Clinical Benefits
Induce liver detoxification processes.4 Liver detoxification processes include phases I, II and III reactions (Figure One). Phase I detoxification encompasses the beginning of the toxin biotransformation process via oxidation, reduction or hydrolysis reactions. The resultant intermediate metabolites must then be further detoxified through phase II reactions in order to be excreted in the bile or urine. Phase I detoxification is modulated by turmeric. The major phase II detoxification pathways include glutathionation, glycination, acetylation, methylation, glucuronidation and sulphation 3 Milk thistle, turmeric, broccoli and schisandra induce these detoxification pathways (Figure One).4,5
Protect the liver against toxins. 6 Silybins, from milk thistle, protect the liver against toxins in two ways. First, they are incorporated into the cell membrane and protect the cell from toxic insult. Second, they increase cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), an intracellular signalling molecule that has a hepatoprotective effect 6 Milk thistle also increases the intracellular concentration of glutathione while globe artichoke reduces loss of this major endogenous antioxidant.7,8 Broccoli has been shown to increase glutathione-derived biomarkers in just seven days.9
Support liver function: Milk thistle and globe artichoke promote bile secretion. Milk thistle supports synthesis of bile and cholestatic compounds while globe artichoke supports bile flow and gastrointestinal motility, and has been shown to protect cell membrane lipids against oxidative damage.6,10
Figure One: The Three Phases of Liver Detoxification