[The effect of silybin dihemisuccinate on cholesterol biosynthesis in rat liver homogenates (author's transl)]

The effect of silybin dihemisuccinate on the hepatic biosynthesis of cholesterol was studied by measuring the incorporation of [1-14C]-acetate and [2-14C]-mevalonate in the postmitochondrial supernatant of liver homogenates. 2. Under absolute in vitro conditions, silybin dihemisuccinate inhibits the biosynthesis of cholesterol in dependence on its concentration. With [1-14C]-acetate or [2-14C]-mevalonate the concentrations of silybin for 50% inhibition are 0.37 mM or 0.40 mM, resp. 3. 30 min after i.v. injection of 150.6 mg silybin dihemisuccinate/kg with both precursors the biosynthesis of cholesterol studied in vitro is diminished in comparison to controls. 60 min or 24 h after i.v. injection of silybin no effects on in vitro biosynthesis of cholesterol can be observed.