Anti-Cancer Potential of Milk Thistle: A Deep Dive into Silymarin and Silibinin

Unlocking the Anti-Cancer Potential of Milk Thistle: A Deep Dive into Silymarin and Silibinin

Milk thistle emerges as a beacon of hope in the quest for natural allies against cancer. Revered for centuries for its liver-protective qualities, this humble plant harbors potent anti-cancer properties thanks to its active ingredients, silymarin and silibinin. At Prevail Over Cancer, we're committed to exploring nature's arsenal against health challenges, and today, we delve into how milk thistle could play a pivotal role in cancer prevention and support.

The Milk Thistle Power Duo: Silymarin and Silibinin

Milk thistle's prowess in combating cancer is primarily attributed to two compounds: silymarin and silibinin. Silymarin, the plant's primary active ingredient, is a complex mixture of flavonolignans, with silibinin being the most prominent. These compounds are antioxidants and warriors in the microscopic battle against cancer cells.

Cancer Treatment Liver Toxicities

Milk thistle has an extended history of helping to reduce and repair liver toxicities caused by chemotherapy treatments.[i] Silymarin can lower blood levels of liver enzymes AST, ALT, and kidney creatinine.[ii] Human research shows taking milk thistle during a cancer doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide-paclitaxel (AC-T) regimen reduced the liver toxicity caused by the chemotherapy.[iii]

A Balancing Act: ER Alpha and ER Beta

One of the groundbreaking discoveries about silymarin and silibinin is their influence on estrogen receptors (ERs), specifically ER alpha and ER beta. Estrogen receptors are proteins activated by the hormone estrogen and play a significant role in the development and progression of certain types of cancer.

Research suggests that silymarin and silibinin can decrease ER-beta activity while increasing ER-alpha activity.[iv] This balance is crucial because ER-beta is often associated with protective roles in various tissues, including the breast. At the same time, ER-alpha activity is linked to estrogen-related cancer cell growth.[v] By modulating the activity of these receptors, milk thistle's active ingredients potentially reduce the risk of estrogen-related cancers.[vi]

Laboratory and animal studies demonstrate that milk thistle ingredients silymarin and silibinin inhibit breast cancer cell growth.[vii]

Milk Thistle Cancer Research

A few milk thistle studies have been done on humans investigating the liver function and repair aspects. However, as with most supplements, they are not well studied. We must apply what we learn from laboratory and animal studies. Milk thistle has been studied in laboratory and animal cancer tests with success against:

• Bladder cancer[viii]
• Breast cancer[ix] [x]
• Colorectal Cancer[xi]
• Endometrial Cancer[xii]
• Fibroid Sarcoma[xiii]
• Liver cancer[xiv]
• Lung Cancer[xv]
• Lymphoma[xvi]
• Kidney cancer[xvii]
• Ovarian cancer[xviii] [xix]
• Prostate cancer [xx]
• Skin cancer[xxi]

Beyond Prevention: The Role of Supplements

While incorporating milk thistle into your diet is beneficial, the concentrations of silymarin and silibinin in dietary forms may not suffice for therapeutic effects. This is where high-quality supplements come into play. Supplements containing milk thistle extract can ensure a concentrated dose of these active ingredients, making them a valuable addition to your wellness regimen.

However, not all supplements are created equal. It's imperative to choose products that guarantee the purity and potency of their ingredients. Quality supplements will provide extracts standardized to a specific percentage of silymarin or silibinin, ensuring you reap the full benefits of milk thistle.

I take and often recommend Milk Thistle by Designs for Health.

Reducing Chemotherapy Side Effects

Some studies suggest that milk thistle may be associated with better chemotherapy results and reduced side effects. Its antioxidant properties could help minimize damage caused by chemotherapy drugs.[xxii] [xxiii]

A randomized clinical trial in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia found that silymarin (a compound in milk thistle) decreased liver-related side effects without harming cancer treatment. [xxiv]

Additionally, milk thistle seemed to help patients avoid lowering their chemotherapy doses, which is crucial for treatment effectiveness.[xxv]

Milk Thistle Liver Repair

Milk thistle is believed to support healthy liver function. Although more research is needed, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties show promise.

Small studies have also suggested benefits in reducing chemotherapy-induced hepatotoxicity in patients with breast cancer and radiation therapy-induced mucositis in head and neck cancer patients.[xxvi]

Consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement or herbal remedy. While milk thistle appears safe, further research is necessary to understand its effects and potential interactions fully.

Embracing Nature's Gift of Milk Thistle

As we continue our journey towards wellness and cancer prevention, the significance of natural remedies like milk thistle becomes ever more apparent. By understanding and harnessing the anti-cancer properties of silymarin and silibinin, we empower ourselves with more tools in the fight against this pervasive disease.

At Prevail Over Cancer, we believe in the power of informed choices and the integration of natural supplements into a holistic health strategy. With its remarkable compounds, Milk Thistle stands out as a promising ally. Let's embrace this gift from nature and continue our pursuit of health, armed with knowledge and the best of what the natural world has to offer.

Remember, while supplements can offer concentrated benefits, they should complement a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Always consult with a healthcare professional before adding new supplements to your regimen, especially if you have existing health conditions or are undergoing cancer treatment.

Stay tuned to our blog and newsletter for more insights into natural health solutions and how they can support your journey to prevail over cancer. Together, let's harness the power of nature in our fight against cancer.

Tags: milk thistle cancer warning, milk thistle cancer, milk thistle and breast cancer, milk thistle and liver cancer, milk thistle and prostate, milk thistle and chemo, milk thistle and chemotherapy, milk thistle and prostate cancer, milk thistle and pancreatic cancer

[i] Yakut S, Atcalı T, Çaglayan C, et al. Therapeutic Potential of Silymarin in Mitigating Paclitaxel-Induced Hepatotoxicity and Nephrotoxicity: Insights into Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis in Rats. Balkan Med J. 2024;41(3):193-205. doi:10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2024-1-60 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11077923/

[ii] Mohammadi S, Ashtary-Larky D, Asbaghi O, et al. Effects of silymarin supplementation on liver and kidney functions: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Phytother Res. 2024;38(5):2572-2593. doi:10.1002/ptr.8173 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ptr.8173

[iii] Moezian GSA, Javadinia SA, Sales SS, Fanipakdel A, Elyasi S, Karimi G. Oral silymarin formulation efficacy in management of AC-T protocol induced hepatotoxicity in breast cancer patients: A randomized, triple blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2022;28(4):827-835. doi:10.1177/10781552211006182

[iv] Zheng, N., Zhang, P., Huang, H., Liu, W., Hayashi, T., Zang, L., et al. (2015). ERα down-regulation plays a key role in silibinin-induced autophagy and apoptosis in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. J. Pharmacol. Sci. 128 (3), 97–107. doi:10.1016/j.jphs.2015.05.001

[v] Binienda A, Ziolkowska S, Pluciennik E. The Anticancer Properties of Silibinin: Its Molecular Mechanism and Therapeutic Effect in Breast Cancer. Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2020;20(15):1787-1796. doi:10.2174/1871520620666191220142741 https://www.eurekaselect.com/article/103118

[vi] Liu W, Ji Y, Sun Y, et al. Estrogen receptors participate in silibinin-caused nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2020;689:108458. doi:10.1016/j.abb.2020.108458 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003986120304677?via%3Dihub

[vii] Kim SH, Choo GS, Yoo ES, et al. Silymarin inhibits proliferation of human breast cancer cells via regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway and induction of apoptosis. Oncol Lett. 2021;21(6):492. doi:10.3892/ol.2021.12753 https://www.eurekaselect.com/article/130884

[viii] Barros TMB, Lima APB, Almeida TC, da Silva GN. Inhibition of urinary bladder cancer cell proliferation by silibinin. Environ Mol Mutagen. 2020;61(4):445-455. doi:10.1002/em.22363 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/em.22363

[ix] Zheng N, Liu L, Liu W, et al. ERβ up-regulation was involved in silibinin-induced growth inhibition of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2016;591:141-149. doi:10.1016/j.abb.2016.01.002  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003986116300029?via%3Dihub

[x] Si L, Fu J, Liu W, et al. Silibinin-induced mitochondria fission leads to mitophagy, which attenuates silibinin-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2020;685:108284. doi:10.1016/j.abb.2020.108284 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003986119311452?via%3Dihub

[xi] Raina K, Agarwal R. Promise and potential of silibinin in colorectal cancer management: what patterns can be seen?. Future Oncol. 2013;9(6):759-761. doi:10.2217/fon.13.51 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3935325/

[xii] Yu HC, Chen LJ, Cheng KC, Li YX, Yeh CH, Cheng JT. Silymarin inhibits cervical cancer cell through an increase of phosphatase and tensin homolog. Phytother Res. 2012;26(5):709-715. doi:10.1002/ptr.3618 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ptr.3618

[xiii] Jo AI, Kim MM. Silibinin Inhibits Cell Invasion through the Inhibition of MMPs, p-p38, and IL-1β in Human Fibrosarcoma Cells. Front Biosci (Landmark Ed). 2023;28(4):64. doi:10.31083/j.fbl2804064 https://www.imrpress.com/journal/FBL/28/4/10.31083/j.fbl2804064

[xiv] MasodKhooy MJ, Farasat M, Salehi Salmi M, Mirzaei H. Combinatorial treatment with Silybum marianum essential oil enhances the therapeutic efficacy of a 5-fluorouracil base therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Phytother Res. 2023;37(5):1968-1985. doi:10.1002/ptr.7716 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ptr.7716

[xv] Sharma, G., Singh, R. P., Chan, D. C., and Agarwal, R. (2003). Silibinin induces growth inhibition and apoptotic cell death in human lung carcinoma cells. Anticancer Res. 23 (3B), 2649–2655.

[xvi] Ortona E, Locatelli SL, Pagano MT, et al. The Natural Estrogen Receptor Beta Agonist Silibinin as a Promising Therapeutic Tool in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma. Anticancer Res. 2022;42(2):767-779. doi:10.21873/anticanres.15535 https://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/42/2/767.long

[xvii] Chang, H. R., Chen, P. N., Yang, S. F., Sun, Y. S., Wu, S. W., Hung, T. W., et al. (2011). Silibinin inhibits the invasion and migration of renal carcinoma 786-O cells in vitro, inhibits the growth of xenografts in vivo and enhances chemosensitivity to 5-fluorouracil and paclitaxel. Mol. Carcinog. 50 (10), 811–823. doi:10.1002/mc.20756

[xviii] Karimzadeh MR, Masoudi Chelegahi A, Shahbazi S, Reiisi S. Co-treatment of silymarin and cisplatin inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer. Mol Biol Rep. 2024;51(1):118. Published 2024 Jan 16. doi:10.1007/s11033-023-09026-8

[xix] Maleki N, Yavari N, Ebrahimi M, et al. Silibinin exerts anti-cancer activity on human ovarian cancer cells by increasing apoptosis and inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Gene. 2022;823:146275. doi:10.1016/j.gene.2022.146275 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378111922000944?via%3Dihub

[xx] Flaig, T.W., Gustafson, D.L., Su, LJ. et al. A phase I and pharmacokinetic study of silybin-phytosome in prostate cancer patients. Invest New Drugs 25, 139–146 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10637-006-9019-2

[xxi] Bhatia, N., Agarwal, C., and Agarwal, R. (2001). Differential responses of skin cancer-chemo preventive agents silibinin, quercetin, and epigallocatechin 3-gallate on mitogenic signaling and cell cycle regulators in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. Nutr. cancer 39 (2), 292–299. doi:10.1207/S15327914nc392_20 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11033-023-09026-8

[xxii] Milk Thistle: 6 Potential Benefits - Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/milk-thistle-benefits

[xxiii] Cancer Fighting Effects of Milk Thistle | MilkThistle.com. https://www.milkthistle.com/health-benefits/cancer-fighting-effects-of-milk-thistle.

[xxiv] Milk thistle herb protects cancer patients from chemotherapy-associated .... https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091215172325.htm.

[xxv] Milk Thistle - NCI - National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/milk-thistle-pdq.

[xxvi] Milk Thistle | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/milk-thistle.