Study on the pharmacological effects of Silymarin extracted from introduced milk thistle fruits (Silybum marianum (L.)) collected at Sa Pa and Ha Noi in June 2002. Results: the silymarin product had chronic anti-inflammatory effects in experimental tumor model, inhibited formation of granuloma with the rate of 28.69% compared with control rats; had hepatic protection effect, decreased GPT enzyme activity and serum bilirubine of rats with 36.19% and 38.18%, respectively, in CCl4 poisoned model compared with control rats; increased bile flow up 32.25% compared with this before receiving silymarin and 49.88% compared with rats without drug, but didn’t change the bile quality
Silymarin ; Fruit ; Pharmacology

Extract F1 from Plantago asiatica L. provided hepatoprotective activity, decreased liver GPT enzyme (91.7%) and serum bilirubine (25.8%) in model of CCl4-induced cirrhosis mice, versus control group. Extract F1 had hepatoprotective activity, decreased liver GPT enzyme and serum bilirubine in model of CCl4-induced cirrhosis mice, versus control group (27.5% and 19.4%, respectively). Extract F1 had anti-oxidant activity, decreased liver MDA level by 21.2%, inhibited cirrhotic process, decreased collagen level by 26.5% versus control group
Medicine, Traditional ; plants, medicinal ; liver ;

BACKGROUND: Currently, it is recognized that water polluted with toxic heavy metal ions may cause serious effects on human health. Therefore, the development of new materials for effective removal of heavy metal ions from water is still a widely important area. Melanin is being considered as a potential material for removal of heavy metal from water. METHODS: In this study, we synthesized two melanin-embedded beads from two different melanin powder sources and named IMB (Isolated Melanin Bead originated from squid ink sac) and CMB (Commercial Melanin Bead originated from sesame seeds). These beads were of globular shape and 2-3 mm in diameter. We investigated and compared the sorption abilities of these two bead materials toward hexavalent-chromium (Cr) in water. The isotherm sorption curves were established using Langmuir and Freundlich models in the optimized conditions of pH, sorption time, solid/liquid ratio, and initial concentration of Cr. The FITR analysis was also carried out to show the differences in surface properties of these two beads. RESULTS: The optimized conditions for isotherm sorption of Cr on IMB/CMB were set at pH values of 2/2, sorption times of 90/300 min, and solid-liquid ratios of 10/20 mg/mL. The maximum sorption capacities calculated based on the Langmuir model were 19.60 and 6.24 for IMB and CMB, respectively. However, the adsorption kinetic of Cr on the beads fitted the Freundlich model with R values of 0.992 for IMB and 0.989 for CMB. The deduced Freundlich constant, 1/n, in the range of 0.2-0.8 indicated that these beads are good adsorption materials. In addition, structure analysis data revealed great differences in physical and chemical properties between IMB and CMB. Interestingly, FTIR analysis results showed strong signals of -OH (3295.35 cm) and -C=O (1608.63 cm) groups harboring on the IMB but not CMB. Moreover, loading of Cr on the IMB caused a shift of broad peaks from 3295.35 cm and 1608.63 cm to 3354.21 cm and 1597.06 cm, respectively, due to -OH and -C=O stretching. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our study suggests that IMB has great potential as a bead material for the elimination of Cr from aqueous solutions and may be highly useful for water treatment applications.
Adsorption ; Chromium ; chemistry ; Kinetics ; Melanins ; chemistry ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; methods ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; chemistry ; Water Pollution, Chemical ; prevention & control ; Water Purification ; methods