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GC-MS analysis, anti-inflammatory, anti-coagulant, and antioxidant activities of Silybum marianum extracts

  • Ahlem Karbab , Nuha Sweidan , Ashok K. Shakya ORCID logo , Musa Abu Zarqa , Noureddine Charef , Waed Hammad and Mohammad S. Mubarak ORCID logo EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: October 20, 2025
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Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C
From the journal Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C

Abstract

Synthetic medicinal products are expensive and may have serious side effects. In addition, other antimicrobial agents have become increasingly required due to antibiotic resistance. To overcome these problems, people have used medicinal plants for years as a source of medication. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.) has been used for decades to treat various chronic illnesses. This study aimed to verify the chemical profile of S. marianum using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and evaluate the plant extracts’ anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and antioxidant activities. Results revealed that extracts from the plant contain significant amounts of triterpenes, tetraterpenes, oxygenated hydrocarbons, and small amounts of hydrocarbons. Results also showed that at a dose of 0.5 mg/ear, the seed extract significantly reduced xylene-induced edema in mice; however, the water extracts reduced croton oil-induced edema with a percent inhibition of 84.61 ± 4.61 % at the same dose. Moreover, the results showed that the methanolic seed extract was the most potent in anticoagulant activity. In contrast, the n-butanol extract showed the highest DPPH free radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 0.021 ± 0.006 mg/mL). This study highlighted the anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and antioxidant potential of S. marianum L. and the medicinal importance of natural phytochemicals isolated from this medicinal plant.

Keywords: Silybum marianum ; GC-MS; antioxidant; anti-inflammatory; anticoagulant activity
Corresponding author: Mohammad S. Mubarak, Department of Chemistry, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan, E-mail:

Funding source: Algerian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

Acknowledgments

Authors acknowledge the financial support of the Algerian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS, DGRSDT).

  1. Research ethics: Animals were kept under standard conditions described in the Animals By-Laws No. 425-2008. The “Algerienne Association of Sciences in Animal Experimentation” Committee authorized the experimental assays under statute No. 88-08/1988, which is associated with veterinary medical activities and the protection of animal health (No. JORA: 004/1988).

  2. Informed consent: The study protocol was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Hospitalo-Universitary Centre in Setif, Algeria, which agrees with Directive 2001/20/EC on good clinical practice for clinical trials involving medicinal products for human use. Additionally, this research was conducted under the principles of the Helsinki Declaration.

  3. Author contributions: Conceptualization: A. K., N. S., and M. A. Z.; Methodology: A. K., N. S., A. S., and W. H.; Software: A. S.; Data curation: A. K., N. S., and A. S.; Formal analysis: M. A. Z., and M. S. M.; Validation: N. C., M. A. Z., and M. S. M.; Writing-original draft preparation: A. K., and N. S.; Writing-review and editing: M. S. M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

  4. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: Not applicable.

  5. Conflict of interest: No conflict of interest.

  6. Research funding: Algerian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS, DGRSDT).

  7. Data availability: The raw data can be obtained on request from the corresponding author.

Abbreviations

AqE

water extract

BHT

butylated hydroxytoluene

ButE

n-butanol extract

DE

dried extract

DPPH

2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl

GE

gallic acid equivalent

H2O2

hydrogen peroxide

HO•

hydroxyl radical

PT

prothrombin time test

QE

quercetin equivalent

ROS

reactive oxygen species

SeE

seed methanolic extract

SOD

superoxide dismutase

TCA

trichloroacetic acid

TFC

total flavonoid content

TPC

total polyphenolic content

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Received: 2025-02-28
Accepted: 2025-09-30
Published Online: 2025-10-20

© 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

https://doi.org/10.1515/znc-2025-0160
Keywords for this article
Silybum marianum; GC-MS; antioxidant; anti-inflammatory; anticoagulant activity
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