• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.89-96
• /
• 2003

Korean mistletoes extracts were investigated for in vitro antioxidation activity, with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazine(DPPH), and an inhibitory effect on oxidative DNA damage by using comet assay. The Korean mistletoes were 4 different kinds classified by their host plants (Korean Viscum sp. in Quercus acutissima Carr., Korean Viscum sp. in Castanea crenata, Korean Viscum sp. in Betula platyphylla, and Korean Viscum sp. in Salix koreensis). The samples were extracted with ethanol, and fractonationed with n-butanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, n-hexane, and second distilled water. Among them, ethyl acetate fraction from Korean Viscum sp. in Betula platyphylla showed the strongest activities to electron donating ability on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) and the protective effect on oxidative DNA damage.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.62-70
• /
• 2003

The biological activities on human immune and cancer cell lines of the four kinds of Korean mistletoes (Korean Viscum album, var. coloratum, : Korean Viscum sp. in Quercus acutissima Carr., Korean Viscum sp. in Castanea crenata, Korean Viscum sp. in Betula platyphylla, and Korean Viscum sp. in Salix koreensis) extracts were investigated. The extracts were preparated with ethanol, and fractionated with n-butanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, hexane, and second distilled water. Cytotoxic potencies of the fractions on human normal lung cell line (HEL 299) showed under 28% in the concentration of 0.5 mg/ml. Growth inhibition effect of the Korean mistletoe extracts on the several human cancer cell lines depends on the concentration of the extracts, and extracting solvent. The hexane, chloroform, and ethyl acetate fractions indicated a strong anticancer activity, but not in aqueous and butanol fractions. Some mistletoe fractions have a different characteristic on the cancer cell lines. Stimulation on the growth of human immuno cell lines(B cell : Raji, T cell: Jurkat) of the extracts were confirmed in the ethyl acetate, chloroform, hexane fractions, but not in aqueous system.

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