• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.259.1-259.1
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• 2001

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2008

Effects of growth regulators and culture conditions on seed germination, haustorium development, and callus formation of Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum (Kom.) Ohwi) were described. Histological examination showed that seed of V. album contained one or two zygotic embryos with rod shape, and actively dividing cells were mainly distributed in radicle region rather than cotyledon of zygotic embryo. The most significant factor for seed germination and haustorium development of V. album was the requirement of the light. Various growth regulators examined in this study failed to substitute the effect of the light on seed germination. The frequency of callus formation was highest at 27.3% when flower buds were cultured onto B5 medium containing $0.1\;mgl^{-1}$ IAA. Explants from other organs were recalcitrant in forming calluses. Culture conditions described in this study could be applied for production of useful metabolites and multiplication of V. album in future.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.650-657
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• 2016

Research has found that the management of the host plant is essential to mistletoe cultivation. A Trunk injection test on the host plant that contained a mixture of indole-3-butryc acid (IBA) and liquid fertilizer was conducted with respect to the improvement of the one year survival rate of mistletoe. As a result, the trunk injection experiments showed the effect of the IBA and liquid fertilizer mixture in all treatments. This mixture was effective to increase the survival rate of mistletoe by 20% with the IBA at 100 mg/L and Hyponex at 100 mg/L. The examination proved that the host plant fertilizer effect was the most effective treatment for organic fertilizer with 60% added NPK (4-2-1). Its effects were higher compared to the control at the length and diameter of one-years-old branches in the host plant, even when the parasitic mistletoe improved its growth in length, diameter, and number of branches. Comparing the control and host plant fertilizer, the latter was the most effective way to process 20 kg per a treatment effect in the experimental site and to process at any time after the inoculation. This treatment is effective to improve the growth of mistletoe by watering the host plant three times per week. Therefore, the management of the host plant is an essential element in the successful cultivation of mistletoe, not only to supply fertilizer and plant hormones to the host plant in the initial inoculation time but also to provide organic fertilizer and irrigation for the host plant.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.307-313
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• 2004

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum) growing on Carpinus laxiflora BL. on proliferation and differentiation of HL-60 acute promyelocytic leukemia cells. Aqueous extract and its $(NH_2)_2SO_4$ saturated fractions of the mistletoe exhibited potent anti-proliferation activity against HL-60 cells. Moreover, when HL-60 cells were treated with 0~30% and 30～70% $(NH_2)_2SO_4$ saturated fractions of the mistletoe, HL-60 expressed CD 66b or CD 14 cell surface antigens and showed activity to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium, indicating that mistletoe induces the differentiation of HL-60 into granulocytes or monocytes. To understand how mistletoe induces the differentiation, we investigated the expression of molecules for modulating the proliferation and differentiation of leukemia cells, such as c-Myc and myeloblastin. The 0~30% $(NH_2)_2SO_4$ saturated fraction of the mistletoe reduced the mRNA levels of c-Myc and myeloblastin in a time-dependent manner. The results indicate that the mistletoe induces the differentiation of HL-60 cells via the decrease of c-Myc and myeloblastin expressions. Thus, it is suggested that mistletoe has a therapeutic potential for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia.

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

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.919-924
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the antimicrobial activities and antioxidant activities of the Korean mistletoe extract and its solvent fractions (e.g. n-hexane, ethyl ether, ethyl acetate, butanol). Ethyl ether fraction against Bacillus cereus showed stronger activities than benzoic acid (2.5 mg/mL). The MIC of korean mistletoe extract and slovent fractions were in the range of 6.25-25 mg/mL. The MIC (6.25 mg/mL) of ethyl acetate fraction onto Staphylocossus aureus was the lowest among them. Ethyl ether fraction which showed the strongest antioxidant activities by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl) and FRAP (ferric ion reducing antioxidant power) methods had the highest total phenolic contents. It is suggested that Korean mistletoe could be utilized as natural preservative material through the study of the active compounds from ethyl ether fraction.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.100 no.3
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• pp.441-448
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to clarify the distribution, host preference and habitat characterstics of the endangered mistletoe species, Loranthus tanakae in Korea. Seven sites were selected for sampling in Gangwon Province, located in middle of Korea. Parameters including DBH, attached height, twig death, and the number of L. tanakae and Viscum album var. coloratum per tree for all infected individuals were investigated. One thousand, two hundred and seventy L. tanakae plants were found on the 420 host trees with 665 V. album var. coloratum on 227 of the trees. The infested host trees belonged to eight species and one variety species from six genera and five families. The highest percentage (86.9%) of individuals of L. tanakae were growing on Fagaceae. The infected trees occurred between altitudes of 420 m and 1,250 m above the sea level, but most of them were between 600 m and 900 m. The mean DBH and heights of parasitism were 38.6 cm and 13.0 m, respectively. Twig death was also observed on 300 host trees (71.4%) and 1.5 twig per tree. Most of the populations and the distribution of L. tanakae were highly affected by DBH out of some individual tree characteristics.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.411-419
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• 2010

Korean mistletoe has a variety of biological effects, such as immunoadjuvant activities. This study investigates the effects of Korean mistletoe lectin (Viscum album L. var. coloratum agglutinin, VCA) on human T lymphocytes to determine whether VCA acts as an immunomodulator. Purified human T-lymphocytes were cultured with VCA and RNA from each point was analyzed using Affymetrix human genome chips containing 22,500 probe sets which represents more than 18,000 transcripts derived from 14,500 human genes. As a result, there was a striking upregulation of genes coding for chemokines. Seventeen genes out of 50 coding for proteins with chemokine activity were upregulated including CXCL9 and IL-8 which are related to the treatment of cancer. In addition, 28 cytokine genes were upregulated including IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-$\gamma$, and TNF-$\alpha$. Taken together, the data suggest that Korean mistletoe lectin, in parallel with European mistletoe, has an ability to modulate human T cell function.