• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.4-11
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• 2009

Anatomical features of both leaves and stems of the four mistletoes in Korea (Viscum album var. coloratum, Korthalsella japonica, Loranthus yadoriki, L. tanaka) and of their secondary haustorial structure within several host plants were investigated. Among the four mistletoes, there were diagnostic characters of the anatomy of leaves and stems which enabled us to distinguish the four taxa. Leaves were observed to have three distinct characters including unifacial or bifacial leaves, the number of vascular bundles in the midveins, and the level of development of sclerenchyma cells. There were four diagnostic characters of stems: overall morphology of stems in transverse view, degree of cuticle development, arrangement of vascular bundles, and features of the sclerenchyma and pith. In order to determine secondary haustorial traits, the research focused on the seven host plants of L. yadoriki and on the five host plants of K. japonica. The following features were found to be important: presence or absence of an aerial runner root, the shape of the haustorial strand and flange, the degree of penetration into host tissues, and their development of shaft in transverse view, the development both of secondary haustorial cells and short tracheid in hyphae. Korthalsella japonica and L. yadorki were clearly distinguished by these characters. The secondary haustorial forms in each host were somewhat different, due to varying degrees of development in the strength of the host plants' wood. However, qualitative characters like the final position of the secondary haustorial penetration into host tissues and the development of short tracheid cells were not only affected by the degree of development of the host plants, but also useful for the systematic study.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.132-139
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• 1994

To investigate the effect of Korean mistletoe on stimulation of macrophage, the activity to induce interleukine-1(IL-1) and tumor necrosis factors-${\alpha}(TNF-{\alpha})$ from murine peritoneal macrophage by its extracts originated from oak was examined. From in vitro analysis of the cytokines using the culture supernatants of macrophages stimulated with its extracts for 1hr, it was found that Korean mistletoe induces IL-1 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ from murine macrophage. Furthermore, both extracts of Korean mistletoes that were extracted with distilled water and 2% acetic acid exhibited a significant activity to induce two cytokines. In the stimulation for 30 min, Korean mistletoe at concentration of $1{\sim}100\;\mu/ml$ showed a significant induction of IL-1 from macrophage until 24 hrs after stimulation, showing maximal activity on $5{\sim}10\;hrs\;at\;10{\sim}100\;\mu/ml$. On the other hand, $TNF-{\alpha}$ was induced on the early period, 2 hrs, after stimulation at a wide range of concentration, $1{\sim}500\;\mu/ml$. In addition, the fraction of Korean mistletoe from 80% saturated ammonium sulphate precipitation showed a significant activity to induce both cytokines from macrophage. The present study demonstrates that Korean mistletoe contains immunoregulatory factors responsible for stimulating murine macrophage to secrete IL-1 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ which play an important role in immune responses, and suggests that the activity of Korean mistletoe to induce two cytokines is functioned by a possible independent stimulation manner.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.167-173
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• 2007

Purpose: Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) extract is one of the most widely used agents in alternative cancer therapeutic regimens in Europe. This study was conducted to determine the effect of mistletoe extract on immune function in gastric cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Ten patients that had undergone a curative gastrectomy were enrolled in the prospective study. ABNOBAviscum $Q^{(R)}$ was injected subcutaneously three times a week from postoperative-day 7 to week 16 with an increasing dose. All of the patients simultaneously received chemotheraphy with mitomycin, oral 5-FU and a cisplatin regimen. The WBC count, differential count, lymphocyte/WBC ratio and the level of cytokines (IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-2, IL-6, IFN-$\gamma$, TNF-$\alpha$) were checked in the peripheral blood preoperatively, at postoperative week 8 and at postoperative week 16. Results: The WBC and neutrophil counts significantly decreased after treatment on week 8 and week 16 (P=0.001), but the total eosinophil count was slightly increased (P=0.15). The total lymphocyte count also decreased during treatment but the lymphocyte/WBC ratio was slightly increased without statistical significance (P=0.91). The cytokine levels did not significantly change during treatment. Conclusion: It is somewhat difficult to determine the direct effect of mistletoe therapy on immune function as the effect may be compromised by the concurrent chemotherapy. It can be assumed that the slightly increased lymphocyte/WBC ratio and eosinophil count may be a result of the immunomodulatory effect of the mistletoe extract.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.560-565
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• 2009

In this study, Korean mistletoe extract (KM-110) was fermented with two strains of Lactobacillus (FKM-110) and then toxicity, lectin content, and immune activities were investigated. The lectin content of FKM-110 was about 53-71% lower than that of KM-110. When mice were subcutaneously administered with KM-110 and FKM-110, the $LD_{50}$ obtained for KM-110 treatment was 50-100 mg/kg as compared to 150-200 mg/mL for FKM-110. Each preparation stimulated macrophages directly and enhanced productivity of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$. FKM-110 treatment resulted in lower cytokine production compared to KM-110. When mice were immunized with Keyhol limpet hemocyanin (KLH) antigen along with KM-110 or FKM-110 administration, higher antibody titers to KLH were observed in the KM-110 or FKM-110 groups compared to mice immunized with KLH alone, thereby showing no difference between KM-110 and FKM-110. Therefore, fermentation of Korean mistletoe extract with these Lactobacillus strains decreased toxicity in vivo while the enhancement of immune activity by KM-110 and FKM-110 was similar. These data suggest that KM-110 fermentation tended to decrease lectin content and in vivo toxicity. In addition, other components in the fermented mistletoe extract appear to stimulate immuno-adjuvant activity instead of lectin.