Protective effect of silymarin during coronary artery bypass grafting surgery
Experimental and Clinical Cardiology, 04/13/2012

Altaei T – The anti–inflammatory and antioxidant effects of silymarin treatment provided protection against reperfusion injury and inflammation after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.

• Of the 102 patients undergoing elective first–time CABG surgery that were recruited, 50 (49.02%) received silymarin treatment and 52 (50.9%) were controls.
• Plasma cytokine levels (IL–1b, IL–6 and TNF–alpha) were measured preoperatively, 6 h and 24 h after CABG surgery.
• C–reactive protein (CRP) levels, trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were analyzed.

• Postoperative cytokine levels in the silymarin group were significantly lower compared with preoperative levels, and were significantly lower compared with postoperative control group levels.
• The area under the curve for cytokines and CRP for the silymarin group were significantly lower compared with preoperative levels, and were significantly lower compared with postoperative control group levels.
• Postoperative levels of TEAC and MDA in the silymarin–treated group were significantly lower than in the control group.
• GSH levels were significantly elevated in the silymarin group compared with control.
• No side effects or mortality were associated with the use of silymarin.