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. coloratum agglutinin, VCA) on proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatoma cells as well as the underlying mechamisms for the...

BACKGROUND The hydrophobic triterpenes, oleanolic and betulinic acid as well as the hydrophilic mistletoe lectins and viscotoxins possess anticancer properties. They do all occur in combination in European mistletoe (Viscum album L.). Commercial Viscum album L. extracts are aqueous, excluding the insoluble triterpenes. We have previously shown that mistletoe lectins and triterpene acids are eff...

[4] Bock PR, Friedel WE, Hanisch J, Karasmann M, Schneider B: Efficacy and safety of long-term complementary treatment with standardized European mistletoe extract (Viscum album L.) in addition to the conventional adjuvant oncologic therapy in patients with primary nonmetastasized mammary carcinoma. Results of a multi-center, comparative, epidemiological cohort study in Germany and Switzerland....

In the present study we investigated the seasonal pattern of activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) catalase (CAT) ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (POD) and syringaldazine peroxidase (SPOD) as well as the total protein concentration in the European mistletoe (Viscum album L. subsp. album). We studied mistletoe leaves that grew on the selected tree spe...

PURPOSE Mistletoe extracts are often used in complementary cancer therapy although the efficacy of that therapy is controversially discussed. Approved mistletoe extracts contain mainly water soluble compounds of the mistletoe plant, i.e. mistletoe lectins. However, mistletoe also contains water-insoluble triterpenoids (mainly oleanolic acid) that have anti-tumorigenic effects. To overcome their...

Abstract Mistletoe ( Viscum album L.) is used in German-speaking European countries the field of integrative oncology linking conventional and complementary medicine therapies to improve quality life. Various companies sell extracts, fermented or not, for injection by subcutaneous intra-tumoral route with a regulatory status anthroposophic medicinal products (European Medicinal Agency (EMA) ass...

BACKGROUND Osteosarcoma is the most common bone tumor and is associated with a poor prognosis. Conventional therapies, surgery and chemotherapy, are still the standard but soon reach their limits. New therapeutic approaches are therefore needed. Conventional aqueous mistletoe extracts from the European mistletoe (Viscum album L.) are used in complementary cancer treatment. These commercial extr...

Anthroposophic medicine includes special medications and special artistic and physical therapies. More than 200 clinical studies of varying design and quality have been conducted on anthroposophic treatment. Half of these studies concern anthroposophic mistletoe therapy for cancer. Clinical effects of mistletoe products include improvement of quality of life, reduction of side effects from chem...