Flavonolignans

Abstract: Two pairs of diastereoisomeric flavonolignans, silybin A, silybin B, isosilybin A, and isosilybin B, were successfully separated from Silybum marianum by sequential silica gel column chromatography, preparative reversed-phase HPLC, and recrystallization. Complete stereochemical assignments at C-2, C-3, C-7‘, and C-8‘ of these flavonolignans have been achieved. On the basis of X-ray crystallographic analysis and optical rotation data, coupled with comprehensive 1H and 13C NMR spectral data interpretation including COSY, HMQC, and HMBC, the stereochemistry of these diastereoisomers was determined unambiguously as silybin A (4), 2R, 3R, 7‘R, 8‘R; silybin B (5), 2R, 3R, 7‘S, 8‘S; isosilybin A (6), 2R, 3R, 7‘R, 8‘R; and isosilybin B (7), 2R, 3R, 7‘S, 8‘S.

Abstract: Silymarin, a mixture of polyphenolic flavonoids extracted from milk thistle (Silybum marianum), is composed mainly of silychristin, silydianin, silybin A, silybin B (SBB), isosilybin A (ISBA), and isosilybin B. In this study, the plasma concentrations of free (unconjugated), conjugated (sulfated and glucuronidated), and total (free and conjugated) silymarin flavonolignans were measured using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, after a single oral dose of 600 mg of standardized milk thistle extracts to three healthy volunteers. Pharmacokinetic analysis indicated that silymarin flavonolignans were rapidly eliminated with short half-lives (1–3 and 3–8 h for free and conjugated, respectively). The AUC0→∞ values of the conjugated silymarin flavonolignans were 4- to 30-fold higher than those of their free fractions, with SBB (mean AUC0→∞ = 51 and 597 μg · h/l for free and conjugated, respectively) and ISBA (mean AUC0→∞ = 30 and 734 μg · h/l for free and conjugated, respectively) exhibiting higher AUC0→∞ values in comparison with other flavonolignans. Near the plasma peak times (1–3 h), the free, sulfated, and glucuronidated flavonolignans represented approximately 17, 28, and 55% of the total silymarin, respectively. In addition, the individual silymarin flavonolignans exhibited quite different plasma profiles for both the free and conjugated fractions. These data suggest that, after oral administration, silymarin flavonolignans are quickly metabolized to their conjugates, primarily forming glucuronides, and the conjugates are primary components present in human plasma.

Abstract: The biochemical influence of flavonolignans from the milk thistle Silybum marianum has been tested on kidney cells of African green monkeys Two nonmalignant cell lines were selected, with the focus of the work on the fibroblast-like Vero line Proliferation rate, biosynthesis of protein and DNA, and the activity of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (as a measure of the cellular metabolic activity) were chosen as parameters for the effect of the flavonolignans Silibinin and silicristin show remarkable stimulatory effects on these parameters, mainly in Vero cells; however, isosilibinin and silidianin proved to be inactive In vitro experiments with kidney cells damaged by paracetamol, cisplatin, and vincristin demonstrated that administration of silibinin before or after the chemical-induced injury can lessen or avoid the nephrotoxic effects The results warrant in vivo evaluations of the flavonolignan derivatives