Possible Mechanism and Pharmacological Activities of a Flavolignan Silibinin

Silymarin, a flavonolignan derived from the seeds extract of Silybum marianum (milk thistle), has been frequently used since ancient times. It is made up of flavonolignans such as silychristin, isosilybin A and B, dehydrosilybin, and silybin as well as flavonoids like taxifolin, with silibinin being the most active. Silibinin is a diastereoisomeric combination of two flavonolignans, silybin A and silybin B, with a diastereoisomeric structure. It is found in a variety of phytopreparations that are used to prevent and treat liver disorders. It is considered an important component in a huge range of cosmetic, pharmacological, and medical formulations. Several investigations have revealed that silibinin has anticancer and chemopreventive properties, as well as hypocholesterolaemic, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anticancer, antihypertension, antiparkinson, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective benefits by the help of different mechanisms such as inducing apoptosis, decreasing cell proliferation, inhibiting angiogenesis and viral transition and its entry, and also regulating insulin secretion by decreasing or increasing the expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1C) and insig-1 transcription factor, etc. Silibinin data is gathered from many public databanks in order to emphasize its important role in the treatment or prevention of various diseases.