Extraction of Silymarin Complex from Milk Thistle (Silybummarianaum) Seeds and Study its Effect on the Liver Functions and some Antioxidants in Rats

This study included extraction of silymarin complex from milk thistle seeds and study the effect of different concentrations of this complex on the liver functions and levels of some antioxidants in rats exposed to liver injury induced byethanol, then study the effect of these concentrations on the repair of liver injury induced by ethanol by evaluating the hepatic pathology of different animal groups. Sixty male rats with the age of 3-4 months were divided into 6 groups: Group (1) control which received drinking tap water, group (2) treated with 5% ethanol in drinking water, group (3) treated with 5% ethanol and 1 mg silymarin complex by oral dose once daily, group (4) treated with 5% ethanol and 2 mg silymarin complex by oral dose once daily, group (5) treated with 5% ethanol and 4 mg silymarin complex by oral dose once daily, group (6) treated with 5% ethanol and 8 mg silymarin complex by oral dose once daily, by the end of the experimental period of 3 weeks all animals groups were killed and collection of blood samples and liver tissues for the measuring of liver functions parameters and some antioxidants in blood, and processing the histological examination of liver. Treatment with ethanol revealed a significant prolongation of the coagulation time and a significant increase of Alanine transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate transaminase (AST) enzymes activity, total and direct bilirubin, malondialdehyde, peroxynitrite radical and xanthine oxidase activity and a significant decrease of albumin, Vit. C, Vit. E, glutathione and ceruloplasmin levels in serum comparing with the control group (P < 0.05). Different concentrations of silymarin complex have different effects on the protection from the liver injury induced by ethanol, and return these parameters to about normal ranges. Concentrations of 1 and 2 mg of silymarin complex can reduce the fatty changes induced by ethanol, while the concentrations of 4 and 8 mg led to reduce the necrosis and inflammation in addition to fatty changes.