ISSN 2326-7267
International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 2 (12), pp. 001-006, December, 2011. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect of silymarin in experimental animal model of chronic inflammation
Kasim Mahmood Juma'a1, Zheen Aorahman Ahmed2, Intesar Tariq Numan3 and Saad Abdul Rehman Hussain3*
1Department of Pharmacy, Baquba General Hospital, Diyala, Iraq.
2Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Sulaimaniya, Kurdistan, Iraq.
3Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.
Accepted 21 May, 2011
Abstract
Silymarin is a polyphenolic flavonoid derived from milk thistle (Silybum marianum) that has anti-inflammatory, cytoprotective, and anticarcinogenic effects. It has been used medicinally to treat liver disorders including acute and chronic viral hepatitis, toxin/drug induced hepatitis and alcoholic liver disease. The efficacy and dose-response effect of silymarin (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg) were assessed against negative and positive control using formalin- induced paw edema in rats as a model of chronic inflammation. In this model, all doses of silymarin were given intraperitonealy (IP) 30 min before induction of inflammation and continued for 7 consecutive days. Paw edema was measured before and 6 days after induction of inflammation using vernier caliper method and balance method. Silymarin in 250 and 500 mg/kg significantly lowered paw edema (P < 0.05) in both methods and found to be comparable with that produced by the reference drug dexamethazone and significantly different from that produced by acetyl salicylic acid and silymarin 125 mg/kg (P < 0.05). Therefore, silymarin exerts anti-inflammatory activity in rat model of chronic inflammation which was significantly increased as the dose increased up to 500 mg/kg.
Keywords: Silymarin, chronic inflammation.