Acta Pharm. 52 (2002) 161-170

Original research paper  
 

Protective role of silymarin against gama-radiation effects on lipids,
urea and creatinine serum levels

LAILA A. RAMADAN,1*  GAMAL M. ABU SENNA,2   HAMED M. ROUSHDY,1 
NOUR E. AMIN1 and  OLA A. EL-DESHW1 

laila_ramadan@hotmail.com

1Department of Drug Radiation Research and Radiation Biology, National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt 
2Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
Received October 3, 2001      Accepted May 15, 2002

Silymarin is a flavonoid from the medical plant Silybum marianum (Asteraceae). The present study was aimed to investigate the possible protective role of silymarin against gamma radiation induced effects on lipids, urea and creatinine serum levels. Silymarin was administered to the animals as a single dose (70 mg kg-1) or fractionated oral doses (490 mg kg-1 as 70 mg kg-1 daily for a week) or as i.v. injection (50 mg kg-1) before irradiation. A significant protection of silymarin was observed.


Keywords: irradiation, silymarin, lipids, urea, creatinine