New nanodrug produced in Iran from milk thistle

Iranian researchers produced a type of nanodrug by using the extract of milk thistle (silybum marianum).

The tests on nanodrug were successful at laboratorial scale on animal samples in the treatment of bacterial infection of a type of bacteria resistant to antibiotics. Results of the research can be used in pharmaceutical industries.

Increased resistance of bacteria against antibiotics is one of the major problems in medicine. Staphylococcus aureus bacterium is one of the important pathogens that are resistant to methicillin (MRSA). Therefore, it is necessary to carry out researches on new antibacterial materials and on new methods to break microbial resistance. This subject is a priority in medical studies.

Results of the research show that antibacterial properties of nanoliposomes containing silymarin are higher than the free form of the drug in similar periods. Therefore, the produced nano-formulation can be used in the treatment of infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus due to its high efficiency.

According to the researchers, the minimum inhibitory of silymarin in the two forms of free and entrapped within nanoliposomes are 500 and 125 mg, respectively. In addition, the antibacterial effect of nanoliposomes containing silymarin was higher than the free form of the drug at similar time periods. Moreover, the survival of the mice infected by MRSA, who had been treated with nanoliposomes containing silymarin, was reported 100% in comparison with the witness group.

Based on the results, it can be concluded that some herbal materials can be entrapped in drug nanocarriers, and they increase the efficiency of the drugs.

Results of the research have been published in Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, vol. 14, issue 2, 2015, pp. 627-633.