Effect of the flavanolignans of Silybum marianum L. on lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes and freshly isolated hepatocytes.

The effect of several flavanolignans (silicristin, silidianin, silybin and isosilybin) present in silymarin, the extract of Silybum marianum fruits, was tested on lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes and freshly isolated hepatocytes. In microsomes lipid peroxidation was generated by ADP/Fe2+ and NADPH. All flavanolignans inhibited peroxidation in a concentration dependent manner. In hepatocytes lipid peroxidation was induced by ADP/Fe3+ complex and cell damage was evaluated as LDH activity released in the medium. The inhibition of the peroxidative process by flavanolignans was also evident in this model, even if with a potency order different from that found in microsomes. In contrast, the effect on LDH release was significant only for silybin and isosilybin, the other compounds being inactive on this parameter.