Therapeutical effect of silymarin on nucleic acids in the various organs of rats after radiation injury.

The therapeutical effect of the hepatoprotective drug silymarin (Flavobion) was investigated in rats after total body gamma irradiation with a dose of 6 Gy. Silymarin (70 mg kg-1 p.o. by tube) was administered twice a day over 7 and 14 days after irradiation. At the end of therapy, the effect of silymarin was evaluated on the basis of quantitative changes of nucleic acids in the liver (regenerating after partial hepatectomy), spleen and bone marrow. It was found that the nucleic acid changes in irradiated rats were alleviated by the post-radiation application of silymarin in its target organ--the liver, but also in the spleen and bone marrow. We assume that the therapeutical effect of silymarin on radiation induced changes of nucleic acids in various tissues of rats is caused mainly by the activation of cellular metabolism including the metabolism of nucleic acids.