Silybum marianum, antioxidant activity, and cancer patients

Silymarin, a flavonoid extracted from Silybum marianum, displays antioxidant, and antiinflammatory activities. Silybin is the major constituent and is often proposed as the substance responsible for silymarin biological activity. These properties seem to have resulted from their ability to scavenge free radicals, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and to chelate metal ions. Traditionally, it has been used to treat hepatic and biliary disorders. However, milk thistle is increasingly being evaluated for its use in adult and pediatric populations for oncology indications. Usual indications during cancer treatment include cleansing and detoxification after chemotherapy, preventing chemotherapy and radiotherapy induced adverse reactions like hepatotoxicity cardiotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, etc., and potentiating chemotherapy and radiation therapy as an adjunctive treatment. Primary studies are considering its use as a chemopreventive agent and possibly to assist in cancer treatment. So milk thistle's current clinical use is growing by an increasing number of clinical trials and animal studies. This article provides an overview of the current clinical applications of S. marianum in the oncology setting, considering its antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties.