Silibinin, a polyphenolic flavonoid also known as silybin [4], is the major biologically active compound of milk thistle [1], a plant that has recently been the subject of many clinical trials and medical studies due to the properties it exerts and the ability of some of the active constituents found in it, as Silibinin, to be used to treat affections and ailments, being an effective chemo-preventive agent in various types of cancer, suppressing cancer cell growth and inhibiting colon cancer stem-like cells [6], as well as for its inhibitory effects on certain types of breast cancer cells [9,10], and many other anti-neoplastic effects in a variety of in vitro and in vivo cancer models, including skin, breast, lung, colon, bladder, prostate and kidney carcinomas [15].

It is in one of these last fields, skin cancer, in which we have been gladly surprise to read about two new research studies published at the end of last month about silibinin from Milk thistle and its ability to kill skin cells mutated by UV radiation, exerting extraordinary skin protection properties that are worth mentioning [22]. Image left: Milk thistle by William Andrus under CC license (CC by 2.0).

SYLIBUM MARIANUM

Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Sylibum
Common name: Milk thistle, גדילן מצוי,

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a green tea polyphenol with anticancer properties, was already known for its capability to inhibit carcinogenesis [11], in spite the mechanism how EGCG achieved this wasn't still completely clear.

It seems that EGCG affects multiple biological pathways [12], one of the ways these polyphenols achieve their anti-cancerous properties in multiple types of cancers. However one of the reasons why researchers couldn't profit from its anti-cancer properties was the inability to specifically reach tumors deploying EGCG via intravenous administration [10], so the deployment of EGCG in the blood stream didn't reach the cancer cells and couldn't be effectevely used against them. Image left: Tea plantation by sarahemcc under Creative Commons License (CC BY 2.0).

Now, a group of researchers from the Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow, have discovered an effective way of deploying EGCG in a way that it will be able to effectively reach its target, cancer cells [10].

The research showed very promissing results, with two-thirds of tumours treated with this new method shrinking or disappearing withing one month of treatment with no side effects to normal tissues [10]. But how did they achieve EGCG to be deployed so effectevely to cancer cells?

CAMELLIA SINENSIS

Family: Teaceae
Genus: Camellia
Common name: Green tea

Silibinin, a polyphenolic flavonoid also known as silybin [4], is the major active constituent of silymarin and the major biologically active compound of milk thistle [1], a plant that has traditionally been used to treat different ailments and illnesses, due to the properties it exerts and the ability of some of the active constituents found in it, as Silibinin, to be used as an effective chemo-preventive agent in various types of cancer, suppressing cancer cell growth and inhibiting colon cancer stem-like cells [6], being also studied for its inhibitory effects on certain types of breast cancer cells [9,10], and many other anti-neoplastic effects in a variety of in vitro and in vivo cancer models, including skin, breast, lung, colon, bladder, prostate and kidney carcinomas [15]. But this time a study showed for first time how Silymarin was ineffective for the treatment of Hepatitis C. Image: Eran Finkle under CC license (CC by 2.0).

The study was conducted was conducted using a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at 4 medical centers in the United States, and included 154 persons with chronic Hepatitis C virus infection who were previously and unsuccessfully treated with interferon-based therapy [24].

SYLIBUM MARIANUM

Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Sylibum
Common name: Milk thistle, גדילן מצוי,

Azadirachta indica (Neem), an herb extensively used in Ayurveda, Unani and Homoeopathic systems of medicine [7] to treat many health related problems and ailments, and also known to exert anticancer, antioxidant, wound-healing, and antimicrobial properties [5,6,7] is also known to be one of these plants from which almost every part is used, from the Neem oil extracted from its seeds to the leaves and branches, to say the least neem benefits extend to various lines of health.

Neem health benefits are multiple but what can be the secret behind Neem benefits? As in other herbs, Neem beneficial effects are given by some of its active constituents, some of which the pharmaceutical industry have used as their primary source to build drugs against illnesses as important as cancer, for which already more than 400 active constituents derived from plants and herbs are used.

Herbs as Neem and Ginkgo biloba as well as many other well renown herbs, have been in the scope of pharmaceutical companies since long ago, mainly due to the properties and health benefits exerted by some of their active constituents known to act as health boosters. Image: Azadirachta indica (Neem) by Wendy Cutler under Creative Common license (CC BY 2.0).

AZADIRACHTA INDICA

Family: Meliaceae
Genus: Azadirachta
Common name: Neem, Indian lilac, Margosa tree.