Table 2.

The role of silybin in respiratory system diseases.

Diseases	Key associated effect	Regulated factors	Reference
Tuberculosis	↑ Expression of Th1-type cytokines, ↑ host protective immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis	↑ IFN-γ, ↑ IL-12, ↑ TNF-α	(44)
	↓ Functional activity of the NLRP3 inflammasome and the NF-κB signaling pathway	↓ NLRP3 inflammasome, ↓ NF-κB signaling pathway	(42)
SiONPs-induced pneumonia	↓ TXNIP/MAPK/AP-1 signaling pathway, ↓ mRNA and protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines	↓ TXNIP/MAPK/AP-1 signaling pathway, ↓ TXNIP, ↓ MAPK, ↓ AP-1, ↓ TNF-α, ↓ IL-6, ↓ IL-1β	(48)
Viral pneumonia	Bind to the viral spike protein RBD and the main protease Mpro, ↓ viral entry and replication;↓ TNF-α-mediated cytokine storm,↓ gene expression of pro-inflammatory mediators;↓ the levels of factors associated with endothelial dysfunction, pathological coagulation, and excessive vasoconstriction; ↓ virus-induced excessive	↓ IL-6, ↓ MCP-1; ↓ PAI-1, ↓ ET-1	(49)
	inflammation, endothelial injury, and thrombotic risk

“↑” represents silybin’s promoting effect. “↓” represents silybin’s inhibiting effect.