Short Lecture "Silymarin – do we really know it all? Influence of silymarin on the motility of the gastrointestinal tract of broiler chickens"

Silymarin, a complex of flavonolignans from milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is a very well-known compound with many beneficial properties. It is valued primarily for its hepatoprotective mode of action. It is widely used in humans in the treatment of liver diseases and in cases of dyspepsia and bile duct disorders. It is also becoming more and more popular in animal production as a feed additive, which positively affects both production indicators and shows, in addition to hepatoprotection, strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. There are countless studies on silymarin carried out in vitro and in vivo: mainly in laboratory rodents or human volunteers. However, these models do not seem to be suitable for evaluating the effect of silymarin on broiler chickens. Due to the growing popularity of silymarin as a feed additive for poultry, there is also a growing need for more in-depth research on its effects on the digestive tract of chickens. This study aimed to verify the effect of standardised Silybum marianum extract, containing 70% silymarin, on the motility of isolated segments of various parts of the chickens' gastrointestinal tract. The experiments were conducted in ex vivo conditions, on tissue samples from routinely slaughtered birds. The effect of standardised Silybum marianum extract on spontaneous and ACh-induced activity was evaluated under isometric conditions. The experiments revealed a potent myocontractile activity towards spontaneous and chemically-evoked contractility. The results indicate that the use of silymarin can significantly change intestinal passage and consequently the absorption process.

 

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Publication History

Article published online:
16 November 2023