Critical review of therapeutic potential of silymarin in cancer: A bioactive polyphenolic flavonoid

[Display omitted] •Silymarin, an extract from milk thistle seeds, has been used for the treatment of several disorders.•Silymarin and its analogs are effective for cancer therapy and prevention.•Actions of silymarin are characterized by molecular signaling pathways modulation in various cancers.•The results of this study can be valuable for a better understanding of silymarin as an anticancer drug. Cancer is identified as second leading causes of death and imposes a significant psychological and economic burden on societies. Due to its high prevalence, and a main cause of death worldwide, there is a continuing need to discover new potential anticancer compounds. Plant-derived compounds have recently attracted more attention among researchers for their potent anti-cancer properties. A numerous research, including in-vitro, in-vivo, preclinical, clinical, and epidemiological studies, has indicated that the flavonoid of silymarin have comprehensive preventive and therapeutic effects on array of inflammation-driven diseases, including cancer. Silymarin have clear anti-cancer activities through distinctive mechanisms including modulation of apoptosis in-vitro and survival in-vivo. The chemoprotection of silymarin and its constituent suggest they could be promising therapeutic agents in various cancer types. This review focus on the silymarin in vivo and in vitro effects in a variety of cancers, and explores signaling pathways that modulated by this compound.