Effect of Silymarin on Expression of micro-RNA-21 and Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and 9 and Tissue Inhibitors of Matrix Metalloproteinase (TIMP) 1 and 2 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line (HepG2).

Background: Silymarin is a flavonolignan that has various medicinal properties such as liver protection, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and heart protection activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of silymarin on the expression level of , matrix metalloproteinase(), and their tissue inhibitors () in liver cancer HepG2 cell line.

Methods: An experimental study was conducted on the human HepG2 cells prepared from Pasteur Institute, Tehran, Iran.