[Effect of Silybum marianum oil and legalon on lipid peroxidation and liver antioxidant systems in rats intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride].

An oil obtained from the seeds of Saint-Mary thistle (Silybum marianum) and the drug legalon (silybinin) prepared from this plant produce an antioxidant effect on liver tissues of rats poisoned with carbon tetrachloride. Legalon (25 mg/kg) and the oil (2000 mg) reduced the level of lipid peroxidation, increased the catalase activity, but did not reduce the concentration of selenium in liver (which decreased as a result of CCl4 intoxication). Legalon significantly increased the activity of superoxide dismutase in liver tissues, while the Saint-Mary thistle oil did not produce such effect.