• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.324-330
• /
• 2015

In this study, the anti-diabetic activity of a cold water extract of Korean mistletoe (KME) was investigated in C57BL/6J Lep ob (ob/ob) mice. Oral administration of KME (50 or 100 mg/kg/d) significantly inhibited the level of blood glucose of ob/ob mice after 5 days from the beginning of KME treatment. And the anti-diabetic effect of KME was stabilized 10 days after oral administration, showing a substantial reduction of blood glucose levels by more than 20% as compared with control mice. The results of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) revealed that oral administration of KME gave rise to a remarkable improvement in overall glucose response. Oral administration of KME in ob/ob diabetic mice also significantly reduced blood total cholesterol (TCHO) and triglyceride (TG) levels compared with the diabetic control mice. Moreover, in an in vitro experiment using C2C12 myotubes, treatment of KME prominently increased glucose uptake. Interestingly, KME significantly increased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-${\alpha}$ ($PGC-1{\alpha}$), a head regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative metabolism, and $PGC-1{\alpha}$-associated genes such as glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4), estrogen-related receptor-${\alpha}$ ($ERR-{\alpha}$), nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1), and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TmfA) in C2C12 cells. These results suggest that KME has potential as a novel therapeutic agent for diabetes, and its anti-diabetic activity may be related to the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.838-847
• /
• 1999

Based on the results that the extract of Korean mistletoe (KM-110) has immunological and anti-tumor activities and its main component is lectin called KML-U, this study was carried out to investigate the immunostimulatory and anti-tumor activities of FKM-110, fermented KM-110 with lactobacillus, as a basic study for the development of functional food with anti-tumor activity. The amount of lectin after fermentation determined by ELISA was varied with the fermentation time and kinds of lactobacillus. Cytotoxic effects of FKM-110 on the various tumor cells was significant and dependent on the concentration of KML-U and the kinds of lactobacillus. FKM-110 stimulated macrophage and resulted in the secretion of some cytokines such as IL-1 and $IFN-{\gamma}$, but this effect was not correlated with the concentration of lectin. FKM-110 fermented with Marshall Lactobacillus casei showed the most potent antitumor activity in experimental and spontaneous metastasis models. When yoghurt produced with KM-110, Marshall Lactobacillus casei and skim milk was administered orally to mouse, the metastasis of tumor cells was significantly inhibited.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.383-390
• /
• 2013

Mistlero C was shown to be non-genotoxic in a series of genotoxicity tests, including a bacterial reverse mutation test and a combined in vivo mammalian erythrocyte micronucleus test. In a bacterial reverse mutation assay, no significant increases in the number of revertant colonies, compared to the negative control, was detected in $5,000{\mu}g/plate$ of Mistlero C. In addition, with Mistlero C, no changes were shown in the number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) among 2,000 polychromatic erythrocytes compared to the negative control. Mistlero C was administered orally in rats to investigate acute toxicity. The $LD_{50}$ values in rats were above 2,000 mg/kg. In a repeated dose, 13-week, oral toxicity study conducted in rats, no compound-related adverse effects were shown at doses of Mistlero C of up to 1,000 mg/kg body weight/day. The results of these studies support the safe use of Mistlero C in food for human consumption.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.613-619
• /
• 2014

For the development of a hangover soup containing blue mussel, 11 kinds of hot water extracts were prepared - A (mistletoe); B (shepherd's purse); C (arrowroot); D (bean sprout); E (oriental raisin); F (blue mussel); G (blue mussel and mistletoe); H (blue mussel and shepherd's purse); I (blue mussel and arrowroot); J (blue mussel and bean sprout); and K (blue mussel and oriental raisin). Extract C showed the highest effect for increasing the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH); however, the addition of blue mussel did not provide a synergy effect on extract C. Other than the arrowroot-containing extracts (C and I), extract H showed relatively higher ADH ($237.4{\pm}1.7%$) and ALDH ($136.5{\pm}2.1%$) activities. Moreover, extract H showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity ($93.9{\pm}0.1%$) and angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity ($42.7{\pm}1.6%$). The combination of blue mussel with shepherd's purse had a synergic effect on its ADH and ACE inhibitory activities.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.171-176
• /
• 2018

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) tends to grow more rapidly and spread much faster than non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A concurrent combination of chemotherapy and thoracic radiotherapy is suggested as the standard conventional treatment, but it is more challenging for elderly patients having pulmonary and cardiovascular comorbidities. Case presentation: Here we present a case of an 80-year-old male, current smoker diagnosed with SCLC in limited stage T3N0M0 (36mm right upper lobe, satellite nodule) in Dec, 2015. The standard concurrent chemoradiotherapy was not available for his comorbidities, which included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and angina pectoris. Furthermore, he and his family refused the recommended chemotherapy or radiotherapy exclusively. Alternatively, he received various non-conventional treatments including local radiofrequency hyperthermia, mistletoe, and Traditional Korean medicine including acupuncture, moxibustion and herbs since Jan. 2016. Despite the progression in primary tumor size, there have been no other distant relapse so far, and the patient has been in stable condition ever since. Conclusion: We suggest that a combination of various alternative treatments could be a candidate for elderly patients intolerable to conventional cytotoxic treatments.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 1997

한국산 동백나무겨우살이(Pseudixus japonicus Hayata)에 존재하는 수용성 리그닌-탄수화물 복합체를 구성하는 다당류의 구조를 밝히고 리그닌 성분과 다당류의 결합양식을 구명하고자, 냉 온수 추출한 수용성 리그닌-탄수화물 복합체(M-LCC-WE)를 DEAE Sephadex A-50로 중성분획(M-LCC-N)과 산성분획(M-LCC-A), 나머지분획(M-LCC-R)으로 세분화한 후 M-LCC-N과 M-LCC-A에 대하여 메틸화, 아세틸화, 그리고 DDQ 산화반응을 실시하였다. M-LCC-N을 구성하는 다당류는 ($1{\rightarrow}4$) 글리코시드결합의 arabinan과 ($1{\rightarrow}4$)나 ($1{\rightarrow}6$) 글리코시드결합의 galactan과 glucan으로 M-LCC-A의 다당류는 ($1{\rightarrow}4$) 글리코시드결합의 arabinan과 ($1{\rightarrow}6$) 글리코시드결합의 galactan이 다당류 주성분으로 밝혀졌으며 galacturonic acid가 결합되어 있기 때문에 산성적 성질을 나타내고 있었다. 또한 M-LCC-A에서는 galacturonic acid 의 carboxyl 그룹이 리그닌의 ${\alpha}$-와 ${\gamma}$-위치에서 ester결합이 존재함이 확인되었다.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.289-295
• /
• 2011

The SpoU family of proteins catalyzes the methylation of transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs). We characterized a putative tRNA/rRNA methyltransferase, VaSpoU1 of the SpoU family, from Viscum album (mistletoe). VaSpoU1 and other plant SpoU1s exhibit motifs of the SpoU methylase domain that are conserved with bacterial and yeast SpoU methyltransferases. VaSpoU1 transcripts were detected in the leaves and stems of V. album. VaSpoU1-GFP fusion proteins localized to both chloroplasts and mitochondria in Arabidopsis protoplasts. Sequence analysis similarly predicted that the plant SpoU1 proteins would localize to chloroplasts and mitochondria. Interestingly, mitochondrial localization of VaSpoU1 was inhibited by the deletion of a putative N-terminal presequence in Arabidopsis protoplasts. Therefore, VaSpoU1 may be involved in tRNA and/or rRNA methylation in both chloroplasts and mitochondria.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.62 no.2
• /
• pp.111-122
• /
• 2019

The mulberry tree (Morus alba L.) has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory diseases. We investigated the effects of bioconversion on different components of the mulberry tree, and determined changes in the physiological activities. Ethyl acetate-soluble fractions of five different segments (fruit, Mori Fructus; leaf, Mori Folium; twig, Mori Ramulus; root, Mori Cortex; and mistletoe, Loranthi Ramulus) of the mulberry tree show enhanced anti-oxidant effects in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylvenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays, and enhanced anti-inflammatory effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophages, after being treated with a crude enzyme extract from Aspergillus kawachii, in the following order of activity: Mori Folium>Mori Cortex>Mori Ramulus>Mori Fructus>Loranthi Ramulus. Ethyl acetate- soluble fraction of mulberry leaves (Mori Folium) that underwent bioconversion was most effective, and was devoid of any cytotoxicity. The fraction was also effective against mRNA expression of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, $interleukin-1{\beta}$, and interleukin-6. In addition, the fraction was effective in LPS-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and IKK, and $I{\kappa}B$ degradation, followed by translocation of the nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Thus, bioconversion increased the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of the mulberry leaf.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.122-126
• /
• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate plant growth characteristics and anatomical studies of Korean mistel (Viscum album var. coloratum (Kom.) Ohwi). Parasite position was upper part that has a plenty of sunshine area 5 to 10m apart from the ground, regardless host tree. Stem developed two branch stems from the each basal stem, leaf was grown from the end stems as opposite. Fruit has a light yellow color and berry size was 7 to 8 mm long diameter and it contains seed. Floral bud differentiation initiated with forming rounded dome and arch-shaped floral apex at the beginning stage, and produced heart-shaped sepal following the differentiation of leaf primordia. Floral bud formation processed centeral part first and following bilateral sides were developed in order. Leaf was thick and stoma and guard cell were observed from the two or three inner layers from the epidermis. Mistletoe penetrated cork cambium of host plant and was growing by rooting on xylem. Korean mistel connected to host plant through parasitic organ, haustorium structurally and physiologically.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.1 s.69
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2007

Background : There has been renewed interest in complementary alternative medicine around the world far a decade. On the other hand, the issue of safety of herbal medicine in Korea has been continuously questioned. Issues raised have included not only chemical residue or heavy metals caused by pollution, but also the toxicity of herbal medicine itself. Objectives : The purpose of this study was to review some herbal medicines subject to controversy of toxicity and figure out what kind of problems they evidence. Methods : In this review, PubMed was used to search medical journals. Keywords such as 'herb, or herbal medicine', 'safety, or adverse events, or adverse effect, or toxicity, or liver injury' were applied. Journals were selected by four inclusion criteria, as objectives should be human, researchers should be medical doctors, literature written in the English language, and types of journals should be meta-analysis or practice guideline or reviews. Finally, 9 cases from 60 journals were included in this review. Results : We reviewed 13 herbal medicines for controversy of toxicity such as ephedra(Mahuang), Arisolochia fangchi, Aristolochia manshuriensis, licorice, skullcap , germander, Syo-saiko-to(Xiao-chai-hu-tang), Chelidonium majus, mistletoe, Dictamnus dasycarpus and madder. Conclusions : It suggested that 'who it is prescribed for' is one of the most important factors to identify the causes of toxicity in herbal medicine and dietary supplements, under specific conditions in Korea.