Mistletoe (Viscum album) was introduced in the treatment of cancer in 1917. Today, extracts from the plant are used in adjuvant cancer therapy mainly as injections. The most important active agents are lectins, which have cytotoxic and immunostimulating effects. Mistletoe extracts have low toxicity. No fatal side effects have been reported. More than 40 clinical studies have been carried out, mainly at the Lukas Klinik in Switzerland and the Ludvig Boltzmann-Institute in Austria. Most of these studies claim that mistletoe has a positive effect, but were of poor methodological design. Therefore, in the light of our own positive experiences, we recommend a randomized multicentre study to evaluate the effect of mistletoe in cancer treatment.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
The Promising Role of Plant-Derived Lectins in Oral Cancer Therapeutics: A Systematic Review.
Cureus
December 2024
Department of Oral Pathology, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College, Chennai, IND.
Oral cancer (OC) continues to pose a significant global health challenge, marked by high morbidity and mortality rates despite advances in diagnosis and treatment. Numerous novel potential anticancer drugs have been evaluated, many of which are derived from natural sources, such as microorganisms, plants, and animals. Among these, plant lectins - a distinctive group of proteins and glycoproteins with strong biological activity - have garnered considerable attention over the years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSynergistic Effects of Mistletoe Lectin and Cisplatin on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells: Insights from 2D and 3D In Vitro Models.
Int J Mol Sci
January 2025
College of Pharmacy, Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a challenging subtype due to its aggressive nature and limited treatment options. This study investigated the potential synergistic effects of Korean mistletoe lectin ( L. agglutinin, VCA) and cisplatin on MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells using both 2D and 3D culture models.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComplementary Treatment of Breast Cancer Cells with Different Metastatic Potential with Iscador Qu in the Presence of Clinically Approved Anticancer Drugs.
Curr Issues Mol Biol
November 2024
Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria.
European mistletoe extract (Iscador Qu) has been studied for decades, but it has not ceased to arouse scientific interest. The purpose was to investigate the impact of Iscador Qu on the antiproliferative potential of 11 standard chemotherapeutic agents on two breast cancer cell lines: MCF-7 low-metastatic and MDA-MB-231 high-metastatic and control cell lines (MCF-10A). MTT-dye reduction assay, FACS analysis, and PI staining were utilized.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReinstatement of (Loranthaceae): an endemic species of central Mexico.
PhytoKeys
November 2024
Maestría en Manejo de Recursos Naturales, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, 62210, Mexico.
Mart. is a challenging genus because the abundance of reproductively incomplete specimens (lacking mature pistillate and staminate flowers and fruit) has inspired the description of many species, resulting in a long list of names to be verified. In addition, the genus currently lacks a monographic treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!