Thistle Extract Research Articles

Use of different adsorbents in broiler diets naturally contaminated by mycotoxins

This study investigated the effects of adding different adsorbent substances to broilers feed naturally contaminated by mycotoxins. Two hundred and eighty male 1-day-old chicks, Cobb Slow® lineage, were distributed in a randomized block design with 4 treatments, 5 repetitions with 14 birds each. The treatments consisted of: T1- basal feed naturally contaminated with mycotoxins. T2- basal feed + Bentonite, Thistle Extract, Yeast Extract, Vitamin E and Choline. T3- basal feed + Bentonite, Thistle Extract, yeast cell wall and Silymarin. T4- basal feed + Bentonite and Algae extract. Performance (weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion) at 7, 14, 21, 28 days were evaluated. At 28 days, a portion of the jejunum was collected in two birds by replicate to study the intestinal morphology. The relative weight of the gizzard, proventricle and total intestine was evaluated. The data obtained were analyzed using the statistical program SAS (9.3). With the use of any adsorbents studied, the performance and liver weight were improved in all evaluated periods. Thus, the inclusion of adsorbents improves the performance of the broiler chickens when the feed is contaminated by mycotoxins.

Quantitative estimation of Silybin in Iraqi Silybum marianum by HPLC

Milk thistle's extract by an organic solvent is known as silymarin, which is a mixture of about 75% flavolignan and trace content of flavonoid (mainly taxifolin), other ingredients involve fatty acids and polyphenolic compounds. The major flavolignans are silybin, isosilybin, silydianin, and silychristin, quantitatively silybin is considered as the major compound followed by isosilybin, and both are represent approximately 60% of silymarin. This study was designed to determine the concentration of silybin in different parts of the plant and to study the effect of extraction methods, solvents and the time of collection on silybin concentration, which have been done by HPLC instrument. The results show that the higher yield of silybin is obtained from the seed using ethanol in the soxhlet apparatus and that all other parts of the plant which are produced in huge amount by the plant also contain a good concentration of silybin when compared with seeds, So they can be used as an alternative source for silybin production.

Evaluation of the Usefulness of the Fermented Thistle (Cirsium japonicum ) with Lactobacillus rhamnosus BHN-LAB105 for Antioxidative and Whitening Effects

Purpose: This study aimed to increase the effectiveness of the cosmetic functions of fermented thistle (Cirsium japonicum) roots, flowers, and whole plant’s extracts with Lactobacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus ) BHN-LAB105 and to evaluate the efficacy of the fermented extracts as cosmetic materials. Methods: Samples included methanol extracts of roots, flowers, and whole thistle plant. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of each extract were quantified from gallic acid and rutin. The antioxidative effect of the extract was confirmed using a 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. Moreover, the whitening effect of each extract was measured using tyrosinase inhibition activity assay in cell-free level. Results: The total polyphenol contents of fermented root and whole thistle extracts were higher (67%) compared to nonfermented root and whole thistle extracts (32%). The total flavonoid contents were also higher in all fermented extracts of thistle. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of fermented roots, flowers, and whole thistle extracts was higher by 67%, 13%, and 32% compared to nonfermented extracts, respectively. The tyrosinase inhibition activity was higher by 92%, 78%, and 65% for fermented roots, flower, and whole thistle extracts, respectively. Conclusion: The highest antioxidative and whitening effects were investigated in the fermented whole thistle extracts. As a result, fermented whole thistle extracts with L. rhamnosus BHN-LAB105 could be developed as a potential functional cosmetic material.

DEVELOPMENT OF NEW CRISPY BREADS WITH THE INCLUSION OF VEGETABLE ADDITIVES AND EVALUATION OF THEIR QUALITY

Spelt-based crispy breads with the inclusion of herbal supplements (powders of milk thistle, mountain ash, wild rose and green tea extract) and the results of assessing the quality of new products by organoleptic and physico-chemical indicators are presented. For a tasting evaluation, a point scale has been developed for the organoleptic evaluation of sugary-grain crispy breads. On the basis of which the organoleptic analysis of crispy breads, enriched with herbal supplements, has been carried out It is established that the introduction of vegetable additives in the composition of crispy bread leads to an improvement in the organoleptic characteristics of finished products. These products are characterized by a crispy, porous structure, an attractive light cream color, a harmonious taste, a pronounced smell of used additives. According to the results of the tasting evaluation, samples enriched with herbal supplements received the highest score in relation to the control sample, which meets the requirements of potential consumers. On the basis of physico-chemical indicators, it has been established that the introduction of grain additives to crispy breads does not impair the physic-chemical properties of these products. On the basis of the obtained data, the expediency of the production of new spelt-based crispy breads with the inclusion of enriching additives with improved organoleptic properties is substantiated.

Assessment of the Antioxidant Activity and Quality Attributes of Yogurt Enhanced with Wild Herbs Extracts

The milk and yogurt products assortment has expanded by their enhancement with herb extracts, fibres extracted from by-products of the fruit processing industry and also fresh spices. The aim of the present study was to test to what extent the addition of different herb extracts in yogurt will improve its qualitative characteristics and antioxidant activity. The aqueous extracts obtained from the four plants are considered in this study, respectively, thistle (Silybum marianum L.), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), sage (Salvia officinalis L.), and marjoram (Origanum vulgare L.). It was examined the effect of aqueous extracts prepared from four herbs (0.25/1%) (w/w) on yogurt’s qualitative characteristics (pH, titratable acidity, syneresis, water holding capacity, antioxidant activity, colour parameters, and rheological parameters) on both one day and 28 days after preparation. The final results show that the physicochemical and rheological properties of the yoghurt with herb extracts addition were improved compared to the control sample after 28 days of storage. The best results in terms of antioxidant properties were obtained when marjoram extract (Origanum vulgare L.) was incorporated. According to the data obtained, the best quality in terms of the physicochemical and rheological properties were in the case of the sample with 0.5% thistle extract (Silybum marianum L.) addition, while from point of view of the nutritional value, the best quality was in the case of the sample with 1% marjoram extract (Origanum vulgare L.) addition. The present study leads to the conclusion that yogurts enhanced with natural extracts may serve as functional food products, with significant health benefits.

Validated UPLC-UV/MS method for the quantitation of flavonolignans in milk thistle (Silybum mariaum) extracts

Validated UPLC-UV/MS method for the quantitation of flavonolignans in milk thistle (Silybum mariaum) extracts

Synergestic Effect of Milk Thistle and Grape Seed Extracts on the Recovery of Fumonisin b1 Toxicity in Rats.

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a mold metabolite produced by Fusarium species that is frequently found in corn worldwide. It is toxic to both liver and kidney. Hepatotoxicity was induced in rats by feeding them FB1 contaminated corn. Evidence of hepatotoxicity was observed after 60 days by an increase in the plasma activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), where that elevation reached 78 % (p = 0.000), in comparison with the control group. Treatment with milk thistle (S), or grape seeds (G) extracts or both (S+G) was found to return the ALT level back to normal. FB1, drastically depleted glutathione peroxidase (GpX) to 48%, while treatment with S,G, and S+G could elevate the GpX by 76%, 76% and 35% respectively. Lipid peroxidation represented by malondialdehyde was elevated significantly to 137%. On the other hand, the treated groups (S, G, and S+G) have altered the levels down to 47%, 42%, and 29% respectively. In addition to the hepatotoxicity of FB1, the kidney function was investigated too, where the creatinine level was elevated to 65%. The treatment by S, G and S+G lowered the level down to 16%, 15%and 2%. Serum activity of urea was significantly elevated to 30%, the treated group G could significantly reduce it to 23% while the treated groups S and S+G could not reduce that elevation in urea level. Histological examination of liver sections confirmed the serum analysis, where significant improvements were observed in all treated groups in comparison with the liver sections of rats fed on FB1. These improvements might be due to their ability to lower serum total cholesterol and low- density lipoprotein cholesterol levels as well as slowing the lipid peroxidation process by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity.

Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Effects of Silibinin in a Rat Model of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive liver disease related to the metabolic syndrome, obesity and diabetes. The rising prevalence of NASH and the lack of efficient treatments have led to the exploration of different therapeutic approaches. Milk thistle (Silibum marianum) is a medicinal plant used for its hepatoprotective properties in chronic liver disease since the 4th century BC. We explored the therapeutic effect of silibinin, the plant's most biologically active extract, in an experimental rat NASH model. A control group was fed a standard liquid diet for 12 weeks. The other groups were fed a high-fat liquid diet for 12 weeks without (NASH) or with simultaneous daily supplement with silibinin–phosphatidylcholine complex (Silibinin 200 mg kg−1) for the last 5 weeks. NASH rats developed all key hallmarks of the pathology. Treatment with silibinin improved liver steatosis and inflammation and decreased NASH-induced lipid peroxidation, plasma insulin and TNF-α. Silibinin also decreased O2 ∙− release and returned the relative liver weight as well as GSH back to normal. Our results suggest that milk thistle's extract, silibinin, possesses antioxidant, hypoinsulinemic and hepatoprotective properties that act against NASH-induced liver damage. This medicinal herb thus shows promising therapeutic potential for the treatment of NASH.

UPLC Analysis of Herbal Plant Extracts

UPLC (ultraperformance liquid chromatography) has become commercially available in 2004. Like other chromatographic techniques using sub two micron (STM) particles, UPLC is capable of accelerating existing HPLC methods by a factor of 10 to16. However, analyzing plant extracts, a gain in separation power is often of greater importance than a gain in speed. This requires the use of columns generating backpressures up to and exceeding 15000psi (1000bar). The theory of UPLC is briefly explained and the benefits of UPLC vs. HPLC are illustrated by several examples, incl. ginkgo, kava, black cohosh, milk thistle, and passion flower extracts.

Preclinical safety evaluation of complex medicinal phytopreparations based on Saint-Mary thistle

A preclinical study of two complex phytopreparations based on Saint-Mary thistle (Silybum marianum) extract — sibektan (possessing hepatoprotective properties) and kamadol (producing antiinflammatory action) — has been carried out on various laboratory animals (male and female rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and dogs). The parent substances of both preparations have proved to be low-toxicity compounds for a single intragastric or intraperitoneal administration in mice, rats, and guinea pigs. The intragastric administration of sibektan parent substance in rats for 1 month in doses of 50, 500, and 1000 mg-kg also showed no significant toxicity. The intragastric administration of sibektan 0.1-g tablets in dogs for 4 months in doses of 20 and 200 mg-kg did not produce functional changes in the heart, liver, kidneys, blood, and nervous system of test animals. The intragastric administration of kamadol in rats in a dose of 10 ml-kg, in dogs in a dose of 3 ml-kg for 3 months, as well as the external application of kamadol oil in rabbits in a dose of 1 ml-kg for 3 months, did not produce general toxic and local irritant effects in animals. Kamadol did not cause specific long-term consequences (mutagen effect, allergic and immunotoxic reactions).