Database Query Results : Silymarin (Milk Thistle) silibinin, , selectivity

SIL, Silymarin (Milk Thistle) silibinin: Click to Expand ⟱
Features:
Silymarin (Milk Thistle) Flowering herb related to daisy and ragweed family.
Silibinin (INN), also known as silybin is the major active constituent of silymarin, a standardized extract of the milk thistle seeds.
-a flavonoid combination of 65–80% of seven flavolignans; the most important of these include silybin, isosilybin, silychristin, isosilychristin, and silydianin. Silybin is the most abundant compound in around 50–70% in isoforms silybin A and silybin B

-Note half-life 6hrs?.
BioAv not soluble in water, low bioAv (1%). 240mg yielded only 0.34ug/ml plasma level. oral administration of SM (equivalent to 120 mg silibinin), total (unconjugated + conjugated) silibinin concentration in plasma was 1.1–1.3 μg/mL, so can not achieve levels used in most in-vitro studies.
Pathways:
- results for both inducing and reducing ROS in cancer cells. In normal cell seems to consistently lower ROS. Reports show both ROS↑ and ROS↓ in cancer models; systemic pro-oxidant effects may require higher exposures than typical oral dosing, but local or combination contexts may differ. (level in GUT could be much higher (800uM).
- ROS↑ related: MMP↓(ΔΨm), Ca+2↑, Cyt‑c↑, Caspases↑, DNA damage↑, cl-PARP↑,
- Raises AntiOxidant defense in Normal Cells: ROS↓, NRF2↑, SOD↑, GSH↑, Catalase↑,
- lowers Inflammation : NF-kB↓, COX2↓, p38↓(context-dependent; often stress-activated), Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines : NLRP3↓, IL-1β↓, TNF-α↓, IL-6↓, IL-8↓
- inhibit Growth/Metastases : TumMeta↓, TumCG↓, EMT↓, MMPs↓, MMP2↓, MMP9↓, TIMP2, uPA↓, VEGF↓, FAK↓, NF-κB↓, CXCR4↓, TGF-β↓, α-SMA↓, ERK↓
- reactivate genes thereby inhibiting cancer cell growth : HDAC↓, DNMTs↓, P53↑, HSP↓,
- cause Cell cycle arrest : TumCCA↑, cyclin D1↓, cyclin E↓, CDK2↓, CDK4↓,
- inhibits Migration/Invasion : TumCMig↓, TumCI↓, TNF-α↓, FAK↓, ERK↓, EMT↓,
- inhibits glycolysis and ATP depletion : HIF-1α↓, PKM2↓, cMyc↓, GLUT1↓, LDH↓, LDHA↓, HK2↓, PFKs↓, GRP78↑(ER stress), Glucose↓, GlucoseCon↓
- inhibits angiogenesis↓ : VEGF↓, HIF-1α↓, Notch↓, PDGF↓, EGFR↓,
- inhibits Cancer Stem Cells : CSC↓, Hh↓, GLi1↓, β-catenin↓, Notch2↓, OCT4↓,
- Others: PI3K↓, AKT↓, JAK↓, STAT↓, Wnt↓, β-catenin↓, AMPK, ERK↓, JNK, - SREBP (related to cholesterol).
- Synergies: chemo-sensitization, chemoProtective, RadioSensitizer, RadioProtective, Others(review target notes), Neuroprotective, Cognitive, Renoprotection, Hepatoprotective, CardioProtective,

- Selectivity: Cancer Cells vs Normal Cells

Rank Pathway / Axis Cancer Cells Normal Cells TSF Primary Effect Notes / Interpretation
1 ROS / redox buffering + mitochondrial protection Often ↑ stress susceptibility; can support apoptosis when survival signaling is blocked ↓ oxidative stress; mitochondrial protection P, R, G Context-selective redox modulation Silymarin is classically cytoprotective/antioxidant in normal tissues (notably liver), while in tumors it can weaken pro-survival adaptation and increase vulnerability to stressors and therapy.
2 Intrinsic apoptosis (mitochondria → caspases) ↑ apoptosis signaling; ↑ caspase activation ↔ minimal activation G Cell death execution Common downstream outcome in cancer models: apoptosis increases after earlier signaling/redox shifts and/or checkpoint disruption.
3 Cell-cycle control (cyclins/CDKs; checkpoints) ↑ arrest (G1/S or G2/M depending on model) ↔ G Cytostasis Typically observed as reduced proliferation with checkpoint engagement; timing usually later than kinase phosphorylation changes.
4 NF-κB inflammatory transcription ↓ NF-κB activity; ↓ inflammatory/pro-survival tone ↔ or protective anti-inflammatory effect R, G Anti-inflammatory / anti-survival transcription NF-κB suppression can reduce tumor-promoting inflammation and blunt stress-adaptive survival programs.
5 JAK/STAT3 axis (incl. PD-L1 / immune escape programs in some models) ↓ STAT3 signaling (context); may ↓ PD-L1 in certain tumor contexts ↔ R, G Reduced survival + immune-evasion signaling Reported to attenuate STAT3-driven tumor programs and, in some contexts, reduce immune-suppressive signaling (model dependent).
6 PI3K → AKT → mTOR survival / growth signaling ↓ PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling (context) ↔ R, G Growth/survival suppression Reduced PI3K/AKT/mTOR tone increases sensitivity to apoptosis and can reinforce cell-cycle arrest.
7 MAPK re-wiring (ERK/p38/JNK balance) Stress-MAPK shifts; ERK tone often reduced or re-patterned ↔ P, R, G Signal reprogramming Early phosphorylation shifts can precede later gene-expression changes; exact ERK direction is model and dose dependent.
8 Angiogenesis (VEGF and angiogenic factors) ↓ VEGF / angiogenesis outputs ↔ G Anti-angiogenic support Typically reflected in reduced pro-angiogenic expression/secretion and angiogenesis-related phenotypes over longer windows.
9 EMT / invasion / migration programs (incl. TGF-β/Smad-associated EMT in some systems) ↓ EMT markers; ↓ migration/invasion ↔ G Anti-invasive phenotype Often presents as restoration of epithelial markers and suppression of migration/invasion assays; commonly a later phenotype-level outcome.
10 Xenobiotic handling (Phase I/II enzymes; cytoprotection / chemoprevention framing) May alter carcinogen activation/detox balance ↑ detox / cytoprotection against xenobiotics G Chemopreventive protection A key “dual strategy” theme: protection of normal tissue from toxins/therapy while modulating tumor response pathways.
11 Drug resistance / efflux (MDR phenotype; P-gp-related resistance in some models) May ↓ functional MDR and ↑ chemo sensitivity (context) ↔ R, G Chemo-sensitization support Reported synergy with chemotherapy in resistant tumor settings; transporter direction can be context-specific, so present as “reported to reduce functional resistance” rather than a universal single-transporter claim.
12 Immune microenvironment signaling (cytokines / macrophage recruitment in some models) May ↓ pro-tumor cytokine programs and recruitment signals (context) ↔ G Anti-inflammatory tumor microenvironment shift Immune-modulatory effects are increasingly discussed, but they are more model-dependent and typically show on longer time scales.

Time-Scale Flag (TSF): P / R / G

  • P: 0–30 min (primary/physical–chemical effects; rapid signaling / phosphorylation shifts)
  • R: 30 min–3 hr (redox signaling + acute stress-response signaling)
  • G: >3 hr (gene-regulatory adaptation and phenotype-level outcomes)
selectivity, selectivity: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
The selectivity of cancer products (such as chemotherapeutic agents, targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and novel cancer drugs) refers to their ability to affect cancer cells preferentially over normal, healthy cells. High selectivity is important because it can lead to better patient outcomes by reducing side effects and minimizing damage to normal tissues.

Achieving high selectivity in cancer treatment is crucial for improving patient outcomes. It relies on pinpointing molecular differences between cancerous and normal cells, designing drugs or delivery systems that exploit these differences, and overcoming intrinsic challenges like tumor heterogeneity and resistance

Factors that affect selectivity:
1. Ability of Cancer cells to preferentially absorb a product/drug
-EPR-enhanced permeability and retention of cancer cells
-nanoparticle formations/carriers may target cancer cells over normal cells
-Liposomal formations. Also negatively/positively charged affects absorbtion

2. Product/drug effect may be different for normal vs cancer cells
- hypoxia
- transition metal content levels (iron/copper) change probability of fenton reaction.
- pH levels
- antiOxidant levels and defense levels

3. Bio-availability
Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
3282- SIL,    Role of Silymarin in Cancer Treatment: Facts, Hypotheses, and Questions
- Review, NA, NA
hepatoP↑, This group of flavonoids has been extensively studied and they have been used as hepato-protective substances
AntiCan↑, however, silymarin compounds have clear anticancer effects
TumCMig↓, decreasing migration through multiple targeting, decreasing hypoxia inducible factor-1α expression, i
Hif1a↓, In prostate cancer cells silibinin inhibited HIF-1α translation
selectivity↑, antitumoral activity of silymarin compounds is limited to malignant cells while the nonmalignant cells seem not to be affected
toxicity∅, long history of silymarin use in human diseases without toxicity after prolonged administration.
*antiOx↑, as an antioxidant, by scavenging prooxidant free radicals
*Inflam↓, antiinflammatory effects similar to those of indomethacin,
TumCCA↑, MDA-MB 486 breast cancer cells, G1 arrest was found due to increased p21 and decreased CDKs activity
P21↑,
CDK4↓,
NF-kB↓, human prostate carcinoma cells, silymarin decreased ligand binding to Erb1 135 and NF-kB expression was strongly inhibited by silymarin in hepatoma cell
ERK↓, human prostate carcinoma cells, silymarin decreased ligand binding to Erb1 135 and NF-kB expression was strongly inhibited by silymarin in hepatoma cell
PSA↓, Treating prostate carcinoma cells with silymarin the levels of PSA were significantly decreased and cell growth was inhibited through decreased CDK activity and induction of Cip1/p21 and Kip1/p27. 1
TumCG↓,
p27↑,
COX2↓, such as anti-COX2 and anti-IL-1α activity, 140 antiangiogenic effects through inhibition of VEGF secretion, upregulation of Insulin like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 (IGFBP3), 141 and inhibition of androgen receptors.
IL1↓,
VEGF↓,
IGFBP3↑,
AR↓,
STAT3↓, downregulation of the STAT3 pathway which was seen in many cell models.
Telomerase↓, silymarin has the ability to decrease telomerase activity in prostate cancer cells
Cyt‑c↑, mitochondrial cytochrome C release-caspase activation.
Casp↑,
eff↝, Malignant p53 negative cells show only minimal apoptosis when treated with silymarin. Therefore, one conclusion is that silymarin may be useful in tumors with conserved p53.
HDAC↓, inhibit histone deacetylase activity;
HATs↑, increase histone acetyltransferase activity
Zeb1↓, reduce expression of the transcription factor ZEB1
E-cadherin↑, increase expression of E-cadherin;
miR-203↑, increase expression of miR-203
NHE1↓, reduce activation of sodium hydrogen isoform 1 exchanger (NHE1)
MMP2↓, target β catenin and reduce the levels of MMP2 and MMP9
MMP9↓,
PGE2↓, reduce activation of prostaglandin E2
Vim↓, suppress vimentin expression
Wnt↓, inhibit Wnt signaling
angioG↓, Silymarin inhibits angiogenesis.
VEGF↓, VEGF downregulation
*TIMP1↓, Silymarin has the capacity to decrease TIMP1 expression166–168 in mice.
EMT↓, found that silibinin had no effect on EMT. However, the opposite was found in other malignant tissues160–162 where it showed inhibitory effects.
TGF-β↓, Silibinin reduces the expression of TGF β2 in different tumors such as triple negative breast, 174 prostate, and colorectal cancers.
CD44↓, Silibinin decreased CD44 expression and the activation of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor)
EGFR↓,
PDGF↓, silibinin had the ability to downregulate PDFG in fibroblasts, thus decreasing proliferation.
*IL8↓, Flavonoids, in general, reduce levels of IL-8. Curcumin, 200 apigenin, 201 and silybin showed the ability to decrease IL-8 levels
SREBP1↓, Silymarin inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation and decreased the expression of intranuclear sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1), decreasing lipid synthesis.
MMP↓, reduced membrane potential and ATP content
ATP↓,
uPA↓, silibinin decreased MMP2, MMP9, and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor level (uPAR) in neuroblastoma cells. uPAR is also a marker of cell invasion.
PD-L1↓, Silibinin inhibits PD-L1 by impeding STAT5 binding in NSCLC.
NOTCH↓, Silybin inhibited Notch signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma cells showing antitumoral effects
*SIRT1↑, Silymarin can also increase SIRT1 expression in other tissues, such as hippocampus, 221 articular chondrocytes, 222 and heart muscle
SIRT1↓, Silymarin seems to act differently in tumors: in lung cancer cells SIRT downregulated SIRT1 and exerted multiple antitumor effects such as reduced adhesion and migration and increased apoptosis.
CA↓, Silymarin has the ability to inhibit CA isoforms CA I and CA II.
Ca+2↑, ilymarin increases mitochondrial release of Ca++ and lowers mitochondrial membrane potential in cancer cell
chemoP↑, Silymarin: Decreasing Side Effects and Toxicity of Chemotherapeutic Drugs
cardioP↑, There is also evidence that it protects the heart from doxorubicin toxicity, however, it is less potent than quercetin in this effect.
Dose↝, oral administration of 240 mg of silybin to 6 healthy volunteers the following results were obtained 377 : maximum\,plasmaconcentration0.34±0.16⁢𝜇⁢g/m⁢L
Half-Life↝, and time to maximum plasma concentration 1.32 ± 0.45 h. Absorption half life 0.17 ± 0.09 h, elimination half life 6.32 ± 3.94 h
BioAv↓, silymarin is not soluble in water and oral administration shows poor absorption in the alimentary tract (approximately 1% in rats,
BioAv↓, Our conclusion is that, from a bioavailability standpoint, it is much easier to achieve migration inhibition, than proliferative reduction.
BioAv↓, Combination with succinate: is available on the market under the trade mark Legalon® (bis hemisuccinate silybin). Combination with phosphatidylcholine:
toxicity↝, 13 g daily per os divided into 3 doses was well tolerated. The most frequent adverse event was asymptomatic liver toxicity.
Half-Life↓, It may be necessary to administer 800 mg 4 times a day because the half-life is short.
ROS↓, its ability as an antioxidant reduces ROS production
FAK↓, Silibinin decreased human osteosarcoma cell invasion through Erk inhibition of a FAK/ERK/uPA/MMP2 pathway

3299- SIL,    Silymarin Effect on Mitophagy Pathway in the Human Colon Cancer HT-29 Cells
- in-vitro, Colon, HT29
tumCV↓, Silymarin significantly reduced the viability percentage of the HT-29 cells depending on the concentration
MMP↓, It also significantly decreased MMP in a concentration-dependent manner while significantly increased ROS formation in the HT-29 cells
ROS↑,
selectivity↑, Silymarin did not cause significant changes in the viability percentage, ROS level, and MMP of the NIH-3T3 non-cancerous cells at different concentrations.


* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 2

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

ROS↓, 1,   ROS↑, 1,  

Mitochondria & Bioenergetics ⓘ

ATP↓, 1,   MMP↓, 2,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

SIRT1↓, 1,   SREBP1↓, 1,  

Cell Death ⓘ

Casp↑, 1,   Cyt‑c↑, 1,   p27↑, 1,   Telomerase↓, 1,  

Transcription & Epigenetics ⓘ

HATs↑, 1,   tumCV↓, 1,  

Cell Cycle & Senescence ⓘ

CDK4↓, 1,   P21↑, 1,   TumCCA↑, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State ⓘ

CD44↓, 1,   EMT↓, 1,   ERK↓, 1,   HDAC↓, 1,   IGFBP3↑, 1,   NOTCH↓, 1,   STAT3↓, 1,   TumCG↓, 1,   Wnt↓, 1,  

Migration ⓘ

CA↓, 1,   Ca+2↑, 1,   E-cadherin↑, 1,   FAK↓, 1,   miR-203↑, 1,   MMP2↓, 1,   MMP9↓, 1,   PDGF↓, 1,   TGF-β↓, 1,   TumCMig↓, 1,   uPA↓, 1,   Vim↓, 1,   Zeb1↓, 1,  

Angiogenesis & Vasculature ⓘ

angioG↓, 1,   EGFR↓, 1,   Hif1a↓, 1,   VEGF↓, 2,  

Barriers & Transport ⓘ

NHE1↓, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling ⓘ

COX2↓, 1,   IL1↓, 1,   NF-kB↓, 1,   PD-L1↓, 1,   PGE2↓, 1,   PSA↓, 1,  

Hormonal & Nuclear Receptors ⓘ

AR↓, 1,  

Drug Metabolism & Resistance ⓘ

BioAv↓, 3,   Dose↝, 1,   eff↝, 1,   Half-Life↓, 1,   Half-Life↝, 1,   selectivity↑, 2,  

Clinical Biomarkers ⓘ

AR↓, 1,   EGFR↓, 1,   PD-L1↓, 1,   PSA↓, 1,  

Functional Outcomes ⓘ

AntiCan↑, 1,   cardioP↑, 1,   chemoP↑, 1,   hepatoP↑, 1,   toxicity↝, 1,   toxicity∅, 1,  
Total Targets: 65

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

antiOx↑, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

SIRT1↑, 1,  

Migration ⓘ

TIMP1↓, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling ⓘ

IL8↓, 1,   Inflam↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 5

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: selectivity, selectivity
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells

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