silymarin, a mixture of antioxidant flavonolignans from medicinal plant Silybum marianum (L.), prevents both the accumulation of exogenous cholesterol in the liver and the development of diet-induced hypercholesterolemia

Previously we have shown that peroraly administered silymarin, a mixture of antioxidant flavonolignans from medicinal plant Silybum marianum (L.), prevents both the accumulation of exogenous cholesterol in the liver and the development of diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rat1, 2. The silymarin-induced decrease of plasma cholesterol has been associated with a decrease in apo B containing lipoproteins VLDL and LDL, and an increase in HDL1, 2, changes considered to be of benefit in pharmacological treatment of hypercholesterolemia. The removal of LDL by the liver represents one from the most important mechanisms regulating the level of plasma LDL3. To investigate if silymarin treatment can improve the removal of LDL by the liver, we used a model of liver perfusion. The liver of rat fed high cholesterol diet with or withouth silymarin was perfused with LDL and the disappearance of LDL from perfusion medium was determined.