Silibinin, derived from the milk thistle plant, is widely used for self-treatment of liver diseases, including hepatitis C. Medical research on constituents of milk thistle has not fully confirmed beneficial and protective effects for the treatment of liver damage caused by viral infection, but milk thistle may have benefits as an alternative therapy, as no vaccine for hepatitis C is currently available. Always consult a physician before treating liver conditions with herbal remedies.
Milk Thistle
The milk thistle, Silybum adans, is a flowering herb that grows throughout the Mediterranean region. The seeds of the plant have been traditionally used in Indian and Chinese medicine to treat chronic liver disease. Silibinin, a biologically active component of the plant's seeds, is extracted and may offer protection against toxins and viral pathogens. Current research has investigated properties of the plant and found it to be beneficial in combating infection. This plant represents an additional therapeutic approach for those not responding to conventional treatments of viral infections. However, research on milk thistle has concluded that its efficacy against liver disease has not been established, and additional studies are needed.
Hepatitis C
The hepatitis C virus, HCV, is responsible for an infectious disease of the liver. The infection is frequently asymptomatic, remaining inactive, but once established, chronic infection can progress, which leads to liver failure and life-threatening conditions. The virus is spread through blood-to-blood contact and can persist in the liver in the majority of those infected. Current pharmaceutical treatment consists of a combination of antiviral drugs for a period of 24 or 48 weeks, depending on the type of hepatitis C virus. A majority of patients experience side effects ranging from a flu-like syndrome to severe adverse incidents including cardiovascular problems.
Successful Treatment of Hepatitis C by Milk Thistle Extracts
An article appearing in the October 2010 issue of the "Journal of Clinical Virology" covered a study on the efficacy of an antiviral therapy with silibinin solutions for patients with an HIV and HCV coinfection. The article reported a case of an HIV-HCV infected patient who did not respond to known medications and was treated with silbinin for two weeks. Four months later, HCV was still undected, while HIV returned to pretreatment levels. The study concluded that silibinin may present a prospective treatment option for HCV patients unresponsive to conventional therapy.
Inconclusive Medical Findings
In a February 2008 article published in the German periodical "Forschende Komplementaemedizin," researchers investigated potential benefits of silibinin in the treatment of liver diseases by conducting a review of electronic databases to identify studies using silibinin. The publications were analyzed from a clinical point of view and analytic calculations were performed. The authors found that clinical verification of silibinin in treating liver diseases is limited, with little evidence indicating positive control of HCV. The authors concluded that it may be practical to employ silibinin in the therapy of liver cirrhosis. However, they cautioned that potential uses of this compound remain a controversial issue.
References
- "Journal of Clinical Virology"; Successful HCV eradication and inhibition of HIV replication by intravenous silibinin in an HIV-HCV coinfected patient; B Payer et al.; October 2010
- "Forschende Komplementaemedizin"; An updated systematic review with meta-analysis for the clinical evidence of silymarin; R Saller; February 2008
- "Journal of Clinical Pharmacology"; Silymarin ascending multiple oral dosing phase I study in noncirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C; R Hawke; April 2010
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