APPLICATION OF SILYMARIN IN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH FOR THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES IN DOGS AND CATS

Silymarin is a mixture of flavonolignans, consisting of silybin, silidianin, and silicristin, extracted from the milk thistle Silybum marianum (L.) Silybin, which is making up to 70% of silymarin, is a very strong antioxidant and inhibitor of lipid peroxidation.

Silymarin exhibits hepatoprotective and live regenerative properties due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic activities. It is one of the most widely used natural compounds for the treatment of hepatic diseases worldwide. Silymarin can also increases hepatic levels of glutathione by raising cysteine availability, at the same time inhibiting its catabolism to taurine. There is also evidence that silymarin protects against damage of kidneys, several types of cancer, and allergic asthma. Silymarin supports bone health, immune system, reduces insulin resistance and cholesterol, promotes skin health and improves cognition.

MAIN PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF SILYMARIN:

ANTIOXIDATIVE – Increases the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes containing superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase. Inhibits lipid peroxidation, and increases the intracellular glutathione content.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY – Significant anti-inflammatory effect via inhibition of the expression of various genes involved in the inflammatory process.

HEPATOPROTECTIVE – Prevents hepatic inflammation, inhibits the replication of infectious hepatitis C virus, increases membrane stability in exposure to xenobiotics, reduces the deposition of collagen fibers, anti-hepatotoxic potential.

ANTICANCER – Exerts cell proliferation suppression and apoptosis induction in cancer cells, inhibition of metastasis and angiogenesis.

NEUROPROTECTIVE – Exerts antioxidant activities in the central nervous system, elevates some neurotransmitters concentration in the brain, has an antidepressant effect, reduces the rotational behavior caused by Parkinson disease.

RENOPROTECTIVE – Improves alteration in serum creatinine concentrations, prevents nephrotoxicity and cancer of the kidney, protects the renal tissues from oxidative damage, treats inflammatory anemia in peritoneal dialysis patients.

ANTIDIABETIC – Increases serum insulin, reduces serum glucose, prevents damages in pancreatic cells, recovers endocrine function and pancreatic morphology in diabetic models.

CHART LEGEND

H – ingredient has HIGH impact on specified disease

M – ingredient has MEDIUM impact on specified disease

N – there is no data confirming the impact of the ingredient on specified disease