CEMEA SAS research reveals new therapeutic potential of milk thistle
Milk thistle has been known for centuries as a plant with hepatoprotective effects. Its seed extract, silymarin, contains several bioactive molecules (flavonolignans), but almost all research attention has so far focused on one of them: silybin. However, in a recent prospective article, a team of scientists from the Centre for Advanced Materials Application (CEMEA) of the SAS showed that other, less abundant flavonolignans may have even greater therapeutic potential.
They therefore compared the effects of silymarin, silibin, and the lesser-known isosilibin B. The result is a new scientific article showing that, under in vitro conditions, isosilibin B has the highest selectivity for tumor liver cells, while having the gentlest effect on healthy hepatocytes. At the same time, in a 2024 review article, they summarised all current methods of administering silibin in animal models, including nanoformulations. The most significant therapeutic effect is repeatedly achieved with intravenously administered nanoformulations. CEMEA SAS is building on these findings in current projects, in which it is testing nanoparticles bound to flavonolignans in mice. The goal is to develop a precisely targeted biological treatment that combines natural molecules with modern materials. The institute is thus moving towards a precise, targeted biological treatment that combines natural molecules with modern materials.
Source and illustration: CEMEA SAS