Silibinin – A Promising New Treatment for Cancer

Title: Silibinin – A Promising New Treatment for Cancer

Volume: 10 Issue: 3

Author(s): Catherine Wing Ying Cheung, Norma Gibbons, David Wayne Johnson and David Lawrence Nicol

Affiliation:

Keywords: pharmacology, cell biology, therapeutics, cancer, silibinin, Silybin

Abstract: Silymarin and its major constituent, Silibinin, are extracts from the medicinal plant Silybum marianum (milk thistle) and have traditionally been used for the treatment of liver diseases. Recently, these orally active, flavonoid agents have also been shown to exert significant anti-neoplastic effects in a variety of in vitro and in vivo cancer models, including skin, breast, lung, colon, bladder, prostate and kidney carcinomas. The aim of the present review is to examine the pharmacokinetics, mechanisms, effectiveness and adverse effects of silibinins anti-cancer actions reported to date in pre-clinical and clinical trials. The review will also discuss the results of current research efforts seeking to determine the extent to which the effectiveness of silibinin as an adjunct cancer treatment is influenced by such factors as histologic subtype, hormonal status, stromal interactions and drug metabolising gene polymorphisms. The results of these studies may help to more precisely target and dose silibinin therapy to optimise clinical outcomes for oncology patients.

Cite this article as:

Wing Ying Cheung Catherine, Gibbons Norma, Wayne Johnson David and Lawrence Nicol David, Silibinin – A Promising New Treatment for Cancer, Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2010; 10 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871520611009030186