Viscum album L. Alcoholic Extract Enhance the Effect of Doxorubicin in Ehrlich Carcinoma Tumor Cells

Viscum album L. is a parasitic plant that grows on various trees, in our days, mistletoe extracts are widely used in addition to the treatment of cancer. The aim of the present study is to asses the efficiency of mistletoe extract in combination therapy with doxorubicin chloride, a widely used chemotherapeutic agent. The Viscum album (plant raised from the apple tree) was harvested from Cluj area, then dried and grounded to a fine powder. The tincture was prepared according to European Pharmacopoeias. Unexpectedly, in tumor bearing mice, mistletoe extract therapy does not provide the up regulation of the inflammatory cells; moreover even in healthy animals, the association between Viscum album and doxorubicin was responsible for the significant leucopenia, mainly because of the reduction of granulocytes synthesis. On the other hand, in doxorubicin combinative therapy, Viscum album alcoholic extract seems to enhance the anti proliferative effect against experimental inoculated cancer cells, while no cytotoxicity was seen.