Silymarin Suppresses Prostate Cancer

Used for more than 2,000 years, milk thistle (silybum marianum) is native to the Mediterranean region and indigenous to western and central Europe. The plant has a long stem, purple-pink flowers, and wide leaves with white veins. The seeds contain an antioxidant flavonoid complex known as silymarin, used traditionally to promote healthy liver function. Isosilybin B, an active constituent of silymarin found in milk thistle, suppresses the growth of prostate cancer cells far more effectively than other milk thistle compounds and extracts, according to a recently published report.

Scientists have known for some time that milk thistle (Silybum marianum) offers protection against some forms of prostate cancer. Silymarin is composed of three flavonoids: primarly Silybin and minor amounts of Silydianin and Silychristin, which support liver function by raising protective glutathione levels. Two extracts of milk thisfle seed, silymarin and silibinin, have long been recommended for liver support and various other health benefits. Scientists recently tested several active constituents of silymarin and silibinin to determine which exerted the most powerful effects against prostate cancer.

Silymarin is composed of three biochemicals: silychristine, silydianin, and silybin. Silymarian has been shown to inhibit the depletion of glutathione, an amino acid that plays a part in the body's overall defense system, as well as the liver's ability to detoxify. As an antioxidant, silymarin may have free-radical scavenging properties, allowing it to absorb harmful reactive atoms than can damage other molecules. It supports the liver's ability to function properly and may help the liver with synthesis of new proteins. Isosilybin B, which is present only in silymarin, was the most consistently potent suppressor of cell growth compared to other milk thistle constituents and extracts. Isosilybin B accounts for no more than 5% of silymarin and is not contained in silibinin. The researchers thus concluded that milk thistle extracts enriched for isosilybin B, or isosilybin B alone, may prove most effective in prostate cancer prevention and treatment.
[tags]silymarin, milkthistle, prostate cancer, liver disease[/tags]