• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.246-252
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• 2011

Korean mistletoe Lectin (KML-C) is composed of A and B sub-chain. B chain binds to carbohydrates on cell surface and A chain hinders translation and induces an apoptosis as a RIP (ribosome inactivating protein). KML-C has very strong biological activities, it has seriously limits to use as a cancer therapy or adjuvant because of its toxicity to normal cells. This study is therefore conducted to see if B chain of KML-C might have immunological activity, especially adjuvant activities with less toxicity. We isolated B chain from KML-C using the lactose affinity chromatography, and examined their immunoadjuvant activity. The isolated B-chain did not show any cytotoxicity against tumor cell, RAW264.7, and P388D1 while KML-C had a very strong toxicity. This non-toxic effect was observed also by in-vivo study. Both humoral and cellular immunities were observed ; the antibody titer was increased when the mice were immunized with B-chain used as adjuvant like Freund's adjuvant, indicating that B chain of mistletoe lectin alone might be used for adjuvant; it also increased DTH in cellular immunity. These results suggest that B-chain of KML-C might be used for adjuvant used for the production of antibody or vaccine with less toxicity.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.68-76
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• 2004

Mistletoe lectin has been reported to induce apoptosis in different cancer cell lines in vitro and to show antitumor activity against a variety of tumors in animal models. We previously demonstrated the Korean mistletoe lectin (Viscum album var. coloratum, VCA)-induced apoptosis by down-regulation of Bcl-2 and telomerase activity and by up-regulation of Bax through p53- and p21-independent pathway in hepatoma cells. In the present study, we observed the induction of apoptotic cell death through activation of caspase-3 and the inhibition of telomerase activity through transcriptional down-regulation of hTERT in the VCA-treated A253 cells. We also observed the inhibition of telomerase activity and induction of apoptosis resulted from dephosphorylation of Akt in the survival signaling pathways. In addition, combining VCA with the inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) upstream of Akt, wortmannin and LY294002 showed an additive inhibitory effect of telomerase activity. In contrast, the inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), okadaic acid inhibited VCA-induced dephosphorylation of Akt and inhibition of telomerase activity. Taken together, VCA induces apoptotic cell death through Akt signaling pathway in correlated with the inhibition of telomerase activity and the activation of caspase-3. From these results, together with our previous studies, we suggest that VCA triggers molecular changes that resulting in the inhibition of cell growth and the induction of apoptotic cell death of cancer cells, which suggest that VCA may be useful as chemotherapeutic agent for cancer cells.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.295-302
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• 2022

In this study, we investigated the anti-oxidant, anti-aging, and skin whitening effects of Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum). The mistletoe fraction was composed of four types: hexane (HX), ethyl acetate (EA), butanol (BU), and methylene chloride (MC). In total phenol content assay, HX showed the highest phenol content among four fractions. In addition, EA significantly increased 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and catalase-like activities, and MC significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity. When we compared IC₅₀ value in the hyaluronidase and elastase inhibition assay, MC had the lowest IC₅₀. In addition, we also performed tyrosinase inhibition assay to demonstrate the possibility of Korean mistletoe as a cosmetic component. HX showed the highest tyrosinase inhibition rate among the fractions.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.174-185
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report the improvement of recurrent cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and chief complaint including dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome after Korean medicine treatment. Methods: The patient who diagnosed CIN even after undergoing two times of loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) and complained dysmenorrhea with premenstrual syndrome was treated by acupuncture, moxibustion and herbal medicine as Ojeok-san-gami-bang along with mistletoe extract injection (Abnobaviscum^®). The effect of treatment was evaluated by the results of liquid based cytology and HPV genotyping. Other symptoms were evaluated according to the patient's subjective complaint. Results: Before the treatment, the result of cytology was low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and a low-risk group for HPV was detected. At the first examination after treatment, cytology showed negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy and the HPV genotyping was negative. The result showed negative findings in 3 consecutive follow-up tests. In addition, the chief complaint and general conditions were improved. Conclusion: This study shows that the recurrent cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) was improved after the Korean traditional treatment and it can be effective medical alternatives or options for patients receiving mistletoe injection during follow-up.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1594-1600
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• 2004

Effects of mistletoe (Viscum album) extract and pueraria (Pueraria radix) extract on cellular NF-$textsc{k}$B activity were evaluated in human malignant keratinocytes (SCC-13) to elucidate the possible correlation of NF-$textsc{k}$B with antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activities of these natural extracts were examined in four different evaluation methods, i.e., lipid peroxidation value (POV) evaluation test, I,l-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO) scavenging test, and reducing power assay. Pueraria extract (0.5 mg) and mistletoe extract (5 mg) downregulated the cellular NF-$textsc{k}$B activation up to 35% and 10% compared to the control, respectively, although their effects were lower than the known NF-$textsc{k}$B downregulator, vitamin C (8.8 mg, 53%) in a cell-based NF-$textsc{k}$B activity assay system. In the POV test, relative antioxidant activities of mistletoe extract (86%) and pueraria extract (75%) were significantly higher than the known antioxidant, vitamin C (48%) at the same concentration (10 mg) and the degree of activity increased in a dose-dependent manner. Pueraria extract showed more potential radical scavenging activities than those of mistletoe extract evaluated in both DPPH and NO test. Especially, the NO radical scavenging activity of pueraria extract ($SC_{50}$/, 88 $\mu$g) was comparable to that of vitamin C ($SC_{50}$/, 77 $\mu$g). Even pueraria extract possessed a much less reducing power compared to vitamin C, it also revealed higher reducing power than that of mistletoe extract. These results indicate that mistletoe extract and pueraria extract may serve as an useful natural antioxidant agents, and led to suggest the hypothesis that compounds having an antioxidant activity, i.e., radical scavenging activity or reducing power may be correlated with the downregulation of NF-$textsc{k}$B activation in human keratinocytes.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.72-76
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• 2011

The adjuvant effects of Korean mistletoe lectin-C (KML-C) were investigated following the oral administration of KML-C with ovalbumin (OVA) as an antigen. Mice were orally immunized with OVA alone or admixed with various doses of KML-C or cholera toxin (CT), and the titer of OVA-specific antibody in the serum and mucosal secretions were determined. OVA+KML-C-treated mice showed high titers of IgA specific to CT in mucosal secretions. The antibody titers in the serum of OVA+KML-C-treated mice were comparable to those in the serum of OVA+CT-treated mice. When mice were immunized with OVA+KML-C or with CT alone and subsequently injected with OVA on the footpads after the primary immunization, they showed a more significant increase in delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions than when they were administered CT alone. These results suggest that KML-C is a potent immunoadjuvant that enhances both humoral and cellular immunity by the mucosal immune system.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.840-844
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• 2004

A triterpene was isolated as a cytotoxic principle from the dichloromethane extract of Korean mistletoe (KM； Viscum album colora turn) by repeated silica gel chromatography and recrystalli-zation. In in vitro analysis of cytotoxic activity using various human and murine tumor cell lines, the dichloromethane extract of KM was highly cytotoxic against these cells. We isolated the most active compound, referred to VD-3, from the dichloromethane extract of KM. The VD-3 was shown to be less cytotoxic to normal cells (murine splenocytes). From the identification of the chemical structure of VD-3 by spectral data and chemical synthesis, the compound was proven to be epi-oleanolic acid. Tumor cells treated with VD-3 showed a typical pattern of apo-ptotic cell death, such as apparent morphological changes and DNA fragmentation. These results indicate that epi-oleanolic acid is an important compound responsible for antitumor activity of KM.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.429-435
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• 1998

Lectins and its A- and B-chains from Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum) were isolated by affinity chromatography on the Sepharose 4B modified by lactose-BSA conjugate synthesized by reductive amination of ligand (lactose) to .epsilon.-amino groups of lysine residues of spacer (BSA) after reduction by $NaCNBH_3$. The lactose-BSA conjugate was coupled to Sepharose 4B activated by cyanogen bromide. The molecular weight determined by SDS-PAGE were a 31 kD of A-chain and a 35kD of B-chain. Amino acid analysis and N-terminal sequencing were performed. The effects of pH, temperature and guanidine chloride on the conformation of the lectin were investigated by measuring its intrinsic fluorescence and compared with its hemagglutinating activities. Blue shift was detected on the acidic pH and there was a close relationship between activities and conformation of the lectin. Under denaturing conditions, the tryptophan emission profile of lectin showed typical denaturaiional red shift which also correspond to the conformations and activity of lectin.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.7-18
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• 2015

Objectives: Loranthus ferrugineus (L. ferrugineus) from Loranthaceae, a mistletoe, is a medicinal herb used for a variety of human ailments. Traditionally, decoctions of this parasitic shrub have been mainly used to treat high blood pressure (BP) and gastrointestinal complaints; usage which is supported by experimental based pharmacological investigations. Nonetheless, there is still limited data available evaluating this plant's traditions, and few studies have been scientifically translated toward evidence based phytomedicine. We therefore provide a concise review of the currently available L. ferrugineus literature and discuss potential directions for future areas of investigation. Methods: We surveyed available literature covering ethnopharmacological usage of L. ferrugineus and discussed relevant findings, including important future directions and shortcomings for the medicinal values of this parasitic shrub. Results: Evidence based pharmacological approaches significantly covered the medicinal application of L. ferrugineus for hypertension and gastrointestinal complaint management, with a particular focus on the active hydrophilic extract of this herb. Conclusion: Understanding the sites of action of this plant and its beneficial effects will provide justification for its use in old traditional treatments, and potentially lead to the development of therapies. Other medicinal applicative areas of this parasitic shrub, such as wound healing, gerontological effects, and antiviral and anticancer activities, are yet to be researched.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.158-170
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• 2018

Objectives: The objective of this study is Korean mistletoe lectin (Viscum album coloratum agglutinin, VCA) and bee venom (BV) to experimental prove comparative study of VCA and BV on the anti-cancer effect and mechanisms of action. Methods: In this study, it was examined in a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, Hep G2 cells. Cytotoxic effects of VCA and BV on Hep G2 cells were determined by 3- (4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in vitro. VCA and BV killed Hep G2 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Results: The apoptotic cell death was then confirmed by propidium iodide staining and DNA fragmentation analysis. The mechanisms of action was examined by the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases. Treatment of Hep G2 cells with VCA activated poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) known as a marker of apoptosis, and mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathways including SAPK/JNK, MAPK and p38. BV also activated PARP-1, MAPK, p38 but not JNK. The expression level of anti-apoptotic molecule, Bcl-X, was decreased by VCA treatment but not BV. Finally, the phosphorylation level of ERM proteins involved in the cytoskeleton homeostasis was decreased by both stimuli. Conclusion: We examined the involvement of kinase in VCA or BV - induced apoptosis by using kinase inhibitors. VCA-induced apoptosis was partially inhibited by in the presence.