Effects of mistletoe (Viscum album L.) extracts on cultured tumor cells

• Published in: Experientia Vol. 42; no. 6; pp. 594 - 599
• Main Authors: Ribereau-Gayon, G, Jung, M.L, Baudino, S, Salle, G, Beck, J.P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 15.06.1986
• Subjects: Animals; cell culture; Cell Line; Cell Membrane - drug effects; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Cell Transformation, Viral; cytotoxicity; Fermentation; Fibroblasts - drug effects; hepatoma; Humans; Lactobacillus - metabolism; Leukemia, Lymphoid - drug therapy; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental - drug therapy; Mice; Microscopy, Electron; Mistletoe; Neoplasms - drug therapy; plant extracts; Plant Extracts - metabolism; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Plants, Medicinal; Rats; Simian virus 40; T-Lymphocytes; Viscum album
• ISSN: 0014-4754
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01955552

Bacterially fermented mistletoe preparations (BFMP) were tested on rat hepatoma tissue culture (HTC) cells and human leukemia Molt 4 cells. A dose-dependent inhibition of the growth rate of the cells was observed. For both cell lines, cytostatic concentrations, expressed in weight of fresh plant, were 0.5 mg/ml culture medium for oak BFMP and 1 mg/ml for apple tree BFMP. However, the action of the two preparations was markedly different on each cell line. Non-viable HTC cells were not stained by trypan blue while non-viable Molt 4 cells were fully colored by this reagent. A lysis of cellular membranes of HTC cells was observed by electron microscopy. Furthermore, oak BFMP inhibited the growth of virus transformed 3T3-SV40 cells more than that of non-transformed 3T3 cells. In contrast to BFMP, non-fermented extracts and a purified mistletoe lectin showed a greater inhibition of the growth of Molt 4 cells than of HTC cells. Samples withdrawn at different times during fermentation gradually lost their inhibitory effect on the growth of Molt 4 cells while their action on HTC cells increased up to the 4th day of fermentation. These results are discussed in relation to the cytotoxic substances of mistletoe already characterized.