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World J Hepatol. Mar 27, 2014; 6(3): 144-149
Published online Mar 27, 2014. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v6.i3.144
Published online Mar 27, 2014. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v6.i3.144
Hepatoprotective effect of silymarin
Nancy Vargas-Mendoza, Juan A Gayosso-de-Lucio, Institute of Health Sciences, Autonomous University of Hidalgo State, Pachuca 42000, México
Eduardo Madrigal-Santillán, José A Morales-González, Laboratorio Medicina de Conservación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México City 11340, México
Ángel Morales-González, Escuela Superior de Cómputo, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Juan de Dios Bátiz s/n esquina Miguel Othón de Mendizabal, Unidad Profesional Adolfo López Mateos, México City 07738, México
Jaime Esquivel-Soto, Cesar Esquivel-Chirino, Manuel García-Luna y González-Rubio, Faculty of Dentistry, UNAM, México City 07738, México
Author contributions: All of the authors participated equally in the creation of this document.
Supported by Proyecto SIP 20140856, ESM-IPN
Correspondence to: José A Morales-González, MD, PhD, Laboratorio Medicina de Conservación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón, Col. Casco de Santo Tomás, Del. Miguel Hidalgo, México City 11340, México. jmorales101@yahoo.com.mx
Telephone: +1-55-57296300-62753 Fax: +1-55-53963503
Received: November 3, 2013
Revised: January 27, 2014
Accepted: February 20, 2014
Published online: March 27, 2014
Processing time: 136 Days and 10.5 Hours
Revised: January 27, 2014
Accepted: February 20, 2014
Published online: March 27, 2014
Processing time: 136 Days and 10.5 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: One of the mechanisms of liver damage caused by alcohol is the generation of free radicals formed by the metabolism of this xenobiotic. Silymarin is an antioxidant that protects the liver from the free radical damage produced by alcohol metabolism. Silymarin is the most used natural compound for the treatment of hepatic diseases worldwide due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic activities. Silymarin functions by stabilizing biological membranes and increasing protein synthesis.