• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.306-312
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• 1997

We attempted to isolate and characterize the lectins from stem and leaves of Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum) by affinity chromatography. Lectin I was isolated only from stem. Lectin II was not isolated from Korean mistletoe, whereas lectin III was isolated from the stem and leaves. The hemagglutinating activity of lectin I was 16HU and inhibited by D-galactose, lactose, and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine. The lectin I has molecular weight of 60, 000D being composed of two basic subunits with molecular weights of 32, 000D and 28, 000D which are linked by a disufide bond. The lectin III from stem has molecular weight of 66, 000D being two basic subunits which have molecular weights of 34, 000D and 29, 000D and are linked by a disufide bond. The activity of lectin I was stable at the pH range of 4.00-8.50 and at a wide range of temperature (0-42.deg. C). The lectin I showed more potent mitogenic activity to murine lymphocytes than concanavalin A.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.278-285
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• 2003

The serine proteases such as human leukocyte elastase (HLE) and porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) are classified in the chymotrypsin family, and possibly the most destructive enzymes having the ability to degrade virtually all of the connective components in the body. In the present study, the extracts of water and methanol of Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum) inhibited significantly the PPE activity. The fractions eluated on Amberlite XAD-2 from methanol extract were further purified on the repeated $SiO_2$ column chromatography and the fractions A, B and C were eluated. The fractions A, B and C at 3 mg/ml inhibited significantly the PPE activity up to 66%, 95% and 85%, respectively. In conclusion, the fraction A assumed as lignans or phenylpropanes, and fraction B and C assumed as triterpenoids showed the PPE inhibitory effects on the PPE and that these compounds in mistletoe may be used for treatment of pathological processes such as age-dependent tissue loss or inflammation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.662-670
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• 2006

It is well documented that an extract of European mistletoe has a variety of biological effects, such as the stimulation of cytokine production from immune cells, and additional immunoadjuvant activities. While the European mistletoe has been studied intensively, we know less about Korean mistletoe as a therapeutic plant, especially as a possible immunomodulating drug. This study will investigated the effects of Korean mistletoe lectin (Viscum album L. var. coloratum agglutinin, VCA) on murine splenocytes to investigate whether VCA acts as an immunomodulator, which could lead to improved immune responses in these cells. The results showed that VCA inhibited cell proliferation at higher concentrations (at 1-8 ng/ml) and enhanced cell proliferation at lower concentrations (at 4-32 pg/ml). Further studies were carried out to determine if the pro-proliferative or anti-proliferative activity exhibited by VCA was correlated with cytokine secretion. Consequently, interferon (IFN)-$\gamma$ secretion was decreased in concanavalin A (ConA)-stimulated murine splenocytes by VCA (4-64 ng/ml), but there was no change in IL-4 levels. This suggests that VCA has the ability to modulate murine splenocyte proliferation and can possibly act on the balance of Th1/Th2 cellular immune responses.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2005

In the present paper, the immunostimulatory effects of Korean mistletoe (Viscum album Coloratum) on the non-specific immune responses of Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) were examined. Eel were innoculated with mistletoe, Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA), or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as a control into their peritoneal cavities. The number of nitrobule tetrazolium (NBT)-positive cells in the head kidney of fish was significantly increased by the second day post-injection of mistletoe. ROI products were more enhanced in mistletoe-injected fish kidney leucocytes than in FCA-injected ones. The level of lysozyme activity detected in the serum of fish 2 days after injection with mistletoe was also significantly higher than that found in the serum of the control fish. The appropriate concentration of mistletoe to induce the highest level of serum lysozyme activity was revealed to 1000${\mu}g$/200 g of fish. In phagocytic activity assay, mistletoe-sensitized eel kidney phagocytes captured more zymosan than did the control fish. Korean mistletoe appeared to be a good activator of the non-specific immune responses of Japanese eel.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2002

The extract of European mistletoe ( Viscum album, L) has been used in adjuvant chemotherapy of cancer and mistletoe lectins are considered to be major active components. The present work was performed to investigate the effects of Korean mistletoe lectin (Viscum album L. coleratum agglutinin, VCA) on proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatoma cells as well as the underlying mechamisns for these effects. We showed that VCA induced atoptosis in both SK-Hep-1 and Hep 3B (p53-negative) cells through p53- and p21 -independent pathways. VCA induced apoptosis by down-regulation of Bcl-2 and by up-regulation of Bax functioning upstream of caspase-3 in both cell lines. In addition, we observed down-regulation of telomerase activity in both VCA-treated cells. Our results provide direct evidence of the anti-tumor potential of this biological response which comes from inhibition of telomerase and consequent inducing apoptosis. VCA-induced apoptosis is regulated by mitochondria controlled pathway independently of p53. These findings are important for the therapy with preparation of mistletoe because they show that telomerase-dependent mechanism can be targeted by VCA in human hepatocarcinoma. Taken together, our results suggest that the VCA, considered as a telomerase-inhibitor, can be envisaged as a candidate for enhancing sensitivity of conventional anticancer drugs.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.710-717
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• 2015

Humankind has been searching for medicinal materials from various plant sources in an attempt to treat disease. Mistletoe is one indubitable plant source for these materials due to its effectiveness in treating various diseases, but it has almost disappeared from the mountainous areas of Korea due to excessive harvesting. In this study, in order to select host tree species for Korean mistletoe [Viscum album var. coloratum (Kom.) Ohwi] by seed inoculation and to clarify the effect of host specificity among various tree species were conducted for the purpose of gaining basic information for the artificial cultivation of Korean mistletoe. Almost all the seeds of Korean mistletoe germinated in vitro at the temperature of 15℃. Among host trees used in this study, Prunus mume showed the highest parasitic affinity with inoculated Korean mistletoe, compared with any other host plants. However, treatment of hormones could not increase the low survival rate of Korean mistletoe on the host trees.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.3 s.134
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• pp.218-222
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• 2003

The mistletoe lectins are major active components in the extrct of Viscum album var. coloratum. This study was performed to investigate the anti- skin cancer effect of Korean mistletoe extract intensified with mistletoe lectin (KI 2103S). B16F10 melanoma cells were allografted in C57BL/6 mice and F344 rats. The effect of KI 2103S on melanoma was measured by monitoring tumor index. The KI 2103S was injected intra-tumorally and tumor index was decreased in dose dependent manner.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.375-385
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• 2010

An investigation was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing Alisma canaliculatum, Viscum album and Cornus officinalis probiotics on the growth performance and immune response in growing pigs. This experiment was conducted using 120 pigs (crossing of Landrace${\times}$Yorkshire and castrated) which were assigned to 5 treatments in 3 replications with 8 pigs per replications. The dietary treatments were NC group (without antibiotics), PC group (basal+Oxytetracycline 50ppm), AC group (basal+A. canaliculatum 0.5%), VA group (basal+V. album 0.5%) and COP group (basal+C. officinalis probiotics 0.5%). The initial body weights of pigs were 35kg on average and the experiment lasted for 9 weeks. The experimental animals were kept in the pens following a completely randomized design. They were provided the diets adequate for grower stage as recommended by NRC (ME:3,265 kcal/kg and CP:16%). COP fed pigs showed lower weight gain up to 6 weeks of age compared to NC group and other groups without significant differences (P>0.05). The carcass weights of pigs fed VA and COP were significantly higher compared to NC group (P<0.05), Back fat thicknesses groups fed three different additives were higher than NC group and lower then PC group (P<0.05). Crude fat contents in loin meat were significantly lower in groups fed three different additives while moisture contents of those three groups were higher than other groups (P<0.05). The thiobarbituric acid reaction substance (TBARS) value measured at fresh and $2^{nd}$ weeks was lower in additives fed groups but no statistical differences were observed among the treatments (P>0.05). Significantly highest PUFA (16.42g/100g) and ${\omega}$-3 fatty acids (ALA, EPA and DHA) content of meat were observed in COP fed pigs compared to NC group (P>0.05), which might mean that three additives function to enhance serum IgG in pigs. In consequence, it can be suggested that AC, VA and COP may have a potential to replace antibiotics as growth promoter and immune enhancer in the diets for growing pigs.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.268-275
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• 2012

This study was carried out to understand the anatomical characteristics of Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum) and host tree of Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica) by the aid of light and scanning electron microscopy. The branch diameter of host tree at the parasitic part by mistletoe is larger than that of non-parasitic part. In the mistletoe, phloem consists of bast fiber and parenchyma cell and xylem is composed of fiber, ray and axial parenchyma cell, and vascular tracheid. The volume of ray parenchyma cell is higher than common wood species and is heterocellular made up of procumbent, upright, and square cells in the mistletoe. In the vascular tracheid of mistletoe, coarse spiral thickenings and bordered pit are present. Due to the insertion of the mistletoe haustorium, some deformed vessels but no tylosis are observed in the mistletoe. The shapes of mistletoe haustorium are sharp, and the destruction of the host tree cells due to the insertion of the mistletoe haustorium are not identified.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.287-292
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• 2009

Recently, the consumption of mistletoe[Viscum album var. coloratum(Kom.) Ohwi] is increasing because of its good medical effectiveness with the increased concern on the natural medicines and foods. The result obtained from the investigation on the stem tissues of the mistletoe and the oriental chestnut oak, a host plant species, are as follows. Haustorium from the seeds of the mistletoe after their sticking to the branches of the host plant penetrates into the bark where it forms the endophyte system through the active cell division. The endophyte grown in the cambium of the host plant makes the stems and leaves as the outer tissues in a certain time. Even through lignification of the host wood in the branches the oriental chestnut oak was not progressive, its tylosis coas developed partially assembly due to the formation of the endophyte. The stems of the mistletoe consisted of vascular tracheid, selereid, and ray and axial parenchyma, classified as a hardwood without vessels. The vascular tracheids seemed to take a role instead of the vessels in the mistletoe plant from the result that the pits of the vessels in the host branches are linked to the vessel-form tracheid in the mistletoe stems. The constituent ratio of the sclereid cells in the mistletoe stems increased with aging. Furthermore their ratio of the parenchyma cells was higher, which contained the more cell content, compared with the cells of the general woody plant species.