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A Promising CAM Therapeutic For Multiple Cancers: Milk Thistle (Silybum)

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Emerging Bioresources with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Prospects

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Abstract

Milk thistle or Silybum marianum, a member of Asteraceae family has shown great promise as an emerging anticancer agent. Pronounced inhibition towards a broad range of cancers viz. skin, larynx, lungs, breast, liver, pancreas, ovary, prostate, colon, kidney, cervix and blood have been documented. The compounds silymarin and silibinin (a flavonolignan) in the seed extract have been credited with most of the therapeutic potency. This chapter presents a latest account of the preventive role of milk thistle, with emphasis on anti-neoplastic, anti-angiogenesis, anti-metastasis, synergy with chemotherapeutics and side-effect amelioration. Thrust has been put on the biochemical and genetic modulations. Hurdles like short half-life and poor bioavailability and scopes of efficacy augmentation have been discussed. This chapter is of importance for progress in onco-treatment and the development of a robust adjunct therapy.

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  1. San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA

    Seema Patel

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Patel, S. (2015). A Promising CAM Therapeutic For Multiple Cancers: Milk Thistle (Silybum). In: Emerging Bioresources with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Prospects. Applied Environmental Science and Engineering for a Sustainable Future. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12847-4_10

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