• 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.

• 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 Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2007

The protective effect of ethanol extract of Korean mistletoe (KM; Viscum album coloratum) on hydrogen peroxide $(H_{2}O_{2})-induced$ neurotoxicity was examined in primary cultured rat cortical neurons. $H_{2}O_{2}$ reduced viability of cortical neurons in a concentration-dependent manner. The addition of KM, over a concentration range of 10 to 100 ${\mu}g/ml$, concentration-dependently prevented the $H_{2}O_{2}(100\;{\mu}M)-induced$ neuronal cell death, as assessed by a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-di-phenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and Hoechst 33342 staining. KM significantly inhibited $H_{2}O_{2}-induced$ elevation of the cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_{c})$, which was measured by a fluorescent dye, fluo-4 AM. KM inhibited glutamate release into medium and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by $H_{2}O_{2}$. These results suggest that KM may mitigate the $H_{2}O_{2}-induced$ neurotoxiciy by interfering with the increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_{c}$, and inhibiting glutamate release and generation of ROS in cultured neurons.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6417-6421
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• 2015

Viscum album var (VAV) also known as mistletoe, has long been categorized as a traditional herbal medicine in Asia. In addition to its immunomodulating activities, mistletoe has also been used in the treatment of chronic hepatic disorders in China and Korea. There are numerous reports showing that VAV possesses anti-cancer effects, however influence on human hepatocarcinoma has never been elucidated. In the present study, hot water extracts of VAV was evaluated for its potential anti-cancer effect in vitro. SK-Hep1 cells were treated with VAV (50-400ug/ml) for both 24 and 48 hours then cell viability was measured by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). Flow cytometry analysis was used to measure the proportion of SK-Hep1 in the different stages of cell cycle. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were conducted to measure expression of cell cycle arrest related genes and proteins respectively. VAV dose dependently inhibited the proliferation of SK-Hep1 cells without any cytotoxicity with normal Chang liver cell (CCL-13). Flow cytometry analysis showed that VAV extract inhibited the cell cycle of SK-Hep1 cells via G1 phase arrest. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis both revealed that cyclin dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) and cyclin D1 gene expression were significantly down regulated while p21 was upregulated dose dependently by VAV treatment. Combined down regulation of Cdk2, Cyclin D1 and up regulation of p21 can result in cell death. These results indicate that VAV showed evidence of anti-cancer activity through G1 phase cell cycle arrest in SK-Hep1 cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1507-1514
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• 2017

The purpose of this study aimed at examining the antiproliferative effect of kimchi (kimchi B) adding mistletoe extract known as an anticancer function to improve the functions of kimchi. The study investigated the antiproliferative effect through hemocytometer counts and MTT assay, apoptosis induction through DAPI staining, and mRNA expression through RT-PCR using human lung carcinoma A549 cells. The standardized kimchi (Kimchi A) was used as a control group. As a result of hemocytometer counts and the MTT assay, it was found that kimchi samples inhibited the growth of A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Kimchi B induced apoptosis in A549 cells through DAPI staining. The apoptosis induced by kimchi B was associated with the increase in the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax and with the decrease in the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. Also, kimchi B influenced the increase in the expression of p21 mRNA, but did not have the effect on the expression of p53 mRNA. In conclusion, the antiproliferative effect of kimchi B was due to apoptosis induced by increasing Bax and decreasing Bcl-2, and increasing p21. The findings will be utilized to develop kimchi with the improved function for the patients having cancer.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.461-468
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• 2000

To investigate the antigenotoxicity of Korean mistletoe using Comet assay, the crude extract was divided into 4 fractions, i.e. fraction I (MW range over 14,000), fraction II $(8,000{\sim}14,000)$, fraction III $(3,500{\sim}8,000)$, and fraction IV (below 3,500) by molecular weight fractionation. In the non-tumoral 3T3 cells, fraction IV could reduce DNA damage induced by MNNG in a dose dependent pattern while fraction I and III which were known to contain lectins and viscotoxins, respectively, did not show the activity. By heat treatment, the antigenotoxic activity of faction IV, though was gradually diminished according to heating time, was found to be maintained significantly. From the Sephadex G-25 gel filtration chromatography, a more purified fraction responsible for the activity of faction IV was obtained from the latter part of total elute. Therefore, it was concluded that the antigenotoxic components of Korean mistletoe were water soluble substances of MW below 1,000 and there is a possibility of utilization as a material of functional foods for chemoprevention.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.613-619
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• 2014

For the development of a hangover soup containing blue mussel, 11 kinds of hot water extracts were prepared - A (mistletoe); B (shepherd's purse); C (arrowroot); D (bean sprout); E (oriental raisin); F (blue mussel); G (blue mussel and mistletoe); H (blue mussel and shepherd's purse); I (blue mussel and arrowroot); J (blue mussel and bean sprout); and K (blue mussel and oriental raisin). Extract C showed the highest effect for increasing the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH); however, the addition of blue mussel did not provide a synergy effect on extract C. Other than the arrowroot-containing extracts (C and I), extract H showed relatively higher ADH ($237.4{\pm}1.7%$) and ALDH ($136.5{\pm}2.1%$) activities. Moreover, extract H showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity ($93.9{\pm}0.1%$) and angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity ($42.7{\pm}1.6%$). The combination of blue mussel with shepherd's purse had a synergic effect on its ADH and ACE inhibitory activities.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.2 s.137
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• pp.134-138
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• 2004

A bioassay-guided fractionation of the whole extract of Viscum album var. coloratum Ohwi (Loranthaceae) led to the isolation of two triterpenoidal components; oleanolic acid (1) and ${\beta}-amyrin$ acetate (2), and a flavonoid, homoflavoyadorinin B (3) as well as large quantity of free fatty acid mixtures as active ingredients of the extract responsible for the antitumoral property. The EtOAc soluble fraction and BuOH soluble fraction of the extract demonstrated a significant inhibition on the proliferation of cultured human tumor cells 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, whereas the remaining water soluble fraction exhibited a poor inhibition. The intensive phytochemical investigation of the EtOAc soluble fraction and BuOH soluble fraction of the extract indicated that the oleanolic acid (1) and large amounts of free fatty acid mixtures might be attributed to the in vitro antitumoral property of the whole extract of Viscum album var. coloratum.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.4857-4861
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• 2016

Background: Imatinib mesylate, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor specifically targeting the BCR/ABL fusion protein, induces hematological remission in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, the majority of CML patients treated with imatinib develop resistance with prolonged therapy. Dendrophthoe pentandra (L.) Miq. is a Malaysian mistletoe species that has been used as a traditional treatment for several ailments such as smallpox, ulcers, and cancers. Methods: We developed a resistant cell line (designated as K562R) by long-term co-culture of a BCR/ABL positive CML cell line, K562, with imatinib mesylate. We then investigated the anti-proliferative effects of D. pentandra methanol extract on parental K562 and resistant K562R cells. Trypan blue exclusion assays were performed to determine the IC50 concentration; apoptosis and cell cycle analysis were conducted by flow cytometry. Results: D. pentandra extract had greater anti-proliferative effects towards K562R ($IC50=192{\mu}g/mL$) compared to K562 ($500{\mu}g/mL$) cells. Upon treatment with D. pentandra extract at the IC50. concentration: K562 but not K562R demonstrated increase in apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Conclusion: D. pentandra methanol extract exerts potent anti-proliferative effect on BCR/ABL positive K562 cells.