Milk Thistle and NAC may protect organs and tissues from sepsis

Sepsis is infection in the blood. The large number of free radicals generated during sepsis causes organs throughout the body to malfunction leading to shock and organ failure (multiple organ dysfunction syndrome).

Sepsis was induced in rats via an operation. They were treated with NAC, Milk Thistle or placebo for 10 days before and immediately after the operation. Both Silymarin and NAC significantly reversed free radical activity and inflammatory components in the brain, lungs, and prevented cell damage. They prevented organ injury at least in part due to powerful antioxidant protection, and due to inhibition of white blood cell infiltration that would have been induced by inflammation. The study is published in the October 18th, 2007 issue of The Journal of Surgical Research.