Preventive and Therapeutic Effects of Seed Extract Rich in Silydianin and Silychristin in a Rat Model of Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has become an increasing global health problem, which leads to cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. extracts have been reported to possess several biological activities. In this study, an ethyl acetate extract prepared from seeds of the Iraqi Kurdistan region was analyzed to identify its chemical constituents. Subsequently, its potential for the prevention and treatment of MetS was studied in a rat model induced by a high-fat/high-fructose diet (HFD/F). Silydianin and silychristin were the most abundant flavonolignan constituents (39.4%) identified in the extract (SMEE). HFD/F-induced rats treated with SMEE exhibited preventive effects including reduced serum triglyceride levels (TG), decreased glucose levels in an oral glucose tolerance test ( < 0.001), attenuated weight gain, and reduced blood pressure compared to the untreated control group. Therapeutic application of SMEE after inducing MetS led to lowering of TG ( < 0.001) and glucose levels, in addition to reducing weight gain and normalizing blood pressure ( < 0.005). Thus, extract rich in silydianin and silychristin may be useful for preventing and attenuating MetS, and further research and clinical trials are warranted.