Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 07, 2024 7 months, 2 weeks, 1 day, 11 hours, 38 minutes ago
Herbs And Phytochemicals: Silybum marianum, commonly known as milk thistle, has gained significant attention in recent years due to its potential pharmacological benefits. Among its many purported health properties, its antiviral potential has been of particular interest. This
Herbs And Phytochemicals news report delves into a comprehensive study conducted at Alexandria University in Egypt, focusing on the unique antiviral properties exhibited by various phytochemicals found in different parts of the milk thistle plant.
Herbs And Phytochemicals: Antiviral Properties Of Milk Thistle
Understanding Silybum Marianum
Silybum marianum is an annual or biennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. Traditionally, it has been used for its medicinal properties, particularly in treating liver, kidney, spleen, and gall bladder ailments. However, its modern applications extend far beyond these traditional uses, with reported benefits including antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral activities. The plant's extract, commonly known as silymarin, is rich in various secondary metabolites, including flavonolignans, phenolics, fatty acids, and other compounds.
Uncovering Antiviral Potential through Metabolic Profiling
The study conducted at Alexandria University aimed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the chemical profiles of different organs of S. marianum using advanced analytical techniques. The researchers employed Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) to analyze metabolites in milk thistle fruits, roots, stems, and seeds. This sophisticated analytical approach allowed for the identification of 87 metabolites across various chemical classes.
Characterizing Phytochemicals in Milk Thistle Organs
The identified metabolites encompassed a wide range of compounds, including phenolics, flavonoids, dicarboxylic acids, coumarins, alcohols, triterpenes, fatty acids, and more. Notable compounds included galloyl hexoside, caffeic acid-O-hexoside, coumaroyl hexoside, bergenin, kaempferol, quercetin, taxifolin, genistein, silybin, isosilybin, and various fatty acids such as linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and oleic acid. These compounds contribute to the diverse pharmacological activities of milk thistle.
Metabolic Differences Across Milk Thistle Organs
The study further employed multivariate statistical analyses, including Orthogonal Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) and Hierarchical Clustering Analysis (HCA), to explore metabolic variations between different milk thistle organs. The results revealed distinct metabolic profiles among fruits, roots, stems, and leaves. For instance, fruits were rich in flavonolignans and certain fatty acids, while leaves showed higher accumulation of phenolic acids and flavonoids.
Selective Antiviral Activity Against Human Coronavirus
One of the novel aspects of this study was the evaluation
of the selective antiviral activity of milk thistle extracts against Human Coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E). The researchers conducted Cytopathic Effect (CPE) inhibition assays to assess the extracts' ability to inhibit virus-induced cellular damage. The results demonstrated dose-dependent inhibitory activity of all tested organ extracts against HCoV-229E, with fruit extracts exhibiting the most potent antiviral activity in the nanomolar range.
Identification of Key Antiviral Phytoconstituents
Correlation coefficient analysis revealed specific phytoconstituents that were highly correlated with the observed antiviral activity. Compounds such as caffeic acid-O-hexoside, gadoleic acid, and linolenic acid emerged as potential selective antiviral candidates. These findings highlight the complex interplay of phytochemicals in milk thistle and their targeted antiviral effects.
Implications and Future Directions
The comprehensive analysis presented in this study underscores the potential of milk thistle as a source of selective and effective antiviral agents. The identification of key phytoconstituents with antiviral properties opens avenues for further research, including isolation and characterization of these compounds for drug development purposes. Additionally, this approach sets a precedent for studying other medicinal plants to uncover their hidden pharmacological potentials against viral infections.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the study conducted at Alexandria University sheds light on the diverse chemical profiles of different organs of Silybum marianum and their selective antiviral properties against Human Coronavirus 229E. The findings not only contribute to our understanding of the medicinal benefits of milk thistle but also pave the way for future research aimed at harnessing these natural compounds for antiviral therapeutics. As the world continues to face viral challenges, exploring botanical sources of antiviral agents remains a promising area of scientific inquiry.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies.
https://bmccomplementmedtherapies.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12906-024-04411-7
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/study-shows-that-taxifolin,-an-active-ingredient-in-milk-thistle-can-prevent-cognitive-decline-in-alzheimer.
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