Effective action of silymarin against ketamine-induced schizophrenia in male mice: Insight into the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of action.
Journal of psychiatric research November 1, 2024 Benneth Ben-Azu, Aliance R Fokoua, Olajide S Annafi et al. 24 citations
Silymarin, a polyphenolic flavonoid with neuroprotective functions, prevented and reversed schizophrenia-like behaviors in mice given ketamine, an NMDA antagonist that induces neurochemical dysregulation, neuroimmune stress, and oxidative stress. In a preventive-reversal model, silymarin (50 and 100 mg/kg) reduced ketamine-induced increases in dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholinesterase, malondialdehyde, and nitrite in the striatum, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. It improved hyperlocomotion, stereotypy, memory, and social impairments without causing catalepsy. Silymarin also lowered inflammatory markers (myeloperoxidase, tumor-necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6) and normalized decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glutathione, catalase, and superoxide-dismutase levels. The antipsychotic effect may involve normalization of neurochemical and neurotrophic changes.