Antihepatotoxic compounds, flavonoids

Most flavonoids are potent antioxidant compounds. Several flavonoids possess anti-inflammatory, antihepatotoxic, antimmour, antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Many traditional medicines and medicinal plants contain flavonoids... 

From different species of this genus triterpenoid saponins have been isolated, together with other compounds such as lignans, coumarins, flavonoids and polyacetylenes. The saikosaponins from Bupleurum L. are considered as the major bioactive components mainly used for their antiinflammatory and antihepatotoxic actmties. 

A series of flavonoids from the milk thistle, Silybum mar-ianum (Asteraceae) have antihepatotoxic activity. The individually active compounds are silybin (54) (the major compound), silychristin (55), and silydianin (56), collectively called silymarin (Fig. 11.19). Silymarin is used in Germany for treatment of human liver disorders (Vogel, 1976,1982). The elimination half-life of silybin is about 2 h (Beier and Nigg, 1992). 

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