COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF SILYMARIN COMPLEX DYNAMICS UNDER SALINITY STRESS IN SILYBUM MARIANUM L.: INTEGRATIVE BIOCHEMICAL, MOLECULAR, AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

Soil salinity is a major environmental constraint that significantly affects plant growth, metabolism, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Silybum marianum L., an important medicinal plant, produces silymarin—a complex mixture of flavonolignans with potent antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties. The present study provides a comprehensive and integrative analysis of the dynamic behavior of the silymarin complex under varying levels of salt stress. The results demonstrate that salinity induces a dose-dependent modulation of silymarin biosynthesis, characterized by a stimulatory effect at moderate stress levels and inhibitory effects under severe stress conditions. This response is mediated through the activation of the phenylpropanoid pathway, enhanced antioxidant defense mechanisms, and transcriptional regulation of key biosynthetic genes. The study further explores the physiological adaptations, metabolic trade-offs, and stress signaling pathways involved. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of plant stress physiology and offer practical strategies for enhancing the production of valuable phytochemicals in saline environments.