Antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of silymarin phytosomes compared to milk thistle extract in CCl₄ induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Abstract

Milk thistle extract is a well-known hepatoprotectant with low bioavailability (20–50%). The objective of the present study is to prepare and characterize silymarin phytosomes and to test the hepatoprotective effect of the phytosomes in CCl₄ induced liver injury in rats compared to milk thistle extract. Phytosomes were prepared using lecithin from soybeans and from egg yolk. The prepared phytosomes were examined using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H¹NMR). The loading efficiency was >85% in all phytosomal formulations. Formula P2 (with the molar ratio of soybean lecithin to silybin 1:1) and P4 (with the molar ratio of egg-yolk lecithin to silybin 0.25:1) exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) faster release than milk thistle extract. The in vivo study revealed that phytosomes significantly (p < 0.05) decreased glutamic pyruvic transaminase and super oxide dismutase activities compared to milk thistle extract.

• Liver enzymes
• phosphatidylcholine
• silybin

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, National Organization of Drug Control and Research, National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT)-Atomic Energy Authority (AEO) for providing facilities, equipment and cooperation throughout the research.