Milk Thistle a Potent Anti-cancer Agent

Silibinin, a major biologically active compound of milk thistle, has been seen to demonstrate anti-cancer effects. Milk thistle is safe, well-tolerated and widely used as a folk remedy for liver diseases. It is said to protect liver from drugs and alcohol-related injury. Silibinin is a highly purified compound from milk thistle with a well defined chemical structure and molecular weight (C25H22O10, MW: 482.44).

The study was carried out by Dr. Ke-Qin Hu and his research team at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Hu is a long¨Cterm and well-experienced research scientist and physician in the field of hepatology. He has published over 70 scientific articles in various medical professional journals. Many of his scientific research publications are focused on viral hepatitis B and C, cirrhosis, and liver cancer, all of which have significantly contributed to our better understanding of common liver diseases.

Milk Thistle Extract – Effective in Cancer Treatment

Milk thistle extract, an herbal remedy since the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans, is today one of the most popular herbal supplements.

Dr. Hu and his colleagues' discovery of silibilin¡'s anti-liver cancer effects was published in the October 28 issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology. The researchers found that silibilin can significantly reduce the growth of several human hepatoma cell lines. In addition, they demonstrated that silibinin mediates anti-liver cancer effects by (1) reduced cancer cell proliferation and cell cycle progression; (2) enhanced programmed death of cancer cells; and (3) altered chromatin structure of the cancer cells.

Their research results indicate that silibinin can be used to prevent the development of liver cancer, one of the most common cancers worldwide. The results have also opened our minds to the possibility of testing other herbal supplements for possible treatment of human cancers.

Source: Eurekalert
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