In our series of articles focusing on using cheap and easily available dietary supplements to help in COVID-19 treatment protocols alongside other drugs, we are focusing on the phytochemical called Silymarinthat is derived from Milk Thistle.
Silymarin, a standardized extract of the milk thistle seeds, containing a mixture of flavonolignans consisting of silibinin, isosilibinin, silichristin, silidianin, and others. Silibinin or silybin itself is a mixture of two diastereomers, silybin A and silybin B, in approximately equimolar ratio. The mixture exhibits a number of pharmacological effects, particularly in the liver, and there is some clinical evidence for the use of silibinin as a supportive element in the treatment of liver conditions.
Past studies have showed that it could have certain efficacy against the SARS coronavirus of 2003. Newer studies are also indicating that it might have antiviral properties that it is capable of inhibiting 3C-like protease (3CLpro) or coronavirus proteins that are essential for the SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus to replicate. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14756366.2019.1690480?src=recsys&fbclid=IwAR1XgE6W 64QqIC-7bVnF1kvsNdBMxphWy3nwVWMYRbLBZfr56wSoyz51hng or https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pmc/articles/ PMC3356205/ or https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.31.017657v1.full.pdf
In a preprint non-peer reviewed, it was also indicated that Silymarin might have certain ‘docking’ properties on the structure of the S-proteins found of the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, thus showing potential and additional inhibitory properties to help prevent replication of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. https://chemrxiv.org/articles/Identification_of_Potential_Binders_of_the_SARSCoV2_Spike_Protein_via_Molecular_Docking_Dynamics_Simulation_and_Binding_Free_Energy_Calculation/12278588
As it has also been seen that many COVID-19 patients are likely to suffer liver damage either due to the novel coronavirus or due to the drugs administered, Silymarin has been known to possess anti-inflammatory properties and is also known to help in liver cells regeneration. Hence it might be a useful supplement for COVID-19 patients. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21466434 or
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978012804274800045X or https://aasldpubs.onlinelibrary. wiley.com/ doi/full/10.1002/cld.522 or https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-72631-6_49 or https://clinphytoscience.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40816-016-0019-2
As COVID-19 patients also are prone to cardiac issues, Silymarin has been thought to be able to aid to a certain degree to prevent certain cardiac issues. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0367326X14001464
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2359609/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4776552/
Significantly, Silymarin is also capable to help in arrhythmias that are induced as a result of cardiotoxic drugs such as choloroquine or some of the antivirals. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5080420/
Previous studies have also showed that it is able to prevent cytokine storms which is a common occurrence in COVDI-19 patients. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23701595 or https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pmc/articles/PMC2819600/ or https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0194599811423504 or https:// academic.oup.com/intimm/article/22/Suppl_1_Pt_4/iv22/2958130
The medical community should explore further and conduct more research into the potential benefits of Silymarin with regards to COVID-19.
We do not advise any readers to start consuming Silymarin supplements until more valid studies emerge and also never try to self-treat if you suspect that you have COVID-19. Always report to the local health authorities and get yourself checked at the nearest hospital.