Potential benefits of orally deliverable silymarin-loaded spirulina platensis in mitigating alcoholic liver disease

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD), caused by excessive alcohol abuse, encompasses a battery of liver conditions including fatty liver to more severe conditions such as alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Silymarin derived from the dried fruits of Silybum marianum can shield the liver cells from alcohol damage and prevent toxins from penetrating and damaging the liver. Overcoming the challenges of silymarin's poor solubility, low bioavailability, and limited absorption is crucial to fully realize its health benefits. Herein, spirulina platensis (SP) was used as a natural carrier for silymarin delivery to alleviate ALD in mice. The functional ingredient silymarin was loaded into SP via a single step to construct the hybrid of silymarin@SP. The inherent chlorophyll gives silymarin@SP incredible fluorescence imaging ability for noninvasive monitoring. The orally deliverable silymarin@SP markedly increased silymarin's blood concentration from 2.04 to 4.12 μg/mL and enhanced its hepatic retention. The helical structure of SP carriers allowed silymarin@SP to improve the biological effectiveness of silymarin, significantly enhancing its effectiveness in alleviating ALD. Treatment with silymarin@SP significantly decreased proinflammatory cytokine levels. The potential benefits of orally deliverable silymarin@SP suggest that the SP carrier is effective in enhancing the biological efficacy of encapsulated silymarin in treating alcohol-induced liver damage. The integration of SP with silymarin may also provide combinatorial effects in protecting against and repairing the ALD.