• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.164.1-164.1
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• 2001

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.134-140
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• 2015

The present study aims to investigate the effect of methanol extract of Korean mistletoe (KM; Viscum album var. coloratum), on amyloid $\beta$ protein ($A\beta$) (25-35), a synthetic 25-35 amyloid peptide, -induced neurotoxicity in cultured rat cerebral cortical neurons and memory impairment in mice. Exposure of cultured neurons to $10{\mu}M$ $A\beta$ (25-35) for 24 h induced a neuronal cell death, which was measured by a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and Hoechst 33342 staining. KM (10, 30 and $50{\mu}g/ml$) significantly inhibited the $A\beta$ (25-35)-induced apoptotic neuronal death. KM ($50{\mu}g/ml$) inhibited 10 μM Aβ (25-35)-induced elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i), which was measured by a fluorescent dye, Fluo-4 AM. Glutamate release into medium and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by $10{\mu}M$ $A\beta$ (25-35) were also inhibited by KM (10, 30 and $50{\mu}g/ml$). These results suggest that KM may mitigate the $A\beta$ (25-35)-induced neurotoxicity by interfering with the increase of [Ca²⁺]_i and then inhibiting glutamate release and generation of ROS in cultured neurons. In addition, orally administered KM (25 and 50 mg/kg, 7 days) significantly prevented memory impairment induced by intracerebroventricular injection of $A\beta$ (25-35) (8 nmol). Taken together, it is suggested that anti-dementia effect of KM is due to its neuroprotective effect against $A\beta$ (25-35)-induced neurotoxicity and that KM may have therapeutic role in prevention of the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.122-129
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• 2010

Mistletoe (Viscum album) is a common name for many species of semi-parasitic plants which grow on deciduous trees all over the world. In this study, the immunomodulatory activity of the water-extract of Korean mistletoe fruits (KMFWE), was investigated on murine peritoneal macrophages. The culture supernatants of KMF-WE-stimulated murine peritoneal macrophages showed the increased production of IFN-$\gamma$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-$\alpha$, in a dose-dependent manner. KMF-WE also induced chemokine production from murine peritoneal macrophages such as RANTES, MCP-1, MIP-$1{\alpha}$ and MIP-$1{\beta}$, as well as nitric oxide (NO) production, in a dose-dependent manner. The gel filtration fraction revealed F-1, which is the early-eluted and high molecular weight product, is the major fraction of KMF-WE to activate the murine peritoneal macrophage to induce cytokines, chemokines and NO. The nature of F-1 fraction needs to be examined in detail in further studies to define the regulatory mechanisms of cytokine or chemokine induction by KMF-WE on macrophages. These results suggest that KMF-WE possess a potent immunostimulant activity and can be a promising candidate available for development of immunomodulators.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2010

To evaluate the immunomodulatory activity of a water extract (KMF-WE) of Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum) fruit, we examined its ability to induce humoral and cellular immune response against keyhole limpet hemocyanine (KLH). Immunized mice with KLH admixed with KMF-WE (KLH/KMF-WE) showed significant induction of KLH-specific antibodies compared to mice immunized with KLH alone. The assay for determining isotypes of antibodies revealed that KMFWE augmented KLH-specific-IgG1 and -IgG2a production. In vitro T lymphocyte proliferation analysis against KLH revealed that the splenocytes of mice immunized with KLH/KMF-WE showed a significantly higher proliferative ability than those from mice immunized with KLH alone. The culture supernatants of splenocytes, which were harvested from mice immunized with KLH/KMF-WE, showed higher levels of both Th-1 type (IL-2, IFN-${\gamma}$) and Th-2 type (IL-4) cytokines in response to KLH stimulation compared to those from mice immunized with KLH alone. Also, in delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) assay, mice immunized with KLH/KMF-WE showed a significantly higher reaction to KLH than mice treated with KLH alone. These results suggest that KMF-WE possess immunoadjuvant activity to enhance both antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses against protein antigens (KLH).

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.293-298
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• 2009

Korean mistletoe lectin (KML) is the major component found in Viscum album var. (coloratum), displaying anti-cancer and immunostimulating activities. Even though it has been shown to boost host immune defense mechanisms, the regulatory roles of KML on the functional activation of macrophages have not been fully elucidated. In this study, regulatory mechanism of KML on macrophage-mediated immune responses was examined in terms of KML-mediated signaling event. KML clearly induced mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and phagocytic uptake in RAW264.7 cells. All of these events were strongly suppressed by U0126, whereas TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA was not diminished by SB203580 and SP600125, indicating ERK as a central enzyme managing KML-induced up-regulation of macrophage functions. Indeed, KML strongly induced the phosphorylation of ERK in a time-dependent manner without altering its total level. Therefore, these data suggest that ERK may be a major signaling enzyme with regulatory property toward various KML-mediated macrophage responses.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 1976

The extract of commercial mistletoe caused transient contraction of mouse ileum in vitro at the level of $7{\times}10^{-4}g/ml$ and augmented significantly its peristalsis. When the ileum was pre-treated With $10^{-6}g/ml$ of adrenaline the administration of the extract at a level of $10^{-4}g/ml$ blocked the contraction. The increase inperistalsis and intention was also observed in rabbit ileum in vitro with the administration of the extract at a level of $10^{-1}g/ml$ but these phenomenon were inhibited by the adrenaline treatment at a level of $10^{-6}g/ml.$ When the extract was applied to spirally cut strips of thoracic aorta at the level of $10^{-3}g/ml$ the contractile action of adrenaline was significantly inhibited. When the extract was infused to auricular blood vessel of rabbit at the rate of $10^{-4}g/ml,\;10^{-3}g/ml,\;10^{-2}g/ml$ and $10^{-1}g/ml$ increases in number of drops by 70%, 77%, 93% and 100% were observed if the maximum number of drops caused by $10^{-1}g/ml$ is considered to be 100%. The duration of prolongation was proportionate to the increase in concentration of the extract. Hypotensive action of the extract and its duration were proportionately increased as the quantity of the extract increased. The increase in number and depth of respiration observed during the hypotensive status was brought to the normal when the tension became normal. In view of these observations it is concluded that the extract of commercial mistletoe has a contractile action of acetylcholine effect in the ileum of mouse and rabbit, loosens both aorta and smooth muscle and promotes peripheral circulation. As for the hypotensive action it is concluded that the action is brought about by the decrease in peripheral circulatory resistance due to the antagonism between acetylcholine and adrenaline.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.840-846
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• 2004

A study for expression of Korean Mistletoe (KM) lectin gene (A,B) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was done using transforming system of yeast. In order to overexpress the genes efficiently in yeast, two lectin genes (A,B) were re-cloned and modified including Kozak translation initiation sequence using PCR amplification. The constructed plasmids containing modified lectin A and B genes were transformed to S. cerevisea INVSc (MAT G, his3 $\Delta$1, leu2, trpl-289, ura3-52). The transformed cells were identified by DNA sequencing with ABI3700 system and induced with 2% of galactose for recombinant KM lectin (rKM lectin) protein. The rKM lectin A and B proteins were determinated about 29kDa size of protein by SOS-P AGE and western blotting analysis. The expressed recombinant lectin was determinated 1.24∼1.75 $\mu\textrm{g}$ per 1 mg of cytosolic soluble protein by sandwich ELISA method. Moreover the lectin genes were expressed as maximum level at 36 h after galactose induction and lectin A gene was were repressed after 48 h.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.31-45
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• 2013

Objectives : Gokgisaeng (Korean mistletoe) is used for the treatment of inflammatory and cancer diseases in traditional Korean medicine and its major component lectins have been reported to induce nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 macrophages, and also induce apoptosis of various types of cancer cells, although its modulatory effects on cancer cell migration and macrophage activation is poorly understood. The aim of this study is to clarify molecular mechanisms of action responsible for the anti-inflammatory and antitumor migration potentials of Korean mistletoe extract (KME). Methods : We investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of KME on NO production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in both RAW 264.7 macrophages and rat C6 glioma cells, and also evaluated inhibitory efficacy on glioma cell growth and migration. For assessment, XTT assay, nitrite assay, RT-PCR, scratch-wound and Boyden chamber assay, and western blot analysis were performed. Results : Previously reported, unlike the efficacy of Gokgisaeng lectin, KME inhibited NO production and iNOS expression, and suppressed pro-inflammatory mediators including IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, COX-2, iNOS in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, KME suppressed tumor cell growth and migration, and it also inhibited LPS-induced NO release and iNOS activation by down-regulating expression of protein kinase C (PKC) and phosphorylation of ERK in C6 glioma cells. Conclusions : Our research findings provide evidence that KME can play a significant role in blocking pro-inflammatory reaction and malignant progression of tumors through the suppression of NO/iNOS by down-regulating of inflammatory signaling pathways, PKC/ERK.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.180-189
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• 2001

We have reported that water-extracted Korean mistletoe (KM-110) had various biological activities such as antitumor and immunomodulatory activity, and the pectin fraction (KML-C) of the extract was one of major factors related to its biological functions. In this paper, we produced murine monoclonal antibody (mAb) against KML-C. The cAbs obtained were largely classified into two groups according to specificity to KML-C and ML-I, a pectin from European mistletoe. One group mAbs (9H7-D10 and 3C2-lH4) strongly reacted with KML-C, but not ML-I. In contrast, another group cAbs (8Bll-2C5, BE12-3E9 and 5E10-Fl) reacted with both KML-C and ML-1. The subisotypes of these mobs were shown to be IgGl (9H7-lD10, 3C2-lH4 and 8Bll-2C5) or IgM (8E12-3E9 and 5E10-Fl). To develop an assay system for determination of the amount of KML-C, we established the sandwich ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) method using these mAbs and horse radish peroxidase (HRP)-labelled cAbs. In various combinations of the cAbs for coated antibody and detection antibody, the sandwich ELISA quantitatively detected KML-C, showing the detection limit ranging from 7-5,000 ng/ml. Especially reproducibility (C.V) of the sandwich ELISA, in which 8E12-3E9 was used for coating antibody and 8Bll-2C5-HRP for detection antibody, was 4.59-5.83 in intra assay, and 3.9-9.4 in inter assay.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.389-393
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• 2009

Regional distribution of mistletoe (Viscum album var.coloratum) and its habitual environments were investigated in order to obtain the basal data on the artificial propagation to cope with its increasing consume for medicine. Mistletoes inhabited throughout the overall region of the South Korea investigated. They were parasitic mainly to the Quercus spp. including Q. serrata and rarely to the Castanea crenata var. dulcis, Prunus serrulata var. spontanea, Alnus japonica, and Pyrus pyrifolia, etc. Mistletoes were not observed on the conifers such as Pinus densiflora and Pinus koraiensis and some deciduous broad-leaved trees species such as Zelkova serrata, Diospyros kaki, Acer mono, Acer palmatum, and Morus alba. Their habitats were located from zero to 1,200 m above sea level nevertheless the direction or slope of the mountains, suggesting that artificial propagation can be carried out nation widely to the well-grown parasite tree species. Parasitic specificity related to the physical and chemical characteristic of the epidermal tissues will be studied further.