Abstract
Two diastereoisomers of silybin, silybin A and silybin B, were separated from silymarin by HPLC in our previous study. The present study assessed the effects of the diastereoisomers on cell apoptosis, and compared these with their mixture, silybin, in human chronic myeloid leukemia K562 cells. Both isomers showed stronger effects on cell growth inhibition and apoptosis induction than silybin. Compared with silybin B, silybin A showed higher effects on the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species and Ca2+. These results suggest that silybin A and silybin B have similar potency on apoptosis induction with different oxidative effects. Antagonistic effects may exist between silybin A and silybin B, partially through ROS production and Ca2+ increase.