Anti-fibrogenic effects of sylimarin vary significantly in human hepatic stellate cells from different donors

Silymarin derived from the milk thistle plant Silybum marianum is composed of six major flavonolignans and is widely used for self-treatment of liver diseases. Widely investigated is Silymarin's protective effect on hepatocytes, and recent studies exhibited anticholestatic properties in experimental models of hepatocellular cholestasis. Furthermore, silymarin extracts (SE) have been shown to exert anti-fibrogenic effects in animal models. However, scant information is available on the direct effect of silymarin on activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC), the key players of hepatic fibrosis. The aim of this study…