SynthesisBMC cancer2026
Therapeutic effects of silibinin in preclinical animal models of gastrointestinal cancers: a systematic review and meta‑analysis.
Synthesis in BMC cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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4 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundGastrointestinal (GI) cancers represent a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Silibinin, the primary active constituent of milk thistle, possesses anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory properties. This study systematically evaluates the therapeutic effects of silibinin in preclinical animal models of GI cancers.
methodsPubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies were selected based on PICOS criteria, and risk of bias was assessed using the SYRCLE tool. Outcomes were pooled using a random-effects model and reported as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to address heterogeneity.
resultsFourteen studies met inclusion criteria. Silibinin significantly reduced tumor volume (SMD = -2.72) and tumor weight (SMD = -1.86), demonstrating promising antitumor efficacy. Notably, body weight was not significantly altered (SMD = 0.53, 95% CI: -0.41 to 1.48) and diet consumption showed a significant increase (SMD = 1.09), together indicating that silibinin exerts its anticancer effects without compromising nutritional status suggesting preliminary tolerability in animal models. At the molecular level, PCNA expression was significantly suppressed (SMD = -4.31), reflecting a consistent reduction in cellular proliferation, while apoptosis was significantly elevated (SMD = 6.00), confirming pro-apoptotic activity across GI cancer models.
conclusionSilibinin significantly suppresses tumor growth and promotes apoptosis in preclinical GI cancer models while demonstrating encouraging preliminary tolerability. These findings support its potential as an adjunctive anticancer agent; however, further clinical studies are warranted to validate these results and enable more definitive conclusions regarding its therapeutic efficacy.
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