Determination of tocopherols and fatty acids in seeds of Silybum marianum [L.] gaerth

The dried fruits of Silybum marianum [L.] Gaertn [Compositae] contain silymarin, an isomeric mixture of flavonolignans. Silymarin acts as a strong anti -hepatotoxic. This fruits contains a high amount of oil The objective of this study was to determine total lipid content, fatty acid composition and content of different kind of tocopherols in seed oils of S. marianum Fatty acid compositon and a-, y- and ?-tocopherol [vitamin E] content from seeds of Silybum maianum were investigated by gas chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography methods. and Conclusion: Total lipid percentage was approximately 25% and nine fatty acids including; palmitic acid [8.25%], palmeotic acid [0.07%], Stearic acid [6.67%], oleic acid [31.58%], Isomer oleic acid [0.53%], linoleic acid [45.36%], linolenic acid [0.87%], arashidic acid [4.11%], eicozantoic acid [0.088%] and behenic acid [2.6%] were determined a-, y- and tocopherol content were around 563.157, 88.87 and 163.791 mg Kg -1 DW respectively that could be a natural good sources of antioxidant

Biochemical bases of the pharmacological action of the flavonoid silymarin and of its structural isomer silibinin

The flavonoid silymarin and one its structural components, silibinin, have been well characterized as hepato-protective substances. However, little is known about the biochemical mechanisms of action of these substances. This review deals with recent investigations to elucidate the molecular action of the flavonoid. Three levels of action have been proposed for silymarin in experimental animals: a) as an antioxidant, by scavenging prooxidant free radicals and by increasing the intracellular concentration of the tripeptide glutathione; b) regulatory action of the cellular membrane permeability and increase of its stability against xenobiotic injury; c) at the nuclear expression, by increasing the synthesis of ribosomal RNA by stimulating DNA polymerase I and by exerting a steroid-like regulatory action on DNA transcription. The specific hepatoprotective action of silibinin against the toxicity of ethanol, phenylhydrazine and acetaminophen is also discussed. It is suggested that the biochemical effects observed for the flavonoid in experimental models may settle the basis for understanding the pharmacological action of silymarin and silibinin