Preventive effect of novel nanomissile of silymarin on liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride in rat

Silymarin, obtained from Silybum marianum has hepatoprotective effects and antioxidant activity and has been used in the treatment of liver diseases. Because of its poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability its use has been limited. The aim of this study was to prepare a new and inexpensive formulation of silymarin using simple dissolution methods and compare its hepatoprotective properties with that of its extract after oral administration.

In this experimental study, an oral solution of silymarin was prepared in the form of nanomissile by a simple dissolution method and some pharmaceutical parameters were evaluated.  A total number of 24 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 6: control groups (normal control and damaged control) and 2 treatment groups. Treatment groups received silymarin and new oral formulation of silymarin respectively for 14 days before inducing damage by CCl4. At the end of the study, blood samples were collected to determine serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lipid profile. In addition, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) levels and activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities in hepatic tissue were assessed.

The new oral solution of silymarin characterized by in-vitro release = 72%, entrapment efficiency (EE) =82%, and zeta average (d.nm) =227.5 was prepared within 48 hours. The activity of ALT and 0AST liver enzymes and the level of lipid profile parameters were significantly decreased in the nanomissile treated group compared to those in the silymarin-treated group (P<0.05). Also, the activities of liver antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT in the nanomissile treated group showed a significant increase compared to those in the silymarin extract-treated group (P<0.05). The level of the liver MDA was significantly decreased in the nanomissile group compared to that in the silymarin extract group (P <0.05).

Analysis of the biochemical and antioxidant parameters of this study showed that the new oral formulation of silymarin led to more reduction of toxic effects of CCl4 and, hence, better hepatoprotective effects compared to the extract of silymarin