at baseline, acetone exposure for another 20 weeks resulted in a significant increase in the number (~2 folds, P<0.001) and area (~3.4 folds, P<0.001) covered by BCC lesions. There was also a significant increase in epidermal dysplasia, fibrosarcoma, and squamous cell carcinoma incidence. Notably, topical application of silibinin during this phase significantly decreased BCC numbers as well as area covered by BCC lesions by ~76% (P<0.001) and ~88% (P<0.001), respectively. This protective effect of silibinin was associated with decreased proliferation of basal cells and decreased expression of Hh signaling molecules (Smo and Gli1). To further delineate the changes associated with silibinin’ s protective effect at the transcriptomic level, RNA sequencing studies were performed in skin samples from all three groups as well as non-UVB exposed control mice. Clustering of mRNA profile by sparse Partial Least Squares - Discriminant Analysis (sPLS-DA) showed that UVB exposed tissues (not treated with silibinin) were significantly different from non-UVB controls; most notably, silibinin treatment (after UVB exposure) reversed this phenomenon and the transcriptomic profile of silibinin group was almost similar to non-UVB controls. This indicated that topical silibinin was not only able to protect against progression to advanced BCC but had the potential to even normalize the aberrant gene expression driving BCC formation. In addition, Gene ontology enrichment analysis as well as Pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes showed silibinin-associated enrichment in the calcium and CX3CR1-mediated signaling pathway, and TGF-β-mediated regulation of the extracellular matrix. Taken together, these results highlight the potential of silibinin to be an effective preventive and/or therapeutic modality against BCC growth and progression. Citation Format: Komal Raina, Sandeep Paudel, Neha Mishra, Sushil Kumar, David J. Orlicky, Zhiying You, Rama Kant, Chapla Agarwal, Rajesh Agarwal. Silibinin: A novel potential therapeutic agent against UVB-induced basal cell carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 716.

Abstract 718: Significantly strong protective efficacy of silibinin against basal cell carcinoma growth and progression

Abstract Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin malignancy accounting for ∼80% of non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs). It arises in basal cells of skin that line the deepest layer of the epidermis. The most important risk factor for BCC is solar ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation that results in DNA damage (CPDs formation) in skin epidermis, which, if not repaired, leads to fixation of mutations and initiation of skin carcinogenesis. One of the key molecular features of BCC is sustained activation of Hedgehog signaling (Hh) pathway through inactivating mutations in tumor suppressor gene Patched (Ptch) or activating mutations in Smoothened (Smo). Therefore, extensive efforts have been made to target activated Hh pathway for the treatment of BCC, though with toxic side effects. With regards to chemoprevention of BCC, the agents which target the events associated with UVB-induced DNA damage repair, together with targeting promotion/progression stages, might provide more effective broad-spectrum opportunities to intervene at the earliest. Utilizing the well-established patched (Ptch)+/- mouse model of UVB radiation-induced BCC formation, our approach in this study was to target BCC development and its prevention by employing silibinin (a natural flavonolignan from milk thistle seeds). Previously, we have extensively reported the efficacy of silibinin against UVB-induced photodamage and photo-carcinogenesis, and also recently reported silibinin efficacy against BCC growth in cell culture (including anti-BCC drug-resistant cell lines) and mouse BCC allograft tumors. In this study, both male and female (Ptch)+/- mice were irradiated with 240 mJ/cm2 UVB dose, 3 times per week (M, W, F) for 26 and 46 weeks with or without silibinin. Silibinin (9 mg/200μl of acetone) was applied topically, 30 min post and pre-UVB exposure. Our study shows that chronic UVB exposure induced BCCs in Ptch+/- mice. Treatment with silibinin post and pre-UVB exposure for 26 weeks decreased BCC lesion numbers (39-65%), and cross-sectional area (45-72%) p<0.001, respectively compared to UVB alone. Furthermore, continuous UVB exposure up to 46 weeks increased the BCC lesion number by ∼6 folds and cross-sectional area by ∼3.4 folds (p<0.001) respectively. Notably, silibinin (irrespective of post and pre-UVB treatment) significantly halted the progression of BCC (81-94%, p<0.001), even upon prolonged UVB exposure. Histological analysis showed increased dysplasia, fibro-sarcoma, and squamous cell carcinoma upon UVB exposure, which significantly decreased upon silibinin treatment. In addition, mechanistic studies revealed that silibinin significantly decreased basal cell proliferation (Ki-67) and the expression of cytokeratins (14 and 15), and Hh signaling mediators Smo and Gli1 in the BCC lesions. Together, our findings demonstrate that silibinin has the potential to prevent the growth and progression of UVB-induced BCC. Citation Format: Sandeep Paudel, Komal Raina, Vasundhara R. Tiku, Akhilendra Maurya, David J. Orlicky, Zhiying You, Cindy M. Rigby, Gagan Deep, Rama Kant, Bupinder Raina, Chapla Agarwal, Rajesh Agarwal. Significantly strong protective efficacy of silibinin against basal cell carcinoma growth and progression [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 718.

Effect of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) Supplementation on Pork Offal Quality.

Simple SummaryDue to their natural origin and a wide range of positive effects on the body, herbs and spices are currently becoming commonly used as a nonantibiotic component of pig rations. There is research evidence to confirm health-promoting effects of milk thistle on humans and animals. The greatest effects are seen for the liver, i.e., protection from toxins and regeneration. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of adding milk thistle seeds on the quality of edible internal organs from the fatteners, which are used in food production as offal. We suggest that our study shows room for improvement of offal quality and may have a positive impact on consumer awareness in the context of offal consumption.The aim of the study was to determine the effect of milk thistle supplementation of fattener pig feeds on physical and chemical properties of pork offal. The experiments were conducted on 60 fatteners (group C—control (30 pigs) and group E—experimental (30 pigs)). The experimental group was supplemented with ground milk thistle (Silybum marianum) at 7 g/kg feed. The offal (tongues, kidneys, hearts, lungs and livers) was analyzed for weight, pH, WHC, water, protein, fat, energy value, fatty acid profile and content of major and trace elements. The present study shows that milk thistle added to fattener pig diets increased pH45 and pH24 values in most of the analyzed offal and significantly (p ≤ 0.01) decreased the weight of heart and lungs and increased the weight of liver and kidneys. Hearts, lungs and kidneys of the experimental group contained more fat and the liver less, than the same offal of the control group. As regards the content of elements, the dietary supplement most often had an effect on the heart and lungs. In general, milk thistle supplemented in fattener diets had modified the physical parameters and chemical composition of the analyzed products.

One-step sustainable extraction of Silymarin compounds of wild Algerian milk thistle (Silybum marianum) seeds using Gas Expanded Liquids

This work reports the application of Gas Expanded Liquid (GXL) extraction to concentrate the flavonolignan fraction (silymarin) and taxifolin from Silybum marianum seeds, which have proven to be highly valuable health-promoting compounds. GXL using green solvents was used to isolate silymarin with the objective of replacing conventional methods. In one hand, the effect of different compositions of solvents, aqueous ethanol (20%, 50% or 80% (v/v)) at different CO2/liquid (25, 50 and 75%) ratios, on the GXL extraction was investigated. The obtained extracts have been chemically and functionally characterized by means of UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS (triple quadrupole) and in-vitro assays such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cholinergic and antioxidant. Results revealed that the operating conditions influenced the extraction yield, the total phenolic content and the presence of the target compounds. The best obtained yield was 55.97% using a ternary mixture of solvents composed of CO2:EtOH:H2O (25:60:15) at 40 °C and 9 MPa in 160 min. Furthermore, the results showed that obtained extracts had significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities (with best IC50 value of 8.80 µg/mL and 28.52 µg/mL, respectively) but a moderate anti-cholinesterase activity (with best IC50 value of 125.09 µg/mL). Otherwise, the concentration of silymarin compounds in extract can go up to 59.6% using the present one-step extraction method without further purification, being silybinA+B the predominant identified compound, achieving value of 545.73 (mg silymarin/g of extract). The obtained results demonstrate the exceptional potential of GXL to extract high-added values molecules under sustainable conditions from different matrices.

The Effects of Hydro-Priming and Colonization with Piriformospora indica and Azotobacter chroococcum on Physio-Biochemical Traits, Flavonolignans and Fatty Acids Composition of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) under Saline Conditions

Salinity is an important challenge around the world, effecting all physiological and biochemical processes of plants. It seems that seed priming can diminish the negative impacts of salinity. To study the effects of hydro-priming and inoculation with Piriformospora indica (Pi) and Azotobacter chroococcum (Az) on physio-biochemical traits, flavonolignans and fatty acids composition of milk thistle under saline conditions, a greenhouse experiment was carried out. Our results indicated that under salinity, seed priming, especially Pi, improved physio-biochemical properties in milk thistle. Under 120 mM NaCl, inoculation with Pi increased membrane stability index (MSI) and relative water content (RWC) (by 21.86 and 33.43%, respectively). However, peroxidase (POX) (5.57- and 5.68-fold in roots and leaves, respectively), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (4.74- and 4.44-fold in roots and leaves, respectively), catalase (CAT) (6.90- and 8.50-fold in roots and leaves, respectively) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) (5.61- and 5.68-fold in roots and leaves, respectively) activities increased with increasing salinity. Contrary to salinity, hydro-priming with Az and Pi positively altered all these traits. The highest content of the osmolytes, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content and rubisco activity were recorded in Pi treatments under 120 mM NaCl. Stearic acid (20.24%), oleic acid (21.06%) and palmitic acid (10.48%) increased, but oil content (3.81%), linolenic and linoleic acid content (22.21 and 15.07%, respectively) decreased under saline conditions. Inoculations of Pi positively altered all these traits. The present study indicated that seed priming with Pi under 120 mM NaCl resulted in maximum silychristin, taxidolin, silydianin, isosilybin, silybin and silymarin of milk thistle seeds.

EFFICIENCY OF PHYTOREMEDIATION OF SOIL CONTAMINATED BY HEAVY METALS BY CULTIVATION OF SPOTTED MILK THISTLE

In contrast to air and water environments, soils do not have the ability to quickly clean, so toxic substances that enter it from the outside can be stored for a long time. At the same time, toxicants, being included in the food chain of soil - plants - living organisms, can reach high levels and have a long duration of action. It is known that the accumulation of heavy metals in the soil occurs under the influence of emissions from industrial enterprises, during irrigation with wastewater, removal of sludge to agricultural lands after wastewater treatment, due to the application of mineral and organic fertilizers, etc. When heavy metals affect soils, there is a change in the soil environment, the occurrence of erosion processes, contamination of agricultural products, etc., which necessitates the search for productive and safe methods of their cleaning. The article presents the results of a study of the effectiveness of phytoremediation of soil when growing milk thistle when it is fertilized in the conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe. Based on the results of the analysis of primary sources, the current problems of soil degradation, their contamination with heavy metals, and the role of phytoremediation are determined. As a result of the research, certain changes in the intensity of the removal of lead, cadmium and zinc from the soil were found when it was fertilized with mineral fertilizers - ammonium nitrate (60 kg/ha), simple superphosphate (60 kg/ha), potassium chloride (60 kg/ha), NPK mixture fertilizers (60/60/60 kg/ha) and organic fertilizers - humus (20 t/ha), sugar beet lime sludge compost (6 t/ha) and green manure (mustard). It was established that fertilizing gray forest soils with ammonium nitrate, simple superphosphate, potassium chloride, and a mixture of NPK fertilizers contributed to the increase of removal with vegetative mass and seeds of milk thistle: lead by 2.14 times, 54.3%, 52.2%, and 87.5 %; cadmium – 3.5 times, 41.9%, 71.1%, 2.2 times; zinc - 2.8 times, 22.7%, 20.1%, 2.6%, respectively. Fertilizing the soil with humus, sugar beet lime sludge compost, green manure increased lead removal from the soil by milk thistle by 60.1%, 42%, 3.9%; cadmium - by 58.0%, 31.3%, 3.2%, zinc - by 2.03 times, 24%, 13.6%, respectively.

Silibinin Schiff Base Derivatives Counteract CCl4-Induced Acute Liver Injury by Enhancing Anti-Inflammatory and Antiapoptotic Bioactivities

BackgroundSilibinin (Sil), a flavonoid lignan-like natural compound derived from milk thistle seeds, has been used to treat hepatic diseases, including early-phase hepatocirrhosis and fatty liver, for many years. However, its poor water solubility limits its gastrointestinal absorption and bioavailability. It clinical use has been limited due to its slow onset of action. Faced with this problem, research on the derivatives of silibinin has been receiving much attention.PurposeA series of silibinin derivatives with good biosafety and higher hepatoprotective activity were obtained by a safe, efficient and green chemical synthesis method.Patients and MethodsFirst, the carbonyl group in the structure of silibinin was used to obtain silibinin Schiff base derivatives by dehydration condensation with the carboxyl group in the sulfur-containing amino acid. Next, relevant experiments were performed to characterize the structure, physical form and solubility of the derivatives. Then, toxicity tests of the derivatives were performed in LO-2 cells and SD rats to evaluate their biosafety. Finally, the anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic activities were observed using a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury model in C57BL/6J mice using silibinin as a control.ResultsThe studies showed that SS and ST behaved as amorphous substances and showed a significant increase in solubility compared to silibinin. These two derivatives showed low toxicity in biosafety tests and higher bioactivity (anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic) than silibinin against acute liver injury induced by CCl4.ConclusionTwo silibinin derivatives (SS and ST) obtained by the Schiff base reaction improved the solubility of the silibinin parent nucleus in biological media with the help of the hydrophilic and amorphous morphology of the ligand. The low toxicity in vivo and in vitro ensures the biosafety of the derivatives. The hepatoprotective activity (anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic) was significantly improved compared to silibinin.

Characterization and Synthesis of Milk Thistle Nanoparticles to overcome Oxidative Stress Induce Testicular damage in male rats

Background Silymarin (SMN) is a natural component polyphenolic purified from Silybum marianum (milk thistle) seeds. SMN can control reactive oxygen species and converts them into compounds with minimizing their toxicity. Objectives The aim of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of silymarin nanoparticles on sperm parameters of rats induced diabetes by alloxan. Methods: Firstly gas liquid chromatography (GCMS) was utilized to identification active compound in milk thistle, then the preparation of silymarin -TPGS nanoparticles: Nanoparticles of silymarin of were prepared by the Nano precipitation. Forty Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups, control, induced diabetic with 150mg/kg of alloxan I.p, group three and four induced diabetic and treated with milk thistle extract and nanoparticles at a dose of 100 mg/kg.bw daily orally, for 60 days, Blood was collected from heart puncture for estimate serum FSH, L.H, and testosterone, then animal sacrificed to evaluate sperm quality and quantity as well as the histopathological section of tests. Results: Biochemical inspection appear that SMN nanoparticles improved sperm quality and quantity when compared with untreated and SMN groups. SMN nanoparticles appear to have therapeutic effects as an antioxidant against alloxan-induced damage in rat testes. Conclusions: Silymarin nanoparticles can be considered as a hopeful herbal as complementary medicine which may play a significant role to save normal spermatocytes against ROS effects-induced reproductive damage.