Despite increasing recognition of potential untoward interactions between herbal products and conventional medications, a standard system for prospective assessment of these interactions remains elusive. This information gap was addressed by evaluating the drug interaction liability of the model herbal product milk thistle (Silybum marianum) with the CYP3A probe substrate midazolam. The inhibit...

Silymarin production by hairy root culture of Milk thistle (Silybum marianum L. Gaertn) was investigated using Agrobacterium rhizogenes AR15834. Hairy roots were induced by injection or inoculation of explants with A. rhizogenes. One month old hairy roots were dissected from the explants and grown in Murashing and Skoog (MS) liquid medium. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using the B gene and th...

We report the first asymmetric, total synthesis of (-)-isosilybin A. A late-stage catalytic biomimetic cyclization of a highly functionalized chalcone is employed to form the characteristic benzopyranone ring. A robust and flexible approach to this chalcone provides an entry to the preparation of the entire isomeric family of silybin natural products.

Because cancer is often treated with combination therapy, unexpected pharmacological effects can occur because of drug–drug interactions. Several drugs are able to cause upregulation or downregulation of drug transporters or cytochrome P450 enzymes, particularly CYP3A4. Induction of CYP3A4 may result in decreased plasma levels and therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs. Since the pregnane X r...

silymarin production by hairy root culture of milk thistle (silybum marianum l. gaertn) was investigated using agrobacterium rhizogenes ar15834. hairy roots were induced by injection or inoculation of explants with a. rhizogenes. one month old hairy roots were dissected from the explants and grown in murashing and skoog (ms) liquid medium. polymerase chain reaction (pcr) using the b gene and th...

Silymarin, a mixture of polyphenolic flavonoids extracted from milk thistle (Silybum marianum), is composed mainly of silychristin, silydianin, silybin A, silybin B (SB(B)), isosilybin A (ISB(A)), and isosilybin B. In this study, the plasma concentrations of free (unconjugated), conjugated (sulfated and glucuronidated), and total (free and conjugated) silymarin flavonolignans were measured usin...

Hepatocytes are highly susceptible to cytokine stimulation and are fundamental to liver function. We established primary canine hepatocyte cultures to study effects of anti-inflammatory agents with hepatoprotective properties. Hepatocyte cultures were incubated with control media alone, silybin (SB), or the more bioavailable silybin-phosphatidylcholine complex (SPC), followed by activation with...