• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.310-315
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• 2008

Viscum album coloratum (Korean mistletoe; KM) is a semi-parasitic plant growing on various trees. This plant hasbeen shown to possess a variety of biological functions such as immunomodulation, apoptosis-induction and antitumor activity. However, there is no information about how the extract of KM affects life span of the host. In this study, in order to examine the effect of KM on the longevity of the host, we investigated whether a Korean mistletoe extract (KME) was able to extend the life length in an experimental model using the spring silkworm moth of Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera bombycidae). We established a model test for survival in which all of the male and female moths died within 18 days after the beginning of the experiment. Mean survival time of female moths was longer than that of male moths. Both male and female moths fed with KME containing diet (200 or 400 ${\mu}g$/head/day) showed significantly higher mean survival times than those of the control moths. Studying the effect of KME on prolongation of mean survival time showed that male moths were more susceptible than female moths. The moths fed with KME-containing diet showed a slight decrease in body weight. Interestingly, however, no difference in food intake was observed between moths fed with KME-containing diet and those with control diet. In analysis for mRNA increase in the SIRT2 gene, a member of the Sir2 gene family playing important roles in regulation of cell death and prolongation of life span, moths fed with KME-containing diet showed a significant increase in SIRT2 gene expression. These results suggest that KME has a potential to extend the life span in Bombyx mori, and its effect is partly associated with increase in SIRT2 gene expression.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.44-47
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• 2004

Loranthus tanakae Fr. et Sav. (Loranthaceae) is a species of mistletoe, a semiparasitic plant growing on the branches of Quercus and Betula species as host trees. In our ongoing search for bioactive compounds from endemic species in Korea, we have investigated to isolate the chemical constituents responsible for the antitumor effect of the MeOH extract of L. tanakae. The ethyl acetate soluble part of the MeOH extract demonstrated a marginal inhibition on the proliferation of the tumor cell lines such as A549 (non small cell lung), SK-OV-3 (ovary), SK-MEL-2 (melanoma), XF498 (central nerve system), and HCT-15 (colon) in vitro. Thus, the activity-guided isolation procedure upon the ethyl acetate soluble part of the extract has been carried out and finally four flavonoid rhamnopyranosides (1-4) were isolated as active principle. The structures of 1-4 were elucidated by the physicochemical and spectral data as rhamnetin 3-O-$\alpha$-L-rhamnoside (1), quercetin 3-O-$\alpha$-L-rhamnoside (2), rhamnocitrin 3-O-$\alpha$rhamnoside (3), and kaempferol 3-O-$\alpha$-L-rhamnoside (4).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 2010

This study was performed to investigate antioxidant activities of Mistletoe (MS) extracts by measuring electron donating ability (EDA), super oxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity and total polyphenol content (TPC). The extracts were obtained using supercritical carbon dioxide, hot-water and ethanol extraction. EDAs was the higher in ethanol extract (70.53%) than water (36.73%) or supercritical carbon dioxide extract (15.73% at 400 bar, $30^{\circ}C$) at concentration of 10 mg/mL. However, SOD-like activities and TPCs were the highest in the supercritical carbon dioxide extract. At concentration of 1 mg/mL, supercritical carbon dioxide extract (22.54% at 200 bar, $40^{\circ}C$) was higher SOD activity than water (7.85%) and ethanol extract (6.12%). Regarding TPCs of MS extracts, the content was the highest in supercritical carbon dioxide extract (17.57 wt% catechin equivalent at 200 bar, $50^{\circ}C$) followed by ethanol and water extract. These results suggest that it can be useful to develop functional foods using antioxidative active compounds of MS with high polyphenol contents.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.72-78
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• 2011

The physiological properties of oak mistletoe slice extracts were investigated. The total polyphenol content of mistletoe extracts was 50.28-109-69 mg%, depending on extraction conditions. The polyphenol content increased as extract concentration rose (25 mL/g>50 mL/g>100 mL/g). The electron-donating ability (EDA) of the 60% (v/v) ethanolic extract was 68.88% at 25 mL/g; this was the highest value of all extracts tested (p<0.05). The SOD-like activities of water, 30%, 60%, and 90% (all v/v) ethanolic extracts were 15.24-30.84% lower than those of 1.0% and 0.1% (both w/v) L-ascorbate solutions. Tyrosinase inhibitory activities of all samples were 3.40-30.92% lower than those of 1.0% and 0.1% (both w/v) L-ascorbate solutions. Nitrite-scavenging abilities measured at pH 1.2 and pH 3.0 were highest when the water, and the 30%, 60% and 90% (all v/v) ethanolic extracts, were tested. The results expand our understanding of the physiological properties of oak mistletoe slice extracts.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2007

Korean mistletoe (Viscum album L) extract has been found to posses immunoregulating activity. In this study, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C (non-lectin components), was used to know whether this extract activates splenocytes to secret interleukin $1\beta(IL-1\beta)$. The splenocytes were treated with M11C, and then collected the supernatant and cell lysate that were prepared to analyze the level of $IL-1\beta$, using ELISA, immunoblotting, and RT-PCR. Maximum effective dose and time of M11C on $IL-1\beta$ secretion from splenocytes were $200{\mu}g/m\ell$ and 8 hours, respectively. Treatment dose and time for the maximum expression of $IL-1\beta$ mRNA were $200{\mu}g/m\ell$ and 4 hours, respectively. Saccharide degradation enzyme Viscozyme L completely blocked the effect of M11C on $IL-1\beta$ secretion from splenocytes. As the result, among non-lectin components saccharide could be regarded as a main component for $IL-1\beta$ expression from splenocytes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.630-637
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• 2016

The chemical components and biological activity of Camellia mistletoe, Korthalsella japonica (Loranthaceae) are relatively unknown compared to other mistletoe species. Therefore, we investigated the phytochemical properties and biological activity of this parasitic plant to provide essential preliminary scientific evidence to support and encourage its further pharmaceutical research and development. The major plant components were chromatographically isolated using high-performance liquid chromatography and their structures were elucidated using tandem mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance anlysis. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory activity of the 70% ethanol extract of K. japonica (KJ) and its isolated components was evaluated using a nitric oxide (NO) assay and western blot analysis for inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. Three flavone di-C-glycosides, lucenin-2, vicenin-2, and stellarin-2 were identified as major components of KJ, for the first time. KJ significantly inhibited NO production and reduced iNOS and COX-2 expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells at $100{\mu}g/mL$ while similar activity were observed with isolated flavone C-glycosides. In conclusion, KJ has a simple secondary metabolite profiles including flavone di-C-glycosides as major components and has a strong potential for further research and development as a source of therapeutic anti-inflammatory agents.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2000

This experiment was accomplished to investigate antioxidative activity of Korean mistletoe by organic solvents partitioning of methanol extact of 3 Korean mistletoes, fractionationing on column chromatography, and evaluation the reduction of a free radical ${\alpha}$,${\alpha}$-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl. Butanol partition of Loranthus yadoriki MeOH extract showed higher electron donating ability than ${\alpha}$-tocopherol. It was thought phenolic compounds including gallic acid account for antioxidative activity, on execution sub-fractionation, electron donating ability evaluation, and GC/MS analysis, but further studies on what are major actives must be investigated exactly.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 2007

It is well-known that Korean mistletoe (Viscum album) extract has an immune activity and anticancer effect. In this study, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C (non-lectin components), was used to examine whether this extract might activate human peripheral monocyte to produce tumor necrosis $factor-\alpha$ $(TNF-\alpha)$. To examine the effect of M11C on the production of $TNF-\alpha$ from monocyte, the monocyte were stimulated by the M11C, and then collected the supernatant (M11C stimulated monocyte-conditioned media; MCM). MCM was treated to the $TNF-\alpha$ sensitive L929 cells, and then L929 cytotoxicity was measured by means of MTT. MCM had cytotoxic effect on L929. And the cytotoxic effect of MCM on L929 was almost abolished by $anti-TNF-\alpha$ antibody. These data indicated that MCM contained $TNF-\alpha$, suggesting the $TNF-\alpha$ generation from M11C-stimulated monocyte. This suggestion was confirmed from the data that $TNF-\alpha$ was highly detected in MCM by immunoblotting technique. M11C effect on $TNF-\alpha$ production from monocyte was in the dose and stimulating time dependent manners. Also the effect of M11C on the expression of $TNF-\alpha$ mRNA from monocyte was shown in the dose and stimulating time dependent manners. As a result, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C, could be used for an immunostimulator.