Figure 2.

Effect of silymarin on phase I and phase II enzymes. Xenobiotics metabolizing enzymes (XME) biotransform various molecules such as prodrug, drug, procarcinogens, xenobiotics into active drug, inactive drug toxic metabolites, carcinogen and mutagen/toxic metabolites. Silymarin and derivatives may decrease the activity of phase I enzymes (i.e., P450) and activate phase II enzymes to increase the detoxication process. By these properties, silymarin and its derivatives may act as a chemopreventive or an adjuvant to decrease in normal cells toxicity-induced by chemotherapeutic agents.