Silymarin is a plant extract extracted from plant Silybum marianumit seed testa, the material has the following functions: protect the liver cells from the toxic chemicals, especially alcohol and environmental pollutants (pesticides, heavy metals, etc.) has a strong invasion of liver damage; antioxidant function, can protect the liver cells from free radical damage effect is far better than vitamin E; promote protein synthesis, accelerate the manufacture of new liver cells, or to repair damaged liver cells. Therefore, it is called "natural liver protecting drug"".

In addition, silymarin has anti radiation, anti-aging, prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, delaying skin aging and other effects. Recently, some studies have found that silibinin has cancer treatment and chemopreventive effects, and the relevant efficacy has been verified in vitro and in vivo models.

Low density lipoprotein receptor related protein 6 (LRP6) is an essential Wnt signaling receptor in the Wnt/ beta -catenin signaling pathway and is a very promising target for cancer prevention and treatment. Recent studies have found that silibinin inhibits the expression of endogenous LRP6, blocks the phosphorylation of WNT3A induced by LRP6, and activates the Wnt/ beta -catenin signaling pathway in HEK293 cells.

Importantly, the researchers also confirmed that silibinin can expression and phosphorylation of endogenous LRP6, MDA-MB-231, DU-145 and PC-3 in prostate cancer cells and breast cancer cells in T-47D cells, blocking Wnt / beta -catenin signal.

The mechanism is that silibinin inhibits the promoter activity of LRP6 and decreases the mRNA level of LRP6 in prostate cancer and breast cancer cells. The research data show that silibinin is a novel small molecule inhibitor of Wnt / beta -catenin signal, which is the mechanism by inhibiting expression of Wnt receptor LRP6 at the transcriptional level and its antitumor activity.

A recent study by Fallahzadeh et al. Published in the American Journal of Nephrology found a new potential agent for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy: Herbal silymarin.

Diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of diabetic renal failure worldwide. Fallahzadeh and his colleagues studied a new potential agent for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy: Herbal silymarin, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, silymarin may assess the efficacy and safety of the elements, except for use of RAS inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes and overt nephropathy patients, for obvious proteinuria, oliguria patients were randomly assigned, the use of silymarin. In the ensuing study, researchers discovered the rare opportunities and special challenges of using plant products to treat diseases. Compared with traditional drugs, plants are usually mixtures of unknown components, and particular attention must be paid to the analysis of all potentially active components, as well as between batches and batches.