PDR for Herbal Medicines

292 /EUROPEAN MISTLETOE

Habitat: European Mistletoe is found mostly in Europe and

as far as Iran. It is not found in America or Australia. It is

cultivated in central Europe and China.

Production: European Mistletoe berries are the fresh or dried

fruit of Viscum album. Mistletoe stem is the fresh or dried

stem of Viscum album. Mistletoe herb consists of fresh or

dried younger branches with flowers and fruits of Viscum

album. The drug is collected in the wild during the spring

and is air-dried or put in driers at a maximum temperature of

40° C.

Other Names: Mistletoe, Mystyldene, All-Heal, Birdlime,

Devil's Fuge

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS: EUROPEAN MISTLETOE FRUIT

Mucilage (2%, referred to as Viscin): The mock berries of

the Mistletoe have not been fully investigated. Presumably,

they lack the toxic lectins and viscotoxins.

EFFECTS: EUROPEAN MISTLETOE FRUIT

No information is available.

COMPOUNDS: EUROPEAN MISTLETOE STEM

The Mistletoe stems contain the same constituents as the

Mistletoe foliage (Visci alhi herba), but because of the high

percentage of support elements lacking any effective ingredi-

ents, these constituents exist only in very low concentrations.

EFFECTS: EUROPEAN MISTLETOE STEM

No information is available.

COMPOUNDS: EUROPEAN MISTLETOE HERB

Lectins (glycoproteins with 11% carbohydrate): Mistletoe

lectin I (ML I, VAA 1, viscumin), mistletoe lectin II (ML II),

mistletoe lectin III (ML III, VAA II), the lectin fractions

named are isolectin mixtures

Polypeptides (built up out of 46 amino acids, 0.05-0.1%):

viscotoxins A2, A3, B, Ps 1-

Mucilages (knovm as viscin, 4-5%): including among others

galacturonans, arabino galactans

Sugar alcohols: including among others mannitol, quebra-

chitol, pinitol, viscumitol

Flavonoids: including glycosides of quercetin, quercetin

methyl ethers, isorhamnetin, sakuranetin and homoeriodic-

tyol; in the subspecies V. album ssp. platyspermum:

homoeriodictyol - 7 - O - glucoside, isorhamnetin - 3 - O - rutino-

side, isorhamnetin-3-[apiosyl (l->6)]-glucosyl-7-0-rham-

noside, 5,7-dimethoxyflavanone-4'-0-glucoside, 3',5,7-

trimethoxyflavanone-4' - O-glucoside

Phenyl alyl alcohols: including among others syringin
(syrigenin-4'-0-glucosides), coniferyl-4'-[apiosyl (1-2')]
glucoside

PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Lignans: including among others syringaresinol and its

glycosides

Triterpenes: including among others alpha-amyrin (alpha-

viscol), beta-amyrin acetate, betulic acid, oleanolic acid,

ursolic acid * .^

%

EFFECTS: EUROPEAN MISTLETOE HERB

The Mistletoe lectins in the drug are hypotensive, cytotoxic

and immune-stimulating. It causes significant improvement

of the symptoms of chronic joint conditions, and a signifi-

cant lengthening of survival times of cancer patients as well

an improvement of quality of life.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

EUROPEAN MISTLETOE FRUIT

Unproven Uses: The fruit acts on circulation by regulating

blood pressure. It is also an expectorant and a tonic. In

addition, the fruit is used to treat internal bleeding, epilepsy,

arteriosclerosis, cramps, gout, hysteria and major blood loss.

EUROPEAN MISTLETOE STEM

Unproven Uses: The stem of European Mistletoe is used for

its calming effect; in the treatment of mental and physical

exhaustion; and as a tranquilizer against nervous conditions

such as agitation, anxiety and increased excitability. 41

EUROPEAN MISTLETOE HERB

Approved by Commission E:

• Rheumatism


• Tumor therapy (adjuvant)

Unproven Uses: For treating degenerative inflammation of

the joints and as palliative therapy for malignant tumors

through nonspecific stimulation. Other uses include long-

term therapy for cases of mild high blood pressure and as an

arteriosclerosis prophylactic.

European Mistletoe tea may be used for high blood pressure,

epilepsy, whooping cough, asthma, vertiginous attack, amen-

orrhea, diarrhea, chorea, nervous tachycardia, hysteria and

nervousness.

Chinese Medicine: The drug is used for joint pain, tendon

and muscle pain, lumbago, back pain, vaginal bleeding

during pregnancy and agalactia.

Homeopathic Uses: The drug is used for dizziness, high and ™

low blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia and joint

degeneration.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

EUROPEAN MISTLETOE HERB

Contraindications for parenteral administration of the herb

include protein oversensitivity, chronic-progressive infec-

tions, e.g., tuberculosis, and conditions of high fever.