HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Silymarin Protects Kidneys from Drug Injury

Study Abstract

Drug-induced nephrotoxicity (DIN) accounts for up to sixty percent of hospital acquired acute kidney injury. Several efforts have been made to reduce drug-induced renal damage; however, DIN remains a matter of concern, with substantial impact on patients and the health system. Silymarin is a drug that has been used for many years in alternate and modern medicine for treating hepatic diseases. Its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects make it an interesting herbal medicine, and these properties have implicated this compound as a potential renoprotective agent. Based on the findings from animal studies, this review concluded that silymarin might exert significant protective or ameliorative effects against drug-induced kidney disease, especially against cisplatin-induced renal damage. Whether the protective administration of silymarin could be an effective clinical pharmacological strategy to prevent DIN is a question that remains to be answered in clinical trials.

Study Information

Dashti-Khavidaki S, Shahbazi F, Khalili H, Lessan-Pezeshki M.
Potential renoprotective effects of silymarin against nephrotoxic drugs: a review of literature.
J Pharm Pharm Sci.
2012 March
Resident of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.