Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) is a semi-parasite evergreen shrub that grows on many plants including oak, apple and other and takes the form of a bush. It belongs to the family of Viscaceae. Mistletoe ...

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Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) is a semi-parasite evergreen shrub that grows on many plants including oak, apple and other and takes the form of a bush.

It belongs to the family of Viscaceae.

Mistletoe produces light-coloured berries which, in winter, when they reach maturity, contain a viscous liquid, hence the name.

Its antioxidant components include viscotoxins, small proteins capable of counteracting cancer cells, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, triterpene acids, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids and flavonoid.

Chemical analysis performed with high resolution chromatography equipped with high resolution mass spectrometer has identified the following main components: caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, sakuranetin, isosakuranetin, syringenin 4-O-glucoside, syringenin 4-O-apiosyl-glucoside, alangilignoside C and ligalbumoside A (1).

Mistletoe extracts have been used as adjuvants in cancer therapy for decades. The main component of the mistletoe is a protein called Mistletoe lectin 1, which stimulates the immune system and influences the proliferation and motility of cancer cells (1).

This study shows the first evidence that an extract of mistletoe leaves produced interesting cardioprotective effect in rats (3).

Mistletoe studies

References____________________________________________

(1) Phenolic compounds from Viscum album tinctures enhanced antitumor activity in melanoma murine cancer cells.  Melo MNO, Oliveira AP, Wiecikowski AF, Carvalho RS, Castro JL, de Oliveira FAG, Pereira HMG, da Veiga VF, Capella MMA, Rocha L, Holandino C.  Saudi Pharm J. 2018 Mar;26(3):311-322. doi: 10.1016/j.jsps.2018.01.011

(2) Mistletoe-Based Drugs Work in Synergy with Radio-Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Glioma In Vitro and In Vivo in Glioblastoma Bearing Mice.  Schötterl S, Miemietz JT, Ilina EI, Wirsik NM, Ehrlich I, Gall A, Huber SM, Lentzen H, Mittelbronn M, Naumann U.  Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 Jul 3;2019:1376140. doi: 10.1155/2019/1376140.

(3) Cardioprotective effects of Viscum album L. subsp. album (European misletoe) leaf extracts in myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.  Suveren E, Baxter GF, Iskit AB, Turker AU.  J Ethnopharmacol. 2017 Sep 14;209:203-209. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2017.07.010.

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