Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
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Silymarin and silibinin are bioactive components isolated from Silybum marianum. They have been reported to exhibit anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Many studies revealed that drugs with potent anti-inflammatory potential can protect animals against inflammation-associated neurodegenerative disease, e.g., stroke. ⋯ Likewise, silymarin pretreatment also inhibited IκB-α degradation and NF-κB nuclear translocation in brain tissues of ischemic rats. Our results reveal that silymarin, but not its active component silibinin, protected rats against CI/R-induced stroke injury by amelioration of the oxidative and nitrosative stresses and inflammation-mediated tissue injury through impeding the activation of proinflammatory transcription factors (e.g., NF-κB and STAT-1) in the upregulation of proinflammatory proteins and cytokines in stroke-damaged sites. In conclusion, silymarin displays beneficial effects of preventing inflammation-related neurodegenerative disease, e.g., stroke, which needs further investigation and clinical evidences.