Silymarin downregulates COX-2 expression and attenuates hyperlipidemia during NDEA-induced rat hepatocellular carcinoma

Mol Cell Biochem. 2008 Jun;313(1-2):53-61. doi: 10.1007/s11010-008-9741-5. Epub 2008 Mar 31.

Abstract

Silymarin is a naturally available bioflavonoid and is a strong antioxidant with a capacity to inhibit the formation of tumors in several cancer models. In the present study, we investigated whether dietary supplementation of silymarin has any role in lipid components, lipid-metabolizing enzymes, free fatty acid profile, and expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats. NDEA-induced rats showed severe hyperlipidemia along with upregulated expression of COX-2 as revealed by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Dietary silymarin supplementation attenuated this hyperlipidemia and downregulated the expression of COX-2. Thus we conclude that compounds like silymarin with potent hypolipidemic effect are strong candidates as chemopreventive agents for the treatment of liver cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arachidonic Acid / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / complications*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / enzymology
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism*
  • Diethylnitrosamine
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects*
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / metabolism
  • Hyperlipidemias / complications*
  • Hyperlipidemias / drug therapy
  • Hyperlipidemias / enzymology*
  • Immunoblotting
  • Lipid Metabolism / drug effects
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms / complications*
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Male
  • Phytotherapy
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Silymarin / pharmacology*
  • Silymarin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Silymarin
  • Arachidonic Acid
  • Diethylnitrosamine
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases
  • Cyclooxygenase 2