Silymarin BIO-C®, an extract from Silybum marianum fruits, induces hyperprolactinemia in intact female rats

Capasso, Raffaele; Aviello, Gabriella; Capasso, Francesco; Savino, Francesco; Izzo, Angelo A.; Lembo, Francesca; Borrelli, Francesca

doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2009.02.007

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Volume 16, Issue 9 , Pages 839-844, September 2009

Silymarin BIO-C^®, an extract from Silybum marianum fruits, induces hyperprolactinemia in intact female rats

Raffaele Capasso
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
Gabriella Aviello
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
Francesco Capasso
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
Francesco Savino
- Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale Infantile Regina Margherita, Piazza Polonia, 94 10126 Torino, Italy
Angelo A. Izzo
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
Francesca Lembo
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
Francesca Borrelli
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +39081678665; fax: +39081678403.

Abstract

Breastfeeding is widely acknowledged to have important health benefits for infants and mothers. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum fruits) has been recently proposed to be used by nursing mothers for stimulating milk production; however, the mode of action of this herbal drug is still unknown. In this paper, we have evaluated the effect of a micronized standardized extract of S. marianum (Silymarin BIO-C^®=Piùlatte^®) on the serum levels of prolactin in female rats. A 14-day treatment with Silymarin BIO-C^® (25–200mg/kg, given orally) increased, in a dose dependent manner, the serum prolactin levels. Moreover, after a 66-day discontinuation of Silymarin BIO-C^® treatment, prolactin levels were still significantly elevated although we observed a trend to decrease that was counteracted by a further 7-day treatment with Silymarin BIO-C^®. Bromocriptine, a dopamine D₂ receptor agonist, (1–10mg/kg, os) significantly and in a dose dependent manner, reduced the serum prolactin levels; bromocriptine, at the dose of 1mg/kg, significantly reduced the high serum prolactin levels induced by Silymarin BIO-C^®. In conclusion, we have shown that an extract from S. marianum fruits significantly increases circulating prolactin levels in female rats; this effect seems to involve, at least in part, dopamine D₂ receptors.