Bioactivity of different formulations of artichoke and milk thistle, commonly used for hepatoprotective effects
Conference Paper
Overview
Overview
abstract
Cynara scolymus L. (artichoke) is today widely cultivated all over the world for its large fleshy
immature inflorescences and known since ancient times as a tasty plant that can be used in
soups, stews and salads, being perceived as a nutritious and healthy vegetable due to its
antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects [1]. Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn (milk thistle) is an
hercaceous plant with reported effects against hepatotoxicity and acute and chronic liver
diseases, due to its main pharmacological active ingredient silymarin (standard mixture of
flavonoligans) that also has antioxidant properties [2,3]. Thus, artichoke and milk thistle are two
plants widely used regarding hepatoprotective effects but to the best of our knowledge no antihepatocellular
carcinoma activity has been studied, particularly in the most consumed forms:
infusions and dietary supplements. In the present work, antioxidant properties (reducing power,
radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation inhibition), anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity
(HepG2 tumour cell lines) and hepatotoxicity (non-tumour liver primary culture PLP2) of infusions
and dietary supplements of the mentioned plants were evaluated and compared. Both plants
revealed antioxidant properties with EC50 values lower than the daily recommended dose. The
infusions of milk thi stle and artichoke revealed, in general, sim ilar contents in phenolics and
antioxidant activity. Artichoke infusion also presented anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity (GI50 =
52 1-lg/ml) but with some toxicity for normal liver primary cells at concentrations higher than Gl50 =
72 11g/ml. The studied bioactive properties (antioxidant and antitumour) were positively correlated
with phenolics and flavonoids content. Regarding dietary supplements, the bioactive compounds
amount and antioxidant activity of milk thistle was higher than artichoke's. These samples neither
revealed anti-hepatocelullar carcinoma activity, nor toxicity for normal liver cells.
Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for
fin ancial support to the research centre CIMO (PEst-OE/AGR/UI0690/201 1). L. Barros also thanks
to FCT, POPH-OREN and FSE for her grant (SFRH/BPD/4609/2008).
