2,3-Dehydroderivatives of Silymarin Flavonolignans: Prospective Natural Compounds for the Prevention of Chronic Diseases

Silybum marianum fruit extract silymarin displays various biological activities, which are attributed mostly to its major component silybin. However, silymarin contain several other isomeric flavonolignans (isosilybin, silychristin, silydianin) and their oxidation products, the 2,3-dehydroflavonolignans (2,3-dehydrosilybin, 2,3-dehydrosilychristin, 2,3-dehydrosilydianin). The latter compounds were found to be 1-2 orders of magnitude more efficient radical scavengers, reducing, chelating, cytoprotective, anti-aging, anti-cancer and anti-angiogenic agents than the parent flavonolignans. Although 2,3-dehydroflavonolignans occur in silymarin as minorities, they seem to be responsible for the majority of the biological activity and therefore have potential for the prevention of chronic diseases