The Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Viscum album

Abstract

The therapeutic story of European mistletoe (Viscum album L.) presents a seesawing profile. In ancient times, this hemiparasitic plant was considered a panacea and even to be endowed with exceptional beneficial properties. In more recent times, despite its multiple uses in traditional medicines, some parts of the plant, in particular the berries, were considered poisonous and dangerous, including concerns of cytotoxicity, which spread serious suspicion on its medicinal utility. However, since the last century, medical interest in mistletoe has come back in force due to its utilization in clinical cancer treatments, based on its selective action on tumor cells. In Central Europe, the hydro-alcoholic extracts of European mistletoe register a relevant and continuous utilization in anthroposophic medicine, which is a holistic system that includes the utilization of phytomedicinal substances. In Switzerland and Germany, most physicians and patients use these products as complementary therapy in oncological treatments. However, despite its increasing use in this field, the results of mistletoe’s use are not always convincing, and other aspects have appeared. Nowadays, products that contain mistletoe are utilized in several fields, including diet, phytotherapy, veterinary medicine and homeopathy, but in particular in cancer therapies as coadjuvant factors, in consideration of several positive effects including effects in the improvement of quality-of-life conditions and reinforcement of the immune system. In this review, based on the understanding of the association between cancer and inflammation, we propose a relationship between these recent uses of mistletoe, based on its antioxidant properties, which are supported by phytochemical and pharmacological data. The unicity of mistletoe metabolism, which is a direct consequence of its hemiparasitism, is utilized as a key interpretation element to explain its biological properties and steer its consequent therapeutic uses.

The Antioxidant Activity of Mistletoes (Viscum album and Other Species)

“…Its main tendencies, including utilization against chronic diseases in the elderly, are evidenced here as a platform for further steps. This review completes the previous one published in this journal concerning the anti-inflammatory activity of the Viscum album [ 13 ].…”

“…fil.) van Tiegh [ 13 , 77 ]. This is only one of the numerous related subspecies and varieties of V. album , spread across the planet and present in several tropical hosts, like the cultivated plants of cocoa, coffee, guava, rubber trees, and many others.…”

O Pentáculo Do Bem Estar Como Instrumento De Avaliação Do Modo De Vida Na Atenção Primária a Saúde

“…Além daquelas mencionadas anteriormente, o V. album também apresenta propriedades antioxidantes, anti-inflamatórias, devido não apenas aos seus compostos fitoquímicos, mas também pela presença de microproteínas (viscotoxinas e viscolectinas), que atuam como enzimas reguladas de sinais extracelulares, além de contribuir para a restauração ou manutenção da homeostase (JING, et al, 2020;NICOLETTI et al, 2023). No que diz respeito à atividade biológica, foi observada atividade anticancerígena em linhagens celulares de câncer humano, quando expostas ao farelo de Riceberry (LEARDKAMOLKARN et al, 2011).…”

The cardioprotective potential of selected species of mistletoe

“…A1, A2, A3 and A4, with A3 being the predominant isoform ( Majeed and Rehman, 2021 ; Yousefvand et al, 2022 ; Zhang et al, 2022 ). Moreover, three types of lectins (termed mistletoelectins I, II, and III) have been identified in V. album L. ( Yousefvand et al, 2022 ; Niwa et al, 2003 ; Ahmad et al, 2018 ; Szurpnicka et al, 2019 ; Szurpnicka et al, 2020 ; de Almeida et al, 2023 ; Nicoletti, 2023a ). The chemical content of V. album L. and other mistletoe species are described in Figure 1 .…”

“…Other studies indicate that V. album L. extract and quercetin supplementation attenuates cyclophosphamide-induced cardiotoxicity, genotoxicity and urotoxicity; this effect has been attributed to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects indicated by antioxidant enzyme activity, reduced glutathione level and malondialdehyde production (a parameter of lipid peroxidation) ( Sekeroglu et al, 2011 ). Recently, Nicoletti (2023a) have described the antioxidant properties of V. album L. and other species, including various Korean mistletoe, Asian mistletoe, Argentinian mistletoe, Chilean mistletoe, Indian mistletoe, and African mistletoe. In addition, this author suggest that not only phenolic compounds identified in V. album L., but also visartisides (a novel class of antioxidant) have antioxidative properties, which may play an important role in the cardioprotective action of mistletoe, although further studies concerning the mechanisms of their action are necessary.…”