Silymarin from Silybum marianum by Naviglio's extractor: a new and very efficient approach

Abstract

The aim of this work is to compare new and traditional extraction methods to obtain silymarin from Silybum marianum, a biennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family, present throughout the Mediterranean basin and used to treat several diseases. Silymarin primarily contains flavonolignans and flavonoids and is used in some pharmaceutical preparations to improve of liver function and as a protective against some hepatotoxins. In six extracts obtained by new and traditional extraction methods, the total contents of silymarin and its main flavonolignans, total phenols and condensed tannins were evaluated in addition to their respective antioxidant capacities. By the Naviglio extractor, that is a rapid solid-liquid dynamic extraction method, it is possible to obtain a fraction quantitatively more abundant than other methods, and with a lower content of tannins and phenolic compounds but with a higher content of flavonolignans, rare and expensive, and therefore easier to separate and purify.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Silybum marianum
• silymarin
• rapid solid-liquid dynamic extraction
• maceration
• decoction
• Naviglio extraction

Disclosure statement

No conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by AIPRAS-Onlus (Associazione Italiana per la Promozione delle Ricerche sull’Ambiente e la Salute umana).