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Neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) on neurons in culture

Journal of Molecular Neuroscience volume 18, pages 265–269 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Herbal products are being increasingly used as dietary supplements and therapeutic agents. However, much more research must be performed in order to determine the biological basis for their putative clinical effects. We tested the effects of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) extract on the differentiation and survival of cultured neural cells. Milk thistle enhanced nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neurite outgrowth in PC-12 neural cells and prolonged their survival in culture. Milk thistle extract also protected cultured rat hippocampal neurons against oxidative stress-induced cell death. Our data demonstrate that milk thistle extract can promote neuronal differentiation and survival, suggesting potential benefits of chemicals in this plant on the nervous system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 13210, Syracuse, NY

    Smita Kittur, Skuntala Wilasrusmee, Karen Straube-West & Burk Jubelt

  2. Department of Surgery, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 13210, Syracuse, NY

    Chumpon Wilasrusmee & Dilip S. Kittur

  3. Department of Neurology, VA Medical Center, 13210, Syracuse, NY

    Smita Kittur

  4. Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging Gerontology Research Center, 21224, Baltimore, MD

    Ward A. Pedersen & Mark. P. Mattson

Authors
  1. Smita Kittur
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  2. Skuntala Wilasrusmee
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  3. Ward A. Pedersen
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  4. Mark. P. Mattson
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  5. Karen Straube-West
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  6. Chumpon Wilasrusmee
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  7. Burk Jubelt
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  8. Dilip S. Kittur
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Correspondence to Smita Kittur.

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Kittur, S., Wilasrusmee, S., Pedersen, W.A. et al. Neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) on neurons in culture. J Mol Neurosci 18, 265–269 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1385/JMN:18:3:265

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/JMN:18:3:265

Index Entries

  • Apoptosis
  • herbal medicine
  • hippocampus
  • neurite outgrowth
  • oxidative stress