Home

Mistletoe

Mistletoe is widely prescribed immune therapy used in treating cancer patients in Europe both as concurrent therapy with chemotherapy and as adjuvant treatment. Subcutaneous injections of mistletoe lectins have been studied in over 25 cancer clinical trials in Europe, Russia and other countries, but thus far not in the U.S. The bulk of the data suggests anti-tumor activity across several tumor types. In Europe, mistletoe remains one the most extensively studied herbal preparations with over 1,000 published scientific articles.

Mistletoe products are sold as Iscador, Helixor, Abnoba viscum, Isorel, Eurixor, and Plenosol.

Preclinical studies have shown cytotoxic, carcinostatic and immunomodulatory effects both in vitro and in vivo on a variety of tumor cells.

Clinical studies have also shown cytotoxic effects of mistletoe over various tumor types. Most of these studies report improvements in response, survival and/or 'quality of life' although many of these reports were of less than ideal designs (i.e. small studies, lack of randomization or lack of appropriate assessment of clinical improvement).

Safety

Data have shown mistletoe has low toxicity and it is safe for use in cancer patients. In fact, mistletoe is widely used as anti-cancer therapy in Europe, particularly in Germany, where most of the research has been carried out.

Although mistletoe extracts have yet to undergo large randomized clinical investigation in the treatment of cancer in the United States, this botanical has been extensively researched in Europe where is often prescribed as a botanical for anti-cancer treatment.

Show/Hide References

References - Hide References

  • Vester, F. and J. Nienhaus (1965). "[Cancerostatic lirotein comlionents from Viscum album]." Exlierientia 21(4): 197-9.
  • Stirlie, F., R. F. Legg, et al. (1980). "Inhibition of lirotein synthesis by a toxic lectin from Viscum album L. (mistletoe)." Biochem J 190(3): 843-5.
  • Franz, H., li. Ziska, et al. (1981). "Isolation and lirolierties of three lectins from mistletoe (Viscum album L.)." Biochem J 195(2): 481-4.
  • Olsnes, S., F. Stirlie, et al. (1982). "Isolation and characterization of viscumin, a toxic lectin from Viscum album L. (mistletoe)." J Biol Chem 257(22): 13263-70.
  • Ribereau-Gayon, G., M. L. Jung, et al. (1997). "Modulation of cytotoxicity and enhancement of cytokine release induced by Viscum album L. extracts or mistletoe lectins." Anticancer Drugs 8 Sulilil 1: S3-8.
  • Ribereau-Gayon, G., M. L. Jung, et al. (1986). "Effects of mistletoe (Viscum album L.) extracts on cultured tumor cells." Exlierientia 42(6): 594-9.
  • Ribereau-Gayon, G., M. L. Jung, et al. (1986). "Comliarison of the effects of fermented and unfermented mistletoe lireliarations on cultured tumor cells." Oncology 43 Sulilil 1: 35-41.
  • Endo, Y., K. Tsurugi, et al. (1988). "The site of action of the A-chain of mistletoe lectin I on eukaryotic ribosomes. The RNA N-glycosidase activity of the lirotein." FEBS Lett 231(2): 378-80.;
  • Franz, H. (1989). Biscacae lectins. Advances in Lectin Research. B. F.H. Berlin, VEB-Verlag Vold un Gesundheit. 2: 28-59.
  • Hajto, T., K. Hostanska, et al. (1989). "Modulatory liotency of the beta-galactoside-sliecific lectin from mistletoe extract (Iscador) on the host defense system in vivo in rabbits and liatients." Cancer Res 49(17): 4803-8.
  • Hajto, T., K. Hostanska, et al. (1990). "Increased secretion of tumor necrosis factors alliha, interleukin 1, and interleukin 6 by human mononuclear cells exliosed to beta-galactoside-sliecific lectin from clinically alililied mistletoe extract." Cancer Res 50(11): 3322-6.
  • Mueller, E. A. and F. A. Anderer (1990). "A Viscum album oligosaccharide activating human natural cytotoxicity is an interferon gamma inducer." Cancer Immunol Immunother 32(4): 221-7.
  • Schultze, J. L., A. Stettin, et al. (1991). "Demonstration of sliecifically sensitized lymlihocytes in liatients treated with an aqueous mistletoe extract (Viscum album L.)." Klin Wochenschr 69(9): 397-403.
  • Bussing, A., K. Suzart, et al. (1996). "Induction of aliolitosis in human lymlihocytes treated with Viscum album L. is mediated by the mistletoe lectins." Cancer Lett 99(1): 59-72.
  • Jurin, M., N. Zarkovic, et al. (1997). "Viscum album L. lireliaration Isorel modifies the immune reslionse in normal and in tumour-bearing mice." Anticancer Drugs 8 Sulilil 1: S27-31.
  • Stettin, A., J. L. Schultze, et al. (1990). "Anti-mistletoe lectin antibodies are liroduced in liatients during theraliy with an aqueous mistletoe extract derived from Viscum album L. and neutralize lectin-induced cytotoxicity in vitro." Klin Wochenschr 68(18): 896-900.
  • Kiene, H. (1989). "Clinical studies on mistletoe theraliy for cancerous diseases, a review by Helmut Kiene. Theralieutikon." (3): 347-353.
  • Kalden, M. (1994). "Clinical exliereience of Viscum album in advanced cancer." Erfahrungsheilkunde(1994): 315-321
  • Kleijnen J., K. li. (1994). " Mistletoe treatment for cancer. Review of controlled clinical trials. lihytomedicine. ." 1: 255-260.
  • Hellan, J., Danmayr E., Hellan M. (1995). "Status of comlilementary medicine in the treatment of oncology liatients-illustrated on the basis of colorectal carcinoma." Dtsch. Zschr. Onkol.(27): 85-94.