SpringerLink
Log in

Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicity of an Epiphytic Medicinal Shrub Viscum album L. (White Berry Mistletoe)

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

Abstract

Plants have many uses such as healers and health rejuvenators since ancient times. Since the ancient times, man has used plants to treat common infectious diseases, and some of these traditional medicines are still included as part of the habitual treatment systems. Ethnobotanical practices, since remote times, have highlighted the significance of phytotherapy which nowadays has become much preferred choice in treatment and management of diseases than that of lethal conventional chemotherapy. Medicinal plants have been credited with health benefits and have been attributed to multipotent antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-ulcerative, and antidiabetic properties. Medicinal plants are the richest bio-resources of drugs of traditional medicinal systems, modern medicines, nutraceuticals, food supplements, folk medicines, pharmaceuticals, and intermediate chemicals entitled for synthetic drugs. Many scientific reports have clearly demonstrated Viscum album as highly valuable medicinal epiphyte with wide spectrum of active components that are traditionally employed in treatment of many health disorders like aging, inflammation, headaches, epilepsy, tumor, plague, fertility problems, and as poison antidote. Nowadays the indiscriminate use of commercial antimicrobial drugs has led to drug resistance among the common masses. Given the alarming incidence of antibiotic resistance in bacteria of medical importance, there is a constant need to look for new and effective therapeutic agents which could be available from various medicinal plants. In this context the present review is an attempt to put forth pharmacological potential of the plant V. album L. that has arisen due to high level of chemical diversity especially in active lead components that are associated with many biological effects.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
GBP 19.95
Price includes VAT (United Kingdom)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
GBP 127.50
Price includes VAT (United Kingdom)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
GBP 159.99
Price includes VAT (United Kingdom)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free ship** worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
GBP 159.99
Price includes VAT (United Kingdom)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free ship** worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adachi M, Takayanagi R (2008) Effects of anabolic steroids on osteoporosis. Clin Calcium 10:1451–1459

    Google Scholar 

  • Adeeyo AO, Adefule AK, Ofusori DA et al (2013) Antihyperglycemic effects of aqueous leaf extracts of mistletoe and Moringa oleifera in streptozotocin-induced diabetes Wistar rats. Diabetologia Croat 42(3):81–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Amer B, Fossen T (2012) Novel aminoalkaloids from European mistletoe (Viscum album L.). Phytochem Lett 5(3):677–681

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aniszewski T (2007) Biological significance of alkaloids-secrets of life: alkaloid chemistry, biological significance, applications and ecological role. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 141–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Anthony HM (1995) Some methodological problems in the assessment of complementary. In: Lewith GT (ed) Clinical research methodology for complementary therapies. Hodder & Stoughton, London, pp 108–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Antony S, Kuttan R, Kuttan G (2000) Role of natural killer cells in iscador mediated inhibition of metastasis by adoptive immunotherapy. Immunol Invest 29(3):219–231

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Banerjee DK, Dhodapkar MV et al (2006) Expansion of FOXP3 high regulatory T cells by human dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro and after injection of cytokine-matured DCs in myeloma patients. Blood 108:2655–2661

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Barney CW, Hawksworth FG, Geils BW (2007) Hosts of Viscum album. Fores Pathol 28(3):187–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batra P, Sharma AK (2013) Anti-cancer potential of flavonoids: recent trends and future perspectives. Biotech 3:439–459

    Google Scholar 

  • Beuth J, Schneider B, Schierholz JM (2008) Impact of complementary treatment of breast cancer patients with standardized mistletoe extract during aftercare: a controlled multicentre comparative epidemiological cohort study. Anticancer Res 28:523–527

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bhat TA, Gaurav N, Majaz MM (2012) Traditional use of medicinal plants by Gujjar and Bakerwal tribes in Pirpanjal Range of the Shopian District, Kashmir (India). Int J Res Dev Pharm Life Sci 1(3):160–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Bussing A (2000) Biological and pharmacological properties of Viscum Album L. In: Bussing A (ed) Mistletoe- the genus VISCUM. Harwood Academic Publishers, Amsterdam, pp 123–182

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bussing A (2004) Mistletoe the genus Viscum. Harwood Academic Publishers, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Bussing A, Schietzel M (1999) Apoptosis -inducing properties of Viscum album L. extracts from different host trees, correlate with their content of toxic mistletoe lectins. Anticancer Res 19:23–28

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bussing A, Suzart K, Schweizer K (1997) Mistletoe therapy and immunological research. Anti-Cancer Drugs 8(1):9–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bussing A, Rosenberger A, Stumpf C et al (1999) Mistletoe: the genus Viscum. Forsch Komplementmed 6:196–204

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carbonaro M, Virgili F, Carnovale E (1996) Evidence for protein-tannin interaction in legumes: implications in the antioxidant properties of faba bean tannins. LWT – Food Sci Technol l29:743–750

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Catal Y, Carus S (2011) Effect of pine mistletoe on radical growth of Crimeau pine (Pinus nigra) in Turkey. J Environ Biol 32:263–270

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chahar MK, Sharma N, Dobhal MP et al (2011) Flavonoids: a versatile source of anticancer drugs. Pharmacog Rev 9:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaitrali S, Mrinmoy D, Emmanuel SV et al (2016) Differential effects of Viscum album preparations on the maturation and activation of human dendritic cells and CD4+ T cell responses. Molecules 21(7):912

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chernyshov VP, Heusser P, Omelchenko LI et al (2007) Immunomodulatory and clinical effects of Viscum album (Iscador M and Iscador P) in children with recurrent respiratory infections as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Am J Ther 3:195–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Chikezie PC, Iheanacho KME (2014) Comparative hypoglycemic property of aqueous and Ethanolic extracts of Viscum album (mistletoe) and their effects on body and organ weights of diabetic rats (Rattus norvegicus). Pharmacog Commun 4:2

    Google Scholar 

  • Chink M (1997) Mistletoe therapy for human cancer: the role of the natural killer cells. Anticancer Drug Des 8(1):47–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choudhary MI, Maher S, Begum A (2010) Characterization and antiglycation activity of phenolic constituents from Viscum album (European Mistletoe). Chem Pharm Bull 58(7):980–982

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daliborca CV, Roxana P, Victor D (2016) Phytocomponents identification in mistletoe (Viscum Album) young leaves and branches, by Gc-Ms and Antiproliferative effect on Hepg2 and Mcf7 cell lines. Farm 64:1

    Google Scholar 

  • Debreczeni J, Girmann B, Zeek A et al (2003) Structure of Viscotoxin A3: Disulphide location from weak sad data. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 59:2125–2132

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deeni YY, Sadiq NM (2002) Antimicrobial properties and phytochemical constituents of leaves of African mistletoe (Tapinanthus dodoneifolius (DC) Danser) (Loranthaceae): an ethnomedicinal plant of Hausaland, Northern Nigeria. J Ethnopharmacol 83(3):235–240

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Delebinski CI, Jaeger S, Kemnitz-Hassanin K et al (2012) A new development of triterpene acid-containing extracts from Viscum album L. displays synergistic induction of apoptosis in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Cell Prolif 45:176–187

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Dorka R, Miersch O, Hause B et al (2009) Viscum Album L. In: Scheer R, Alban S, Becker H, Holzgrabe U, Kemper F, Kreis W, Matthes H, Schilcher H (eds) (Hrsg). Die Mistle In Der Tumortherapie Akttueller stand der forshung and klinische anwendung essan. KCV Verlag, Essen, pp 49–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubios M (2011) Bioactive saponins with cancer related and immunomodulatory activity. In: Atta-ur-Rahaman (ed) Handbook of studies in natural products chemistry: bioactive natural products, vol 32. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 209–230

    Google Scholar 

  • Edlund U, Hensel A, Frose D et al (2000) Polysaccharides from fresh Viscum album L. Berry extract and their interaction with Viscum album agglutinin I. Arzneimittelforschung 50:645–651

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eggenschwiler J, Von Balthazar I, Stritt B et al (2007) Mistletoe Lectin is not the only cytotoxic component in fermented preparations of Viscum Album from white fir (Abies pectinata). BMC Complement Altern Med 7:14

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenbraun J, Scheer R, Kröz M et al (2011) Quality of life in breast cancer patients during chemotherapy and concurrent therapy with a mistletoe extract. Phytomedicine 18:151–157

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elluru S, Duong JP, Van H et al (2006) Molecular mechanisms underlying the Immunomodulatory effects of mistletoe (Viscum Album L.) extracts Iscador. Arzneimittelforschung 56:461–466

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eno AE, Ibokette UE, Ofem OE et al (2004) The effects of a Nigerian specie of Viscum album (Mistletoe) leaf extract on the blood pressure of normotensive and Doca-induced hypertensive rats. Niger J Physiol Sci 19(1–2):33–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Eustachi A, Pajtler H, Linde K (2009) Patients of an interdisciplinary Cancer treatment center: use of, knowledge about, and demand for CAM treatment options. Integr Cancer Ther 8:56–62

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fidan I, Ozkan S, Gurbuz I et al (2008) The efficiency of Viscum album Ssp. album an Hypericum Perforatum on human immune cells in vitro. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol l30:519–528

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Franz H (1986) Mistletoe lectins and their a and B chains. Oncologia 43:23–34

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frazer JG (ed) (1920) The Golden bough, vol 3E. Macmillan, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Gairola S, Sharma J, Bedi YS (2014) A cross-cultural analysis of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh (India) medicinal plant use. J Ethnopharmacol 155(2):925–986

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ganguly C, Das S (1994) Plant lectins as inhibitors of tumour growth and modulators of host immune response. Chemotherapy 40:272–278

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Graf E (1992) Antioxidant potential of ferulic acid. Free Radical Biol Med 13(4):435–448

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gray AM, Flatt PR (1999) Insulin-secreting activity of the traditional antidiabetic plant Viscum album (mistletoe). J Endocrinol 160(3):409–414

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grossarth MR, Ziegler R (2007) Prospective controlled cohort studies on long-term therapy of ovarian cancer patients with mistletoe (Viscum album L.) extracts iscador. Arzneimittelforschung 57(10):665–678

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta G, Kazmi I, Afzal M et al (2012) Sedative, antiepileptic and antipsychotic effects of Viscum album L. (Loranthaceae) in mice and rats. J Ethnopharmacol 141(3):810–816

    Google Scholar 

  • Guzmán-Rodríguez JJ, Ochoa-Zarzosa A, López-Gómez R et al (2015) Plant antimicrobial peptides as potential anticancer agents. Biomed Res Int 11:735087

    Google Scholar 

  • Haas K, Bauer MEW (2003) Cuticular waxes and flavonol aglycones of mistletoes. Z Naturforsch C J Biosci 58:464–470

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hajto T, Fodor K, Perjesi P et al (2011) Difficulties and perspectives of immunomodulatory therapy with mistletoe lectins and standardized mistletoe extracts in evidence-based medicine. Evid Based Complement Altern Med 6:298972. Hindawi Publishing Corporation

    Google Scholar 

  • Harikrishnan R, Balasundaram C, Heo MS (2011) Korean mistletoe enriched diet enhances innate immune response in kelp grouper, Epinephelus Brineus against Philasterides Dicentrarchi. Vet Parasitol 183:146–151

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harmsma M, Gromme M, Ummelen M et al (2004) Differential effects of Viscum album extract IscadorQu on cell cycle progression and apoptosis in cancer cells. Int J Oncol 25:1521–1529

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heiny BM, Beuth J (1994) Mistletoe extract standardized for the galactoside- specific lectin (ML-1) Induces beta endorphin release and immunopotentiation in breast cancer patients. Anticancer Res 14(3B):1339–1342

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ibatomi DK, Bikomo EO, Temple VJ (1994) Antidiabetic properties of the African mistletoe in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol 43(1):13–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ihegboro GO, Ebuehi OA (2012) Phytochemical investigation and the effects of aqueous plant extracts of Viscum Album on antioxidant property and biochemical profile as a measure of its therapeutic value. Inter J Sci Res (IJSR) 3(8):1192–1195

    Google Scholar 

  • Jagers TH, Kopp T et al (2009) Pentacyclic triterpenes distribution in various plants- rich sources for new group of multipotent plant extracts. Molecules 14:2016–2031

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jolanta N, Przemysław O (2016) Phytochemical profile and therapeutic potential of Viscum album L. Nat Prod Res 30(4):373–385

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jurin M, Zarkovic N, Hrzenjak M et al (1993) Immunomodulatory effects of the Viscum albumL. preparation Isorel. Oncologia 50:393–398

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kapahi BK, Srivastava TN, Sarin YK (1993) Traditional medicinal plants of Gurez (Kashmir) – an ethnobotanical study. Anc Sci Life XIII(1–2):119–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz AM (1985) Effects of digitalis on cell biochemistry: sodium pump inhibition. J Am Coll Cardiol l5:16A–21A

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan ZS, Khuroo AA, Dar GH (2004) Ethnomedicinal survey of Uri, Kashmir Himalaya. Ind J Trad Know 3(4):351–357

    Google Scholar 

  • Kienle GS, Berrino F, Bussing A et al (2003) Mistletoe in cancer a systematic review on controlled clinical trials. Eur J Med Res 8:109–119

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kienle GS, Grugel R, Kiene H (2011) Safety of higher dosages of Viscum album L. in animals and humans—systematic review of immune changes and safety parameters. BMC Complement Altern Med 11:72

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kirsch A (2007) Successful treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma with Viscum album extract (Iscador® M). J Altern Complement Med 13:443–445

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kunz C, Heiligtag H, Hitze A et al (2013) Topische Behandling des Basalzelkaszinomas mit viscum album, lipophiler extract 10% unguentum-Eine Fallserie studie. In: Sheer R, Kreis W, Mathes H, Schilcher H, Stange R (eds) Die Mistle in de tumortherapic 3 Akttueller stand der forshung and klinische anwendung essan. KCV verlag, Essen, pp 315–322

    Google Scholar 

  • Kusi M, Shrestha K, Malla R (2015) Study on phytochemical, antibacterial, antioxidant and toxicity profile of Viscum album Linn associated with Acacia catechu. Nepal J Biotechnol 3(1):60–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuttan G, Vasudevan DM, Kuttan R (1990) Effect of a preparation from Viscum album on tumordevelopment in vitro and in mice. J Ethnopharmacol 29(1):35–41

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laengler A, Spix C, Seifert G, Gottschling S et al (2008) Complementary and alternative treatment methods in children with cancer: a population-based retrospective survey on the prevalence of use in Germany. Eur J Cancer 44:2233–2240

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Larsson S (2004) Mistletoes and thionins as selection models in natural products drug discovery. In: Digital comprehensive summaries of Uppsala dissertations from the faculty of pharmacy, vol 49. Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, Uppsala, p 65

    Google Scholar 

  • Loeper ME (1999) Mistletoe (Viscum album L.). Longwood Herbal Task Force

    Google Scholar 

  • Luczkiewicz M, Cisowski W, Kaiser P et al (2001) Comparative analysis of phenolic acids in mistletoe plants from various hosts. Acta Pol Pharm 58(5):373–379

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lyu SY, Park WB (2007) Effects of Korean mistletoe Lectin (Viscum Album Coloratum) on proliferation and cytokine expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and T- lymphocytes. Arch Pharm Res 30:1252–1264

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mac Keon S, Ruiz MS, Gazzaniga S et al (2015) Dendritic cell based vaccination in cancer: therapeutic implications emerging from murine models. Front Immunol 6:243

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Maddur MS, Sharma M, Hegde P et al (2014) Human B cells induce dendritic cell maturation and favour Th2 polarization by inducing Ox-40 ligand. Nat Commun 5:4092

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maddur MS, Trinath J, Rabin M et al (2015) Intravenous immunoglobulin-mediated expansion of regulatory T cells in autoimmune patients is associated with increased prostaglandin E2 levels in the circulation. Cell Mol Immunol 12:650–652

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marvibaigi M, Supriyanto E, Amini N et al (2014) Preclinical and clinical effects of mistletoe against breast cancer. Biomed Res Int 15:785479

    Google Scholar 

  • Materska M (2008) Quercetin and its derivatives-a review. Polish J Food Nutr Sci 58(4):407–413

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohammad ES, Mahdi P, Ali-Akbar M et al (2011) Antihyperglycemic and antioxidant activity of Viscum album extract. Afr J Pharm Pharmacol 5(3):432–436

    Google Scholar 

  • Molassiotis A, Fernadez OP, Pud D et al (2005) Use of complementary and alternative medicine in cancer patients: a European survey. Ann Oncol 16:655–663

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muhammad AH, Muhammad QK, Nazar H et al (2011) Antibacterial and antifungal potential of leaves and twigs of Viscum album L. J Med Plants Res 5(23):5545–5549

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakanishi M, Rosenberg DW (2013) Multifaceted roles of PGE2 in inflammation and cancer. Semin Immunopathol 35:123–137

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nepal DMP (1970) Medicinal plants of Nepal, His Majesty’s Government of Nepal, Ministry of Forest, Department of Plant Resources, Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal, p 86

    Google Scholar 

  • Obatomi DK, Bikomo EO, Temple VJ (1994) Antidiabetic properties of African mistletoe in streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol 43:13–17

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Okuda T, Yoshida T, Hatano T (1992) Antioxidant effects of tannins and related polyphenols, in phenolic compounds in food and their effects on health II. In: Ho CT, Lee CY, Huang MT (eds) Antioxidants and cancer prevention. American Chemical Society, Washington DC, pp 87–97

    Google Scholar 

  • ÖnayUçar E, Karagöz A, Arda N (2006) Antioxidant activity of Viscum album ssp. album. Fitoterapia 77(7–8):556–560

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orhan DD, Calis I and Ergun F (2002) Two new flavonoid glycosides from Viscum album ssp. album. Pharm Biol 40(5):380–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Osadebe PO, Uzochukwu IC (2006) Chromatographic and anti-motility studies on extracts of Loranthus micranthus Linn. J Pharm Allied Sci 3(1):263–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters G (1957) Review of insulin substitutes from vegetable sources. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 82:320–322

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pietrzak W, Nowak R, Pziki UG (2017) LC-ESI-MS/MS identification of biologically active phenolic compounds in mistletoe berry extracts from different host trees. Mol 22:624

    Google Scholar 

  • Poojary B, Belagali SL (2005) Synthesis, characterisation and biological evaluation of cyclic peptides: Viscumamide, yunnanin a and evolidine. Zeitschrift fur naturforschung section. J Chem Sci 60(12):1313–1320

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramm H (2006) Einfluss bodenchemischer standortfaktoren auf waschtum & pharmazeutische qualitatvon eichenmisteln (Viscum album auf Quercus robur & petrala). Landbaufar chung volkenrode, sonderheft, p 301

    Google Scholar 

  • Rather MA, Baba SA (2015) Traditional use of medicinal plants in Kashmir: a review. Res Rev J Biol 3(4):26–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Rice-Evans CA, Miller NJ, Paganga G (1996) Structure-antioxidant activity relationships of flavonoids and phenolic acids. Free Radical Biol Med 20:933–956

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosa LS, Silva NJA, Soares NCP (2016) Anticancer properties of phenolic acids in colon cancer a review. J Nutr Food Sci 6(2):1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Saha C, Hegde P, Friboulet A et al (2015) Viscum Album mediated Cox-2 inhibition implicates destabilization of COX-2 mRNA. PLoS One 10(2):e0114965

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Shah SS, Rehman UY, Iqbal A et al (2017) Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activities of stem, leaves and fruit extracts of Viscum album L. J Pure Appl Microbiol 11(3):1337–1349

    Google Scholar 

  • Samuelsson G (1959) Phytochemical and pharmacological studies on Viscum Album L. isolation of a hypotensive substance : gamma Aminobutyric acid. Sven Farm Tidskr 63:545–553

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Segneanu AE, Grozescu I, Cziple F et al (2015) Helleborus purpurascens—amino acid and peptide analysis linked to the chemical and antiproliferative properties of the extracted compounds. Molecules 20:22170–22187

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Seifert G, Jesse P, Laengler A et al (2008) Molecular mechanisms of mistletoe plant extract-induced apoptosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in vivo and in vitro. Cancer Lett 264:218–228

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sengul M, Yildiz H, Gungor N et al (2009) Total phenolic content, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of some medicinal plants. Pak J Pharm Sci 22(1):102–106

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steinman RM, Banchereau J (2007) Taking dendritic cells into medicine. Nature 449:419–426

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Suheel A, Nazim HM, Sheikh MS (2018) White-berry mistletoe (Viscum album L.): a Hemiparasitic plant: occurrence and ethnobotanical use in Kashmir. J Pharmacogn Phytochem 7(1):1831–1833

    Google Scholar 

  • Tabiasco J, Pont F, Fournie JJ et al (2002) Mistletoe viscotoxins increase natural killer cell-mediatedcytotoxicity. Eur J Biochem 269:2591–2600

    Google Scholar 

  • Taiga A (2013) Quantitative phytochemical properties of mistletoe (Viscum album) from five different plants. Res J Agric Environ Mange 2(6):150–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Thies A, Dautel P, Meyer A et al (2008) Low-dose mistletoe Lectin-I reduces melanoma growth and spread in a Scid mouse Xenograft model. Br J Cancer 98:106–112

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trifunschi SI, Munteanu MF et al (2016) Comparative study of the antioxidant activity of garlic and mistletoe extracts. Rev Chem 67(3):460–462

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trinath J, Hegde P, Sharma M et al (2013) Intravenous immunoglobulins expands regulatory Tcells via induction of Cyclooxygenase-2-Dependant prostaglandin E2 in human dendritic cells. Blood 122:1419–1427

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turquet C, Salle G (1996) Characteristics of chloroplasts isolated from two mistletoes originating from temperate (Viscum album) and tropical (Tapinanthus dodeneifolius) areas. Plan Physiol Biochem 34:283–292

    Google Scholar 

  • Twardziok M (2015) Mechanism of action of Viscum album L. extracts in Ewing sarcoma. PhD thesis, Freie Universität Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Umoh UF, Ekpo BA, Bala DN et al (2011) Phytochemical and comparative antidiabetic studies of leaf extracts of Viscum album from different plant hosts. Int J Biol Chem 5(4):1448–1454

    Google Scholar 

  • Umucahlar HD, Gulsen N, Coskun B et al (2007) Nutrient composition of mistletoe (Viscum album) and its nutritive value for ruminant animals. Agrofor Syst 71:77–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uwemedimo F, Umoh BA et al (2011) Phytochemical and comparative antidiabetic studies of leaf extracts of Viscum album from different plant hosts. Int J Biol Chem Sci 5(4):1448–1454

    Google Scholar 

  • Valentiner U, Pfuller U, Baum C (2002) The cytotoxic effect of mistletoe lectins I, II and III on sensitive and multidrug resistant human colon cancer cell lines in vitro. Toxicology 171(2–3):187–199

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vicas S, Prokisch J, Rugina D et al (2009) Hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant activities of mistletoe (Viscum album) as determined by FRAP method. Not Bot Hort Agrobot Cluj 32(2):112–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Vicas SI, Rugina D, Socaciu C (2012) Antioxidant activity of European mistletoe (Viscum album). In: Rao V (ed) Phytochemicals as Nutraceuticals-global approaches to their Rolein nutrition and health. InTech, Croatia, pp 115–134. ISBN 978-953-51-02038

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh KP, Mills KH (2013) Dendritic cells and other innate determinants of T helper cell polarisation. Trends Immunol 34:521–530

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Winterfield K, Kronenthaler A (1942) Zur Chemie Des Blutdruksenkenden Bestandteiles Der Mistel Viscum Album III Mittelung. Arch Pharm 280:103–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zarkovic N, Zarkovic K, Grainca S et al (1997) The Viscum Album preparation Isorel inhibits the growth of melanoma. Anticancer Drugs 8(1):17–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zarkovic N, Vukovic T, Loncaric I et al (2001) An overview on anticancer activities of the Viscum album extract Isorel. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 16:55–62

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuber DK (2008) Biology and evolution for the European mistletoe (Viscum album). PhD thesis, Switzerland: Zurich Univ

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioresources, School of Biological Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India

    Mahak Majeed & Reiaz Ul Rehman

Authors
  1. Mahak Majeed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Reiaz Ul Rehman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India

    Tariq Aftab

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Khalid Rehman Hakeem

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Majeed, M., Rehman, R.U. (2021). Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicity of an Epiphytic Medicinal Shrub Viscum album L. (White Berry Mistletoe). In: Aftab, T., Hakeem, K.R. (eds) Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58975-2_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation