Effect of Silymarin Supplementation on Physical Performance, Muscle and Myocardium Histological Changes, Bodyweight, and Food Consumption in Rats Subjected to Regular Exercise Training

Study on Anti-Inflammatory Effects of and Muscle Recovery Associated with Transdermal Delivery of Chaenomeles speciosa Extracts Using Supersonic Atomizer on Rat Model

Repetitive motion or exercise is associated with oxidative stress and muscle inflammation, which can lead to declining grip strength and muscle damage. Oleanolic acid and ursolic acid have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and can be extracted from Chaenomeles speciosa through ultrasonic sonication. We investigated the association between grip strength declines and muscle damage induced by lambda carrageenan (LC) injection and exercise exposure in rats. We also assessed the reparative effects of transdermal pretreatment and post-treatment with C. speciosa extracts (CSEs) by using a supersonic atomizer. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of CSEs for cells was 10.5 mg/mL. CSEs significantly reduced the generation of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory factors (interleukin [IL]-6 and IL-1β) in in vitro cell tests. Rats subjected to LC injection and 6 weeks of exercise exhibited significantly increased inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6). Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed inflammatory cell infiltration and evident muscle damage in the gastrocnemius muscle, which exhibited splitting and the appearance of the endomysium and perimysium. The treated rats' grip strength significantly declined. Following treatment with CSEs, the damaged muscles exhibited decreased IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels and normal morphologies. Moreover, grip strength significantly recovered. Pretreatment with CSEs yielded an immediate and significant increase in grip strength, with an increase of 180% and 165% occurring in the rats exposed to LC injection and exercise within the initial 12 h period, respectively, compared with the control group. Pretreatment with CSEs delivered transdermally using a supersonic atomizer may have applications in sports medicine and training or competitions.

Neuroprotective effects of silymarin in 3-nitropropionic acid-induced neurotoxicity in male mice: improving behavioral deficits by attenuating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation

3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NP) is strongly believed to be an irreversible inhibitor of mitochondrial complex II, leading to neural damage. This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of silymarin against 3-NP-induced neurotoxicity in male mice. Six-week-old mice received subacute doses of 3-NP intraperitoneally for 17 days. Mice were given silymarin (70 mg/kg/day, P.O.) for 2 weeks before 3-NP administration or for 4 weeks after 3-NP administration. At the end of the treatment schedule, animals were evaluated for behavioral alterations. Subsequently, neuronal damage in the hippocampus region of the brain tissues, oxidative stress-related parameters (lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and total antioxidant capacity), and pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-1β) levels were evaluated. Our results indicated that 3-NP treatment significantly (p < 0.05) tended to reduce motor coordination, memory, and neuronal antioxidant status while increasing pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. However, silymarin in both treatment and pretreatment protocols markedly (p < 0.05) attenuated the behavioral deficits, oxidative stress status, and neuroinflammation. The results of the current study suggest that the neuroprotective effect of silymarin against 3-NP-induced neurotoxicity might be due to the mitigation of oxidative stress status and provide insight into the therapeutic potential of silymarin.

Silymarin and Inflammation: Food for Thoughts

Inflammation is a vital defense mechanism, creating hostile conditions for pathogens, preventing the spread of tissue infection and repairing damaged tissues in humans and animals. However, when inflammation resolution is delayed or compromised as a result of its misregulation, the process proceeds from the acute phase to chronic inflammation, leading to the development of various chronic illnesses. It is proven that redox balance disturbances and oxidative stress are among major factors inducing NF-κB and leading to over-inflammation. Therefore, the anti-inflammatory properties of various natural antioxidants have been widely tested in various in vitro and in vivo systems. Accumulating evidence indicates that silymarin (SM) and its main constituent silibinin/silybin (SB) have great potential as an anti-inflammation agent. The main anti-inflammatory mechanism of SM/SB action is attributed to the inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB-mediated signaling pathways and the downregulated expression of pro-inflammatory mediators, including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, IL-23, CCL4, CXCL10, etc. Of note, in the same model systems, SM/SB was able to upregulate anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, TGF-β, etc.) and lipid mediators involved in the resolution of inflammation. The inflammatory properties of SM/SB were clearly demonstrated in model systems based on immune (macrophages and monocytes) and non-immune (epithelial, skin, bone, connective tissue and cancer) cells. At the same time, the anti-inflammatory action of SM/SB was confirmed in a number of in vivo models, including toxicity models, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, ischemia/reperfusion models, stress-induced injuries, ageing and exercising models, wound healing and many other relevant model systems. It seems likely that the anti-inflammatory activities of SM/SB are key elements on the health-promoting properties of these phytochemicals.

The toxic effects of anabolic steroids "nandrolone decanoate" on cardiac and skeletal muscles with the potential ameliorative effects of silymarin and fenugreek seeds extract in adult male albino rats

BACKGROUND

Anabolic steroids (AS) are commonly abused by body builders and athletes aiming to increase their strength and muscle mass but unfortunately, the long-term use of AS may lead to serious side effects. Nandrolone Decanoate is one of the Class II anabolic androgenic steroids which quickly spread globally and used clinically and illicitly. Our research was directed to assess the toxic effects of anabolic steroids on cardiac and skeletal muscles in male albino rats and to evaluate the potential ameliorative effects of fenugreek seeds extract and silymarin.

METHODS

Our research was done on 120 male albino rats that were allocated into 6 groups; group I: Served as a control group, group II: Received the anabolic steroid Nandrolone Decanoate, group III: Received silymarin orally, group IV: Received fenugreek seeds extract orally, group (V): Received the anabolic steroid Nandrolone Decanoate and silymarin and group (VI): Received the anabolic steroid Nandrolone Decanoate and fenugreek seeds extract. By the end of the study, rats were sacrificed, and blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis and autopsy samples for histopathological examination.

RESULTS

The anabolic steroids toxic effects on rats showed a significant decrease in serum High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) level and increase in cholesterol, triglycerides, and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) levels. There was a significant elevation in cardiac troponin I level. As regards to histopathological examination of the cardiac and skeletal muscles, the study showed marked degenerative changes and necrosis. Both silymarin and fenugreek seeds extract provided a protective effect on the biochemical and histopathological changes. The antioxidant effects of silymarin and fenugreek seeds extract were evaluated on the heart, skeletal muscles and showed that, the tissue levels of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase and reduced glutathione (GSH) decreased in AS treated rats compared to the control group. On the other hand, the tissue Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were elevated.

CONCLUSIONS

Anabolic steroids have a toxic effect on the cardiac and skeletal muscles of albino rats with improvement by treatment with fenugreek seeds extract and silymarin.

Effect of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) Seed Cakes by Horses Subjected to Physical Exertion

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) provides several possible benefits for horses, namely anti-inflammatory, antioxidant effects, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective effects. Silybin exerts also pronounced effects on energy metabolism, that could be useful for sport horses. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of milk thistle seed cakes (in the form of a granulated mixture with barley) on blood biochemical parameters (total protein, albumin, bilirubin, urea, creatinine, ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, LDH, the total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, TAG, BHB, NEFA, creatine kinase, lactate, glucose, glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant capacity, cortisol, calcium, and phosphorus) to monitor the differences between the experimental (milk thistle in feed) and control horses after exposure of the monitored horses to heavy physical exercise (combined driving) total number of horses was 12 Czech Warmblood breed horses. The digestibility of silymarin (and its individual flavonolignans) and basic nutrients are also monitored in this study. Statistically significant differences (P < .05) were found mainly in plasma cortisol and NEFA levels. The results of this study confirmed the results of our previous studies. These results suggest that the feeding of milk thistle seed cakes has a possible positive effect on horse health and energy metabolism.

Effect of herbal cream containing Fumaria officinalis and silymarin for treatment of eczema: A randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial

Objective

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin disorder with symptoms including severe pruritus and eczematous lesions. AD affects between 5 and 20% of people in their life. Silymarin (SM) is a polyphenolic flavonoid from Silybum marianum L. and has several therapeutic characteristics including antiallergic, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Fumaria officinalis is a small plant that has a high antioxidant power and modulating effects on the immune system. Therefore, the current study intended to examine the influence of these two herbs extract on severity and symptoms of AD in patients.

Materials and Methods

40 patients with mild to moderate eczema randomly received mometasone 0.1% or the herbal cream. Treatment course was 2 weeks and patients were examined before and after 2 weeks of treatment using the SCORAD system.

Results

The reduction of SCORAD score was significant in both groups (p=0.04 in the herbal group and p=0.03 in the mometasone group) but no significant difference was observed between the groups. Mean SCORAD score was 27.66±5.9 before therapy and 4.77±1.6 after therapy in the mometasone group and mean SCORAD score was 26.05±7.1 before therapy and 6.944±2.6 after therapy in the herbal group.

Conclusion

The current study indicated the impact of these two herbs extract on severity and symptoms of AD in patients; these plants may be a new treatment in reducing eczema symptoms and its problems.

Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Function and Adaptation to Exercise: New Perspectives in Nutrition

Cells have the ability to adapt to stressful environments as a part of their evolution. Physical exercise induces an increase of a demand for energy that must be met by mitochondria as the main (ATP) provider. However, this process leads to the increase of free radicals and the so-called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are necessary for the maintenance of cell signaling and homeostasis. In addition, mitochondrial biogenesis is influenced by exercise in continuous crosstalk between the mitochondria and the nuclear genome. Excessive workloads may induce severe mitochondrial stress, resulting in oxidative damage. In this regard, the objective of this work was to provide a general overview of the molecular mechanisms involved in mitochondrial adaptation during exercise and to understand if some nutrients such as antioxidants may be implicated in blunt adaptation and/or an impact on the performance of exercise by different means.

Effect of Silymarin Supplementation in Lung and Liver Histological Modifications during Exercise Training in a Rodent Model

BACKGROUND

Exercise training induces adaptive physiological and morphological modifications in the entire organism; however, excessive loads of training may increase damage in tissues. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of silymarin in lung and liver histological changes in rats subjected to exercise training (ET).

METHODS

Male Wistar rats were subjected to an 8-week ET treadmill program 5 days per week, 60 min/session, and were previously administered 100 mg ascorbic acid or 100 mg of silymarin.

RESULTS

Silymarin increased alveolar and bronchial muscle size, improve vascularization, and reduced tissue inflammation. In liver, silymarin promoted the reduction of lipid content.

CONCLUSION

Silymarin supplementation may improve inflammation in pulmonary tissue after 8 weeks of the ET treadmill program, improve cell recovery, and reduce intrahepatic lipid content.