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Dendrophthoe laljii sp. nov. (Loranthaceae) from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, is described as an aerial branch hemiparasite on Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (Moraceae). The notes on conservation status and germination ecology were also depicted in this study. Apparently, this species resembles D. curvata (Blume) Miq, but strictly differs in vegetative morphology and floral characteristics. A taxonomic key to the species of Dendrophthoe Mart. in India is also provided.

Five undescribed dihydroflavonoid glycoside derivatives, namely albvisosides A‒E, together with two known compounds were isolated from the roots and stem leaves of Viscum album L. var. album. (European mistletoe). Their structures were determined by HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, and ECD analysis. Albvisoside B exhibits significant inhibitory effect on hepatic lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells at very low concentrations (EC50: 0.7 nM). Using proteome integral solubility alteration assay, the direct targets or downstream effectors of albvisoside B were elucidated. As a result, 97 proteins were identified based on ligand-induced alterations in the protein thermal stability. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that albvisoside B primarily ameliorated oleic acid-induced lipid accumulation by regulating the selenoamino acids metabolism signaling pathway. RPL3, ADAM17, and RPL14 were likely to be involved in mediating the lipid-lowering effect of albvisoside B. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd

Mistletoe has been used as the herbal medicine to treat hypertension, diabetes mellitus, inflammation, arthritis and viral infection. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of extracts of branch from Taxillus yadoriki being parasitic in Neolitsea sericea (TY-NS-B) using in vitro model. TY-NS-B significantly inhibited LPS-induced secretion of NO and PGE2 in RAW264.7 cells. TY-NS-B was also observed to inhibit LPS-mediated iNOS COX-2 expression. In addition, TY-NS-B attenuated production of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1β induced by LPS. TY-NS-B blocked LPS-mediated inhibitor of IκB-α, and inhibited p65 translocation to the nucleus and NF-κB activation. Furthermore, TY-NS-B reduced the phosphorylation of MAPKs such as p38 and JNK, but not ERK1/2. In addition, TY-NS-B increased ATF3 expression and ATF3 knockdown by ATF3 siRNA attenuated TY-NS-B-mediated inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediator expression. Collectively, our results suggest that TY-NS-B exerts potential anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing NF-κB and MAPK signaling activation, and increasing ATF3 expression. These findings indicate that TY-NS-B could be further developed as an anti-inflammatory drug.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T17:48:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-01-01 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Assessment of host infection and distribution patterns are crucial to understand the underling mechanisms that shape parasitic plant spread in natural ecosystems. However, such data remain scarce for mistletoes inhabiting Brazilian campo rupestre vegetation, old-growth montane fire-prone grasslands. We evaluated the host range and distribution patterns of the mistletoe Psittacanthus robustus (Loranthaceae) at seven 1-ha plots located at in Serra do Cipo, southeastern Brazil. We investigate if the frequency of parasitism by P. robustus is directly related to the relative abundance of host tree species in the community, and how prevalence and intensity of infection vary among different host tree species. Average mistletoe density was 120 individuals ha(-1), which parasitized eight host species, including trees and shrubs in five families. Four tree species, Vochysia thyrsoidea, Qualea cordata (Vochysiaceae), Trembleya laniflora and Miconia ferruginata (Melastomataceae), comprised 95% of infected individuals. Twenty two percent of 1,108 trees sampled were parasitized by P. robustus, with host specificity within species in Myrtales Clade. Prevalence increased with host height for all tree species, with a highly aggregated distribution in few taller host trees within rocky outcrop patches in campo rupestre. The unveiling patterns of host infection and mistletoe distribution, support future studies addressing plant-plant, bird-plant and fire-plant interactions that might shape infection dynamics of this widespread mistletoe species in campo rupestre. (c) 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Programa Posgrad Ecol, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Minas Gerais, Inst Ciencias Biol, Dept Bot, BR-31270901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Zool, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Dept Biol Anim, CP 6109, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Zool, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, Brazil FAPESP: 2007/59444-4

Blood coagulation and platelet-dependent primary homeostasis are important defense mechanisms against bleeding and novel inhibitors have been researched to obtain pharmacological and clinical applications. In this work, the PpyLL, a lectin obtained from Phthirusa pyrifolia, was characterized in terms of its molecular structure and biological functions (anticoagulant, antiplatelet agreggation and hemagglutinating activities) in presence or absence of Gamma radiation exposure. Results revealed a lectin with secondary-structure content by approximately 49% of β-sheet, 20% of β-turn and 31% of disordered structure. Irradiation effect demonstrated possible different sites of function by lectin on anticoagulant and hemagglutinating activities, once a decrease about 80% was observed when compared the activities under 0.5 kGy of exposition to gamma radiation. An emphatic discussion about the use of gamma radiation as a possible modulator of the lectin activity was made, and once the ionizing radiation affected differently the anticoagulation and hemagglutinating activities, we speculated that the results are determined by selective molecular damages in different binding sites. PpyLL biological activities and gamma radiation modulation could be considered for future researches in biomedical field aiming possible medical applications.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Viscum album L. (European mistletoe) is a hemiparasitic plant belonging to Loranthaceae family and has been used in Turkish traditional medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders and heart diseases such as hypertension, tachycardia and angina pectoris. Aim of the study The present study investigated the cardioprotective effects of V. album leaf extracts in myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats. Material and methods Lyophilized aqueous (AVa) and methanolic (MVa) extracts of V. album were prepared from dried leaf. The isolated hearts were perfused with V. album extracts prior to and during 35 min of ischemia induced by coronary artery occlusion. After 120 min of coronary reperfusion, infarct size was determined by triphenyltetrazolium staining. Results Both AVa and MVa extracts reduced the extent of infarction compared with untreated control hearts, but protective effect of MVa had more potential in low concentration; infarct size as proportion of ischemic risk zone: AVa 17.5±1.5%; Mva 20.3±2.5%, both P G -nitroarginine methyl ester completely abrogated the protection afforded by both extracts. ATP-sensitive K + channel blockade by glibenclamide abrogated the protection afforded by MVa while attenuating, but not abolishing, the protective action of Ava. Conclusions This study provided the first experimental evidence that V. album leaf extracts can mediate nitric oxide-dependent cardioprotection against myocardial injury produced by ischemia/reperfusion insult. With this study, popular usage of V. album extracts in Turkish folk medicine as a remedy for cardiac diseases was justified.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a highly predominant malignancy affecting millions worldwide. Plants belonging to Loranthaceae family have remarkable chemopreventive properties.The goal of the present study was to assess the antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects of stem parts of Elytranthe parasitica (L.) Danser (EP) on colorectal cancer and identify the bioactive phytochemicals.EP methanol extract (EP.M) and its subsequent fractions were screened for antiproliferative activity in human colorectal carcinoma HCT 116 cell line. Phytocomposition of the bioactive fraction was analyzed by GC-MS. Further, apoptotic induction and cell cycle arrest was assessed in the most bioactive fractions.EP.DEE (Diethyl Ether) fraction and a subsequent fraction derived by column chromatography, Fraction 3A (FR 3A) significantly inhibited the proliferation of HCT 116 cells (P 0.05). FR 3A triggered apoptosis and notably modulated the cell cycle checkpoints. GC-MS analysis of FR 3A revealed the presence of 24 phytochemicals, the most prominent of which was pinocembrin (70.67%), a flavonoid.Hence, it could be speculated that pinocembrin and its related derivatives may be the chief phytochemicals involved in apoptosis - mediated cytotoxicity of the enriched fraction. Our findings indicate the enriched fraction is a promising candidate which could be developed into a natural chemotherapeutic product for colorectal cancer therapy.

The hemiparasitic species Psittacanthus plagiophyllus Eichl. (Loranthaceae), also known as erva de passarinho, is used in folk medicine in the Santarém region in the state of Pará, Brazil, to treat gastritis and a variety of inflammatory disorders. In view of the lack of pharmacological studies on this species in the literature and the fact that it is used constantly by the local population, this study sought to standardize the extract of the leaves of P. plagiophyllus (AEPp) and to assess its anti-inflammatory potential in in vivo tests.Quality control and standardization of AEPp were performed following the 5th edition of the Brazilian Pharmacopeia. To assess the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of AEPp, the carrageenan-induced and dextran-induced rat paw edema models were initially used. To investigate the effect of AEPp on carrageenan-induced leukocyte recruitment and exudate production, the air pouch inflammation model was used. In addition, the antioxidant activity of AEPp was assessed in vitro by the DPPH radical scavenging method.The chromatographic profile of AEPp indicated the presence of flavonoids, coumarins and hydrolyzable and condensed tannins. Measurement of phenolics revealed the following percentages in the extract: 12.62±0.18% total phenolics, 5.39±0.01% total tannins, 12.54±0.24% hydrolyzable tannins, 8.37±0.32% condensed tannins and 1.23±0.02% total flavonoids. In 500 and 1000mg/kg doses (p.o.) AEPp had significant edema-inhibiting activity (p0.01) in both the models used, suggesting that the extract may act in vascular and cell events in the inflammatory response and exert an inhibitory effect on mediators responsible for edema. In all the doses tested [250, 500 and 1000mg/kg (p.o.)], AEPp inhibited total leukocyte and neutrophil migration and reduced the amount of exudate in the air pouch in a dose-dependent manner. Both effects were statistically significant (p0.01). The extract also reduced the DPPH radical (maximum reduction 93.13±1.71% at a concentration of 75µg/mL), indicating that it has antioxidant activity. AEPp, therefore, exhibited considerable in vivo anti-inflammatory activity and in vitro antioxidant activity. This may be due to its high phenolics content.These findings provide evidence to support the use of P. plagiophyllus in folk medicine to treat inflammatory disorders.

The interaction between hemiparasites and their host plants is an important structuring mechanism for plant communities. The mistletoe Struthanthus flexicaulis (Loranthaceae) is widely distributed in the campo rupestre ecosystem and likely has an important role in structuring the communities of which its hosts are part. The main goals of this study were to investigate the effects of parasitism by S. flexicaulis on host plants in a degraded area of campo rupestre and to determine how parasitism affects characteristics of the structure of this plant community over time. We found that parasitized plants had smaller crowns and branch growth, and suffered higher mortality compared to non-parasitized plants. Parasitism by S. flexicaulis decreased dominance and increased the diversity and evenness of plants in the community over time. Parasitism leads to competition with the host for water and nutrients, which may decrease the performance of the host and, consequently, leading to host death. The high mortality of the most abundant plant species led to a restructured woody plant community. These results reinforce the importance of parasitic plants that frequently play a key role in maintaining species diversity in plant communities.

The search for new natural antioxidants has grown tremendously over the years because reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and oxidative stress have been linked to a large number of human degenerative diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Tapinanthus bangwensis, a parasitic plant commonly known as mistletoe is employed traditionally to treat cancer, diabetes and hypertension. In this study, air-dried pulverized leaves and stem of Tapinanthus bangwensis were successively extracted with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol to give the corresponding crude extracts. The extracts were purified by column chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. Structural elucidation was done using mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infra-red, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Friedelin, eudesmic acid and methyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate were isolated and characterized. Friedelin was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the stem while the two other compounds were isolated from the methanol extract of the leaves. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was used to evaluate their antioxidant activity and ascorbic acid as standard. The percentage free radical scavenging activities of the compounds are as follows: Friedelin, 73.69, methyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate, 79.33 and eudesmic acid, 87.68 which were quite comparable to 93.96 given by ascorbic acid. To the best of our knowledge, the occurrence of friedelin and eudesmic acid in Tapinanthus bangwensis is being reported for the first time. The high antioxidant activity of these compounds supports the use of this plant in the management of diabetes and hypertension among other ailments.

Phragmanthera incana (Schum) Balle is a member of the African mistletoes that has been reported to be used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of hypertension.The aim of this study was to investigate the antihypertensive effect of Phragmanthera incana leaf ethanol extract (PILEE) in NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats.Phytochemical analysis of PILEE was determined using the Gas chromatography - Mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) method. Antihypertensive activity was investigated in rats that received PILEE (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) or captopril (40 mg/kg) daily for 28 days together with oral administration of L-NAME (40 mg/kg). Blood pressure parameters were measured on day 7, 14, 21 and 28. Blood was obtained for determination of serum nitrite, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor, TNF-α. The heart, liver and kidneys were used to determine oxidative stress indices (malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione and catalase). The cardiac tissue was processed for histopathological changes.The GC-MS profiling of PILEE identified 20 compounds namely fatty acid esters. Administration of PILEE (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) dose dependently and significantly reduced systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure in hypertensive rats. PILEE administration significantly (p 0.05) reversed elevated IL-6 and TNF-α in hypertensive rats. PILEE demonstrated antioxidant activity by attenuating L-NAME-induced elevated malondialdehyde and depletion of reduced glutathione and catalase activity in rat tissues. PILEE treatment demonstrated cardioprotective effect in L-NAME-induced cardiac hyperplasia and necrosis in rats.It can be concluded that Phragmanthera incana leaf ethanol extract possess antihypertensive, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting a protective role in cardiovascular diseases.

This work presents first results on elemental characterization of a parasite plant, Struthanthus flexicaulis, collected in urban, industrial and rural areas of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, in order to evaluate this plant as a biomonitor of metals pollution. The results were also compared to those obtained for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) collected from filters in nearby locales. The concentrations of PM2.5 measured in the filters were between 8.0 and 18.0 μg m(-3); in some places, these measurements were higher than the 10 μg m(-3), concentration recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Samples of the leaves and filters with PM were submitted to acid extraction, and the extracts were employed to determine major elements (Ba, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, P and S) by ICP OES and minor elements (Cr, Cu, La, Mn, Pb, Sr, Ti and Zn) by ICP-MS. Elements' extraction efficiency was evaluated by applying the method to the certified reference materials (CMR) of tomato leaves (NIST 1573(rd)) and urban dust (NIST 1648a). The concentrations of Ca, K and Mg were higher in leaves, while Ba, Ca, K and Zn showed higher concentrations in the PM. As expected, rural sites presented lower metal content. Enrichment factor (EF) and principal component analysis with multiple linear regression analysis (PCA-MLRA) were applied to the concentrations of elements in PM2.5 and in the leaves. Anthropogenic sources could be identified with both tools, which supports the use of S. flexicaulis as a biomonitor.

Mistletoes are hemiparasitic flowering plants that function as keystone resources in forests and woodlands of temperate regions, where a positive relationship between mistletoe density and avian species richness has been observed. Mistletoes have been less studied in tropical regions and the relationship between birds and mistletoes has seldom been explored in tropical agricultural systems. Therefore, we studied the presence of infected trees and infection prevalence (i.e., number of parasitized trees/total number of trees) by Psittacanthus (Loranthaceae) mistletoes in 23 hedgerows located in an agricultural landscape of central Mexico during the dry and rainy seasons, and investigated the relationship between bird species richness and abundance and the abundance of mistletoes. We found a mean of 74 mistletoe plants per 100-m transect of only one species, Psittacanthus calyculatus. Thirty-one percent of the trees surveyed were infected and tree species differed in infection prevalence, mesquite (Prosopis laevigata) being the most infected species with 86% of the surveyed trees infected. For both seasons, we found a positive and significant association between bird species richness and number of mistletoe plants. The same pattern was observed for total bird abundance. Many resident and Neotropical migratory birds were observed foraging on mistletoes. Our results show that mistletoes are important in promoting a higher bird species richness and abundance in tropical agricultural landscapes.

International audience; Agelanthus dodoneifolius is one of the medicinal plants used in African pharmacopeia and traditional medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. A chemical analysis has identified one of the active principles: Dodoneine (Ddn). It is a new dihydropyranone which exerts hypotensive and vasorelaxant effects on rat. Since the mechanism of the hypotensive effect is unknown, we performed a variety of preclinical and mechanistic studies to characterize the specific cardiac effect of Ddn at tissue (ex-vivo) and cellular levels (in-vitro) in order to determine a molecular target. Ddn effects were evaluated in an isolated rat heart preparation using Langendorff retrograde perfusion and then, the effects of Ddn were characterized in freshly dissociated cardiac ventricular myocytes using the whole-cell patch-clamp configuration. Ex-vivo, Ddn produced a dose-dependent negative inotropic effect with an IC50 value of 10 µM without changed heart rate. 100 µM Ddn decreased left ventricular developed pressure of about 40%. In isolated cardiac myocytes, Ddn reduced I(Ca),L density of about 30% with an IC50 value estimated at 3 µM. Ddn did not change current-voltage relation but it shifted the inactivation curve toward negative potentials and modified the half inactivation potentials. Furthermore, Ddn induced a phasic-dependent blocking on ICa,L. This study demonstrates that the hypotensive property of dodoneine is likely associated with a negative inotropic effect and the blockade of the L-type calcium channels.

Ethnopharmacological relevance T. acutifolius is an endemic species from South America which has been used in traditional medicine since ancient times due to its biological properties, including its anti–inflammatory effects. Aim of the study: The aim of the article is to investigate the inhibitory activity of T. acutifolius over TNF–α production in THP–1 and B16–F10 cells. To achieve this, phytochemical analysis has been used to determine the compounds present in the species with anti–inflammatory effects. Materials and methods Leaves and stems of T. acutifolius were extracted with n–heptane, dichloromethane, methanol and water. The resulting extracts were analysed in THP–1 and B16–F10 cells by measuring their inhibitory capacity over the production of TNF–α stimulated with LPS. Results The guided–bioassay led to the isolation of 6,2',4'–trimethoxyflavone (1), 5,3',4'–trihydroxy–6,7,8–trimethoxyflavone (2), (E)–2',4'–dihydroxy–6'–methoxy–chalcone (3) and 5,4'–dihydroxy–6,7,8–trimethoxyflavone (4) from the dichloromethanic extract. Compounds showed an inhibitory activity of TNF–⍺ production in THP–1 cells, with IC50 of 2.38 ± 0.02 μM, 12.36 ± 0.17 μM, 1.12 ± 0.01 μM and 8.09 ± 0.04 μM, respectively. In addition, the compounds showed an inhibitory activity of TNF–⍺ production in B16–F10 cells with IC50 of 1.32 ± 0.03 μM, 5.63 ± 0.09 μM, 0.60 ± 0.02 μM and 3.77 ± 0.15 μM, respectively. Conclusions We identified 3 flavones (6,2',4'–trimethoxyflavone, 5,3',4'–trihydroxy–6,7,8–trimethoxyflavone, 5,4'–dihydroxy–6,7,8–trimethoxyflavone) and a chalcone ((E)–2',4'–dihydroxy–6'–methoxy–chalcone) present in the leaves and stems of T. acutifolius. These compounds are an alternative for the treatment of immune–mediated inflammatory disorders, acting as negative modulators over the TNF–α production.

Taxillus chinensis and Uncaria rhyncophylla are the herbs used in traditional Chinese anticancer formulations. During the past decade, research on plant polysaccharides has gained importance due to their therapeutic value and minimum side effects. In this study, hot water extraction method was employed to isolate polysaccharides from the stems of T. chinensis and stems with hooks of U. rhyncophylla. Size-exclusion chromatography was then used for further fractionation. Separated fractions from T. chinensis were designated as TCP-1, TCP-2 and TCP-3 and those from U. rhyncophylla were termed UC-1 and UC-2. Their sugar compositions were estimated using gas chromatography that revealed the presence fructose, glucose, xylose, arbinose, and rhamnose. Amino acid analysis of these fractions has indicated that they are protein-bound polysaccharides. The antioxidant activities were investigated using DPPH and yeast assays. The ability of these polysaccharide fractions to stimulate mouse macrophages was measured using Griess reagent and ELISA test. The results revealed that some of the isolated fractions (TCP-2, TCP-3, UC-1 and UC-2) displayed significant antioxidant activities and were also found to be effective immunomodulators in a concentration-dependent manner. Outcomes of this research strongly indicate that U. rhyncophylla and T. chinensis have therapeutic potential to be used for the treatment of cancer.

Texto completo. Acesso restrito. p. 215–218 Submitted by Santiago Fabio (fabio.ssantiago@hotmail.com) on 2013-06-11T19:44:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 33333333.pdf: 180014 bytes, checksum: df0a67d6e2be2dd45cf92e890177b9d3 (MD5) Approved for entry into archive by Alda Lima da Silva(sivalda@ufba.br) on 2013-06-18T21:01:42Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 33333333.pdf: 180014 bytes, checksum: df0a67d6e2be2dd45cf92e890177b9d3 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2013-06-18T21:01:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 33333333.pdf: 180014 bytes, checksum: df0a67d6e2be2dd45cf92e890177b9d3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 Mistletoes of the genus Struthanthus – Struthanthus marginatus and Struthanthus concinnus were investigated. ► Steroids and triterpenes were isolated/identificated. ► This is the second report on the chemistry of the genus. ► A lupene triol was isolated from S. marginatus. This is the second record of its occurrence in nature. Salvador

Flavonoids are products of secondary metabolism of plants. They are present in herbs and trees and also act as natural chemopreventives and anticancer agents. Ligaria cuneifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Tiegh., Loranthaceae, is a hemiparasite species that belongs to Argentine flora. Phytochemical studies have disclosed the presence of quercetin, catechin-4β-ol and pro-anthocyanidine as polyphenolic compounds in the active extracts. We previously demonstrated that ethyl acetate extract was capable of reducing cell proliferation and inducing apoptotic death of lymphoid tumor cells. The aim of the current study is to determine whether or not catechin, isolated from L. cuneifolia extracts can induce leukemia cell death and to determine its effect on the cytoplasmatic proteins that modulate cell survival. Our results show that catechin can reduce proliferation of murine lymphoma cell line LB02. The effect is mediated by apoptosis at concentrations upper to 100 µg/mL. Cell death is related to the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and a down regulation of survivin and Bcl-2 together with the increase of pro-apoptotic protein Bax. In summary, the current study indicates that catechin present in the extract of L. cuneifolia is in part, responsible for the anti-proliferative activity of whole extracts by induction of ΔΨm disruption and modulation of the anti-apoptotic proteins over expressed in tumor cells. These results give new findings into the potential anticancer and chemopreventive activities of L. cuneifolia. Fil: Papademetrio, Daniela Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientiâ­ficas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "profesor R. A. Margni"; Argentina Fil: Trabucchi, Aldana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientiâ­ficas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "profesor R. A. Margni"; Argentina Fil: Cavaliere, Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientiâ­ficas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "profesor R. A. Margni"; Argentina Fil: Ricco, Rafael. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentina Fil: Costantino, Susana Nora. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientiâ­ficas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "profesor R. A. Margni"; Argentina Fil: Wagner, Marcelo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentina Fil: Alvarez Carbonetto, Elida M. del C.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientiâ­ficas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral "profesor R. A. Margni"; Argentina

ObjectiveTo evaluate the antimotility activity of Eastern Nigerian mistletoe[Loranthus micranthus (L. micranthus) Linn] parasitic on six different host trees viz. Baphia nitida, Persia americana, Kola accuminata, Irvingia gabonensis, Citrus simensis and Pentacletra macrophylla (P. mycrophylla).MethodsThe antimotility of the methanol extracts and solvent fractions were evaluated in castor oil induced diarrheoa in rats.ResultsThe methanol extracts (200 mg/kg, i.p.) inhibited defeacation significantly (P < 0.05) 4 h after administration (75.73% to 93.33%) more than that of atropine sulphate (2 mg/kg, i.p.) which inhibited defeacation by 80.0%. The methanol extract (200 mg/kg, i.p.) of L. micranthus parasitic on P. mycrophylla exhibited significant (P

Ethnopharmacological relevance A parasite plant, Loranthus parasiticus (Loranthaceae), which is generally known as benalu teh (in Malay), Sang Ji Sheng (in Chinese), and baso-kisei (in Japan) distributed in south and southwest part of China, has been used as a folk medicine for the treatment of schizophrenia in southwest China. Loranthus parasiticus has various uses in folk and traditional medicines for bone, brain, kidney, liver, expels wind-damp, and prevents miscarriage. Aim of the study The current study was designed to evaluate the neuroprotective activity of Loranthus parasiticus against hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 )-induced oxidative damage in NG108-15 hybridoma cells, so as to present evidence for the traditional use of this parasite plant in the treatment of oxidative stress related neurodegenerative diseases. Materials and methods Dried and ground leaves of Loranthus parasiticus were extracted and fractionated into Loranthus parasiticus ethanol extract (LPEE), Loranthus parasiticus ethyl acetate fraction (LPEAF), and Loranthus parasiticus aqueous fraction (LPAF), which were subjected to neuroprotective activity assessment by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell viability assay. Bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation was performed subsequently to identify the most neuroactive compound. Mechanism studies underlying the present neuroprotection model of the isolated neuroactive compound was evaluated by employing 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) for intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurement, annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) for translocation of membrane phosphatidyleserine to identify cells undergo apoptosis, 5,5′,6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′ tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) for mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) detection, and PI for cell cycle events analysis. Results Among those tested extract and fractions (LPEE, LPEAF, and LPAF) in our previous screening, LPAF significantly ( P in vitro . AC trimer and (+)-catechin have been isolated from LPAF successfully through bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation approach and (+)-catechin exhibited stronger neuroprotective activity as compared with AC trimer. (+)-Catechin increased cell viability and decreased the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a dose-dependent manner against H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative stress in NG108-15 cells. Moreover, (+)-catechin reduced total annexin V positive cells (early and late apoptotic cells), attenuated the collapsed of MMP, and inhibited cell cycle arrested at sub-G 1 population following H 2 O 2 insult. Conclusion Collectively, the use of Loranthus parasiticus as folk medicine in the treatment of mental disorder was attributed to the presence of proanthocyanidins in this parasite plant. These findings support the traditional use of Loranthus parasiticus which is capable in managing neurological disorder where oxidative stress is implicated.

Loranthus regularis Steud. ex Sprague (Loranthaceae) aerial part is widely used for medicinal purposes. To evaluate its anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antipyretic activities, two concentrations of the extract and its fractions were tested in carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema, hot-plate test model in mice and brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia in mice. The antioxidant power of the extract, its fractions and isolated compounds was studied using DPPH scavenging and β-carotene/linoleic acid tests. The ethyl acetate fraction of a methanol extract was found to be the most active fraction and exhibited the highest inhibition of inflammation (67%) and the highest inhibition of oxidation of β-carotene (92%). Bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethyl acetate fraction was carried out and three flavonoid glycosides were isolated for the first time from this species: ( 1 ) quercetin 3- O -β- l -galactopyranoside, ( 2 ) quercetin 3- O -β- l -arabinopyranoside and ( 3 ) quercetin 3- O -α- l -rhamnopyranoside. The present results confirmed the traditional use of L . regularis and clearly indicate that the plant could be a potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent.

Antilipemic/hypocholestermic activities of the methanolic extracts of Globimetula braunii were studied in the tissues of normo and hypercholesteremic rats. Hypercholesteremia was induced in the rats by feeding with dietary cholesterol at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight. A significant increase (p

a b s t r a c t Ethanopharmacological relevance: The Taxillus liquidambaricola has been used to treat rheumatic arthral- gia, threatened abortion and hypertension in the Chinese traditional medicine. However, there is no scientific evidence which supports the use in the literature. This study aimed to determine the antioxi- dant, and analgesic activities and the mechanism of anti-inflammatory activities of the ethanolic extracts of Taxillus liquidambaricola (ETL) in cell and animal models. Materials and methods: The following activities were investigated: free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities (2,2 � -azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), and DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl- 2-picrylhydrazyl)), analgesic (writhing and formalin test), and anti-inflammatory (lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 macrophages and paw-edema induced by - carrageenan (Carr)). We also investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of ETL via studies of the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the edema paw. Serum NO and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-) were also measured in vivo. Results: ETL showed the highest TEAC and DPPH radical scavenging activities, respectively. ETL also had highest contents of polyphenol and flavonoid contents. We evaluated that ETL and the reference com- pound of quercetin decreased the LPS-induced NO production and expressions of iNOS and COX-2 in RAW264.7 cells. Treatment of male ICR mice with ETL significantly inhibited the numbers of acetic acid- induced writhing response and the formalin-induced pain in the late phase. Administration of ETL showed a concentration dependent inhibition on paw edema development after Carr treatment in mice. The anti- inflammatory effects of ETL could be via NO and TNF- suppression and associated with the increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Western blotting revealed that ETL decreased Carr-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expressions. Conclusions: Anti-inflammatory mechanisms of ETL might be correlated to the decrease in the level of MDA, iNOS, and COX-2 via increasing the activities of CAT, SOD, and GPx in the edema paw. Overall, the results showed that ETL demonstrated antioxidant, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory activity, which supports previous claims of the traditional use for inflammation and pain. © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Leaf fluctuating asymmetry (FA) is an important indicator of plant responses to various sources of stress, which range from poor nutritional and harsh environmental conditions to herbivory and parasitism. Mistletoes are important hemiparasites, which represent a source of stress for their host plants but, in spite of being common in all major biogeographical regions of the world, no study has measured the response of their hosts in terms of leaf FA. We addressed the effect of mistletoes on host–plant foliar FA by comparing parasitized and non-parasitized individuals of four host species in two sites in southeastern Brazil, Serra do Cipo and Serra do Rola Moca. In the four host species, parasitized individuals presented significantly higher levels of leaf FA than unattacked plants. The specialist mistletoe Phoradendron cf. amplexicaule induced higher levels of FA on its host Erythroxylum suberosum (Erythroxylaceae) than the generalist mistletoe Struthanthus flexicaulis did on either Mimosa calodendron (Fabaceae), Lychnophora pinaster (Asteraceae) or Stachytarpheta glabra (Verbenaceae). We hypothesized that specialized parasites could be more damaging to their hosts than generalist mistletoes, which could explain the higher FA levels observed. Significant differences in FA levels among parasitized individuals within species were found, which were significantly correlated with intensity of infection (number of mistletoes per host individual). The results indicate that mistletoes represent an important factor of stress for their host plants, and that FA can be an excellent instrument for evaluating the effects of infections by parasitic plants.

Objective To provide further evidence for the ethnomedicinal use of the Eastern Nigeria mistletoe, Loranthus micranthus (L. micranthus) , as an immunostimulant. Methods Solvent fractions from the crude extract of the mistletoe plant was obtained and screened by the cell mediated delayed type hypersensitivity reaction (DTHR) model in mice. Then the immunomodulatory potentials of a major lupane triterpenoid ester isolated from an active hexane fraction of the Eastern Nigeria mistletoe was investigated. Three lupeol-based triterpenoid esters: 7β 15α-dihydroxyl-lup-20(29)-ene-3β-palmitate (I), 7β, 15α-dihydroxyl-lup-20(29)-ene-3β-stearate (II) and 7β, 15α-dihydroxyl-lup-20(29)-ene-3β-decadecanoate (III) were isolated from the plant leaves epiphyting on a local kola nut tree and were characterized. Compound 1 was subjected to cell proliferation studies using C57Bl/6 splenocytes at three dose levels (5, 25 and 100 μg/mL) in presence of controls. Furthermore, the effect of this compound on IL-8 receptor expression was evaluated at three doses (1, 5 and 10 μg/mL) using the real time polymerase chain reaction assay. Results This triterpenoid ester produced some enhancement of the splenocytes at the tested doses but at doses higher than 5 μg/mL caused inhibition of the IL-8 receptor expression. Conclusions The present findings support the ethnomedicinal use of the Eastern Nigeria Mistletoe in the management of diseases affecting the immune system. The triterpenoid(s) have some immunomodulatory abilities on splenocytes and IL-8 receptors and may partly account for the overall immunomodulatory activity of this plant.

The word ‘mistletoe’ is generally applied to plants with similar hemiparasitic lifestyles and a certain degree of taxonomical relationship in three families (Loranthaceae, Viscaceae and Eremolepidaceae). The European white-berried mistletoe (Viscum album L.) has attracted special interest in folklore and medicine throughout the centuries. Mistletoe treatment for cancer was introduced in 1920 as part of the anthroposophical medical method. Today, mistletoe extracts are the most frequently prescribed unconventional cancer therapy in central European countries. Mistletoe extracts are complex multi-component mixtures, containing various biologically active substances such as glycoproteins, in particular the mistletoe lectins I, II and III, polypeptides (e.g. viscotoxins), peptides, amino acids, and oligo- and poly-saccharides. Furthermore, they contain innumerable enzymes, sulphurous compounds, fats, flavonoids, phenylpropanes, lignans, alkaloids and various other proteins. Numerous preclinical studies have reported immunostimulatory, cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects. In animal models, it can be said that mistletoe extract has direct anti-tumour activity as well as indirect activity through the immune system, and these studies provide a good base for clinical studies. More than 20 prospective clinical trials using mistletoe extracts in patients with various malignancies have been reported. In most of these studies, the authors reported that mistletoe extracts had therapeutic benefit in terms of response rate, overall survival, quality of life and reduced side effects. According to some critical reviews, most studies had at least one major weakness that questioned their reliability. Preparations are usually given as subcutaneous injections, and side effects are generally minimal.

IF (2,26); International audience; Aim of the study: Effects of the different fractions obtained by partition of ethanolic extract (EE) of Agelanthus dodoneifolius through column chromatography were investigated on rat blood pressure and aortic relaxation and compared to those observed in the presence of crude EE. Materials and methods: The acute hypotensive activity of EE, fractions and dodoneine, administrated intravenously, was evaluated in anaesthetized rats using the invasive method of blood pressure recording. Bioassay-guided fractionation using rat aorta pre-contracted by norepinephrine to monitor the relaxant activity led to the isolation of dodoneine. Results: In normotensive rats, injection of EE (0.01–10 mg/kg) produced a dose-dependent decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure without any significant change in heart rate. In a similar way, the EE (0.001–3 mg/mL) caused relaxation of rat pre-contracted aorta in a concentration-dependent manner. Fractionation of the EE afforded 14 fractions, F1–F14, that were tested on rat precontracted aortic rings. At the concentration level of 1 mg/mL, a maximum relaxation effect was observed for fractions F2–F5. F4 was the most effective to elicit a concentration-dependent relaxation effect with an ED50 = 160±1.1 g/mL (n = 5) and to decreased systolic and diastolic control pressure by 56.9% and 81.6% respectively. F4 contains most of the dihydropyranone dodoneine, with 93% of the sample mass. Dodoneine separated from this fraction was also able to decrease both systolic and diastolic arterial pressure by 32.5% and 38.7% at 100g/kg, respectively. Conclusion: For the first time, this study demonstrates the hypotensive property of the dodoneine present in Agelanthus dodoneifolius.

Distribution of parasitic plants is directly linked with the distribution of host species and behavioral patterns of seed dispersers. Psittacanthus robustus (Loranthaceae) is a neotropical hemiparasite that mainly colonizes species of the family Vochysiaceae. Vochysia thyrsoidea is the main host of P. robustus and is commonly found in areas of cerrado rupestre (rocky savanna), an abundant vegetation in our study site. We conducted the study in the ecological park Parque Ecologico Quedas do Rio Bonito (PEQRB), over an area of 2.82 ha of cerrado rupestre . The objective of this work was to investigate population structure, parasitic behavior (mistletoe grip height and circumference of host branch), and spatial distribution of Psittacanthus robustus on a population of Vochysia thyrsoidea . We sampled 267 V. thyrsoidea individuals and found that the population had a random distribution pattern. Seventy-nine individuals (29.6% of the sample population) hosted the hemiparasite, to a total of 193 P. robustus individuals. The number of mistletoe individuals per host plant ranged between 1 and 12. The V. thyrsoidea individuals most infested with mistletoes were those reaching greater heights. The correlation between height of host plant and preferred grip height was highly significant, with the preferred grip height being the uppermost portions of host plants. The crown size of P. robustus individuals ranged between 10 and 230 cm. The main disperser of P. robustus fruit was found to be swallow-tanager Tersina viridis viridis . Its activities led to a clumped pattern of spatial distribution of the hemiparasite along with higher infestation in larger trees.

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Leaf extracts from Tripodanthus acutifolius (Ruiz and Pavón) Van Tieghem have long been used in argentinean traditional medicine as anti-inflammatory, however, there is no scientific evidence which supports this use in the literature. Aim of the study: The present study was conducted to evaluate the ability of five phenolic compounds purified from infusion prepared from Tripodanthus acutifolius leaves to inhibit key enzymes in inflammatory processes. As anti-inflammatory compounds frequently possess free radical scavenging activities, purified substances were comparatively evaluated to asses their free radical scavenging properties. Genotoxic effects were also evaluated. Materials and Methods: Compounds were evaluated on their ability to inhibit hyaluronidase and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activities to assess their anti-inflammatory capacities. Free radical scavenging activity was assessed by: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH), superoxide anion assay and the inhibition on lipid peroxidation. Genotoxicity was evaluated by Bacillus subtilis rec assay. Results: Fractionation of Tripodanthus acutifolius infusion yielded a novel phenylbutanoid derivative (tripodantoside) and four known flavonoid glycosides (rutin, nicotiflorin, hyperoside and isoquercitrin). Flavonoids produced higher inhibition on hyluronidase activity (IC50≈1.7mM) than tripodantoside (IC50=27.90mM). A similar COX-2 inhibition activity was exerted by tripodantoside and monoglycosilated flavonoids (IC50∼50μM). Compounds were strong radical scavengers, with effective concentration 50 (EC50) values for DPPH in the range of 2.7-6.3μg/mL, and for superoxide anion in the range of 3.9-8.7μg/mL. All compounds scavenged peroxyl radicals in the lipid peroxidation assay. The substances showed no genotoxic effects. Conclusions: The anti-inflammatory effects, free radical scavenging activities and lack of genotoxicity of purified compounds may support the folk use of infusion from Tripodanthus acutifolius leaves as anti-inflammatory. Fil: Soberon, Jose Rodolfo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Estudios Vegetales; Argentina Fil: Sgariglia, Melina Araceli. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Estudios Vegetales; Argentina Fil: Sampietro, Diego Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Estudios Vegetales; Argentina Fil: Quiroga, Emma Nelly. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia. Instituto de Estudios Vegetales; Argentina Fil: Vattuone, Marta Amelia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; Argentina

Aim of the study The present study was aimed to investigate the pharmacological basis for the use of Loranthus ferrugineus in hypertension. Materials and methods Loranthus ferrugineus methanol extract (LFME) was obtained using Soxhelt extractor and then successively fractionated using chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. The n-butanol fraction of LFME (NBF-LFME) was studied using isolated rat thoracic aorta. Results NBF-LFME (1.0 × 10−5 to 3.0 mg/ml) was found to be the most potent to concentration-dependently relax the endothelium-intact phenyephrine (PE, 1 μM)- and high K+ (80 mM)-precontracted rat aortic rings. Removal of the endothelium completely abolished the vascular relaxing properties of NBF-LFME. Pretreatment with atropine (1 μM), l -NAME (10 μM), indomethacin (10 μM) and methylene blue (10 μM) significantly blocked NBF-LFME-mediated relaxation. Endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxations induced by acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), respectively, were significantly enhanced in aortic rings pretreated with NBF-LFME when compared to those observed in control aortic rings. On the contrary, glibenclamide (10 μM), propranolol (1 μM) and prazosin (0.01 μM) did not alter NBF-LFME-induced relaxation. Conclusions The results suggest that NBF-LFME induced vascular relaxation by stimulating muscarinic receptors, activating the endothelium-derived nitric oxide-cGMP-relaxant pathway, promoting prostacyclin release and/or possibly through its ability to lengthen the released nitric oxide half-life. The present data further supports previous in vivo findings and explain the traditional use of Loranthus ferrugineus as an anti-hypertensive agent.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Traditionally, mistletoes of Eastern Nigeria origin, Loranthus micranthus Linn. have been used as immunostimulant for the management of certain diseases with high profile immune depleting potentials. This practice has remained till date without scientific validation. Aim of study To obtain and validate evidence for or against its continued use as immunostimulant and afford data for further studies on this specie of mistletoe. The present work is an in vivo proof of ethnopharmacological concept of the age long immunomodulatory use of our local mistletoe. Materials and methods Aqueous-methanol extracts of the plant leaves from five different host trees were evaluated for immunomodulatory activity using four in vivo models in mice or rats, namely; total and differential leukocyte count (TLC and DLC), the cellular mediated delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction (DTHR) test, the humoral mediated antibody titration (AT) test and the cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression (CIM) test at different dose levels (100, 200 and 400 or 50, 100 and 250 mg kg −1 ; depending on model) against standard controls. Phytochemical and acute toxicity tests were equally carried out on all the extracts. Results Results obtained indicate that all the mistletoes contained the same phytochemical constituents, although in varying amounts. The mistletoes exhibited statistically significantly different ( p p Kola acuminata > Citrus spp > Persia americana > Parkia biglobosa > Pentaclatra macrophylla . LD 50 values were generally greater than 5000 mg/kg. Conclusion The present study confirms the Eastern Nigeria mistletoe as a potent and safe alternative or complementary medicine for the management of immunodeficiency diseases.

In a comparative morphological study of haustoria in the four Scurrula species occurring in the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA) of Nepal, only one basic type of haustorium was found, regardless of host and elevation, namely a primary haustorium (leading to a wood rose) with epicortical root. The endophytic system of the primary haustorium, however, showed differences, which allowed classification into (1) flanging endophyte, (2) flanging endophyte with radial shaft, and (3) sinker endophyte. Scurrula elata and Scurrula gracilifolia showed marked differences in haustorium morphology on different hosts. Scurrula elata is most successful in establishing over a wide range of hosts due to its specific haustorium morphology and endophyte system. Epicortical roots of the genus Scurrula resemble those of other Old World Loranthaceae morphologically and functionally, but differ significantly from New World species. Vegetative reproduction by means of epicortical roots, which develop secondary haustoria and shoots, is very common in all four Scurrula species. The number of root-borne shoots produced by secondary haustoria varied among Scurrula species, depending on the age of the mistletoes as well as the length and vigour of the roots.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the contraceptive efficacy of methanol extract of Dendrophthoe falcata Ettingsh (family-Loranthaceae), stem in male albino rats as reported in folk remedies. Adult proven fertile male rats were gavaged methanol extract of D. falcata stem at 50, 100 and 200 mg/rat/day for 60 days. The activity was compared with standard drug, i.e. Lonidamine. On day 61 the animals were autopsied and the testes, epididymides, seminal vesicle and ventral prostate were dissected out and weighed. Sperm motility and density and serum testosterone level were assessed. The sperm motility and density were significantly reduced. The histoarchitecture of testes revealed degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules, arrest of spermatogenesis at the stage of round spermatid. Serum testosterone levels were decreased significantly in all treatment groups. It is concluded that D. falcata methanol stem extract showed a significant effect on fertility in male rats as reported in folk remedies.

Extracts from Viscum album leaves, with mistletoe lectin I (ML I) as the main therapeutic agent, are commonly used as an immunomodulating adjuvat in tumour therapy. Because of its popularity against cancer and the possibility for a better standardisation a recombinant ML I (rML I) was developed by Eck et al. To improve the sensitivity of an already established enzyme linked lectin assay (ELLA) for rML I human haptoglobins with different phenotypes (1.1, 2.1 and 2.2) are used to replace asialofetuin as matrix. To determine the carbohydrate binding specificity of the tested glycoproteins the ELLA was realised in the presence of the competitive carbohydrate β- d -lactose. It could be shown that using haptoglobin phenotype 1.1 instead of asialofetuin improved the test results markedly. Both, the limit of detection and the limit of quantitation were decreased by an order of magnitude. However, this positive result was obviously accompanied by a loss in specificity of the test. The specificity of asialofetuin for rML I is almost six-fold higher than for the tested haptoglobins. Thus, in cases where high specificity and less sensitivity values for rML I is required the ELLA should still be run with asialofetuin as binding partner.

The epidemiology of dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium) is simulated for the reproduction, dispersal, and spatial patterns of these plant pathogens on conifer trees. A conceptual model for mistletoe spread and intensification is coded as sets of related subprograms that link to either of two individual-tree growth models (FVS and TASS) used by managers to develop silvicultural and land management plans. This dwarf mistletoe model is based on knowledge of mistletoe biology and forest practices acquired through a series of workshops, programming exercises, and continuing research and development. Key components of mistletoe epidemiology are identified as life history, ballistics, and contagion. An infestation is quantified at the tree-level by a standard measure of mistletoe intensity, the dwarf mistletoe rating (DMR). Life history describes the progression of mistletoe populations from new infections to seed-producing plants and includes biocontrol and mortality of the mistletoe. The model tracks mistletoe populations as changes in DMR rather than individual plants. Life history is represented as changes in pools for various developmental stages; and rates of change are modified by time, light, and other environmental factors (including hyperparasites). Dwarf mistletoes disperse by explosive discharge of small seeds followed by ballistic flight that displaces seeds horizontally to a maximum distance of about 14 m. The model represents dispersal as probabilistic, spatially explicit, ballistic trajectories for each host tree in a simulated stand. The spacing of trees and mistletoe within infested stands exhibits a range of patterns as regular, random, or clumped; the rates of spread to new hosts and intensification within infested hosts are influenced by crown and canopy distributions derived from descriptors of stem clumping and mistletoe contagion. Spatial arrangements of trees in the model are determined from stand-level statistics that characterize groups of trees at the scale of a 14 m radius neighborhood, the maximum distance for ballistic dispersal. The number of trees in a simulated neighborhood is a function of the variance to mean ratio for tree density in the stand. The autocorrelation of trees of more similar DMR is used to simulate aggregation of infected trees into infestation patches. Model behavior for sensitivity to key relationships and fit to observed stands is demonstrated using data for a dense western hemlock stand and two initially similar, open-canopy ponderosa pine stands either treated for mistletoe or left untreated. The model provides a practical tool for assessing the long-term, cumulative effects of disease and management in mistletoe-infested stands.

The flux of glutamine into the mistletoe Viscum album from the xylem sap of a coniferous host was analyzed. For this purpose, a perfusion system was used in which the xylem sap of the host was replaced by an artificial perfusion solution. With this system, flux rates into the mistletoe were determined in feeding experiments with the organic nitrogen source U13C/15N-Gln. At the end of the experiments the δ values of C and N were significantly depleted in the outflow compared to the percolation solution. Since this depletion was higher for C than for N, a combination of Gln uptake and simultaneous uploading of organic compounds in the host xylem can be assumed. Gln was strongly metabolized during its allocation in the mistletoe. As a consequence, the C skeleton of Gln was equally distributed between leaf and stem tissue, whereas N of Gln preferentially accumulated in the stem. Apparently, the C atoms of the Gln taken up are transported faster in the mistletoe to the sink tissues than the N atoms. It is concluded that C liberated from Gln is transported rapidly to different sink tissues, whereas N in the oversupplied mistletoes is transported slowly to sinks in the leaves.

Ethanolic and aqueous extracts from five plant species used in Turkish traditional medicine were evaluated for in vivo hypercholesterolaemic and antioxidant activities: Agrostemma githago L., Potentilla reptans L., Thymbra spicata var. spicata L., Urtica dioica L. and Viscum album var. album L. We assayed the effects of the administration of plant extracts on serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C, LDL-C, glucose, AST and ALT concentrations in mice fed with cholesterol-rich diet. In addition, plasma TAA, MDA and NOx levels in the same animals were assayed. All the aqueous plant extracts did not affect the serum cholesterol concentration. However, the ethanolic extracts of Agrostemma githago, Thymbra spicata and Viscum album decreased the serum cholesterol concentration in the mice fed with high-cholesterol diet without inducing any gastric damage. The ethanolic extracts of Thymbra spicata, Viscum album, Potentilla reptans and Urtica dioica and the aqueous extract of Agrostemma githago increased the serum HDL concentration, whereas the ethanolic extracts of Agrostemma githago, Thymbra spicata, Viscum album and Urtica dioica decreased the serum LDL-C concentration. Thymbra spicata and Viscum album were observed to decrease the serum triglyceride concentration. Among the plant extracts studied, the ethanolic extracts of Thymbra spicata significantly decreased the MDA level in mice. The ethanolic extract of Potentilla reptans increased in NOx. None of these plants showed statistically prominent activity on plasma TAX Results of the present study indicated that the ethanolic extracts of Agrostemma githago, Thymbra spicata and Viscum album showed potent hypocholesterolaemic activity in the mice fed with a diet containing high-cholesterol. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The effect of Phragmanthera capitata (Sprengel) Balle, an epiphytic Loranthaceae, on latex production of three clones of rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis (Mull. Arg.), was studied in the industrial plantation of Mitzic, in Gabon. The 22-year-old trees, presenting the largest trunk circumference, were the most parasitized and at the same time the best producers of latex. At first, this would suggest that mistletoe parasitism could have a favourable effect on latex yield. However, an accurate statistical analysis showed that, in fact, parasitism had no significant effect on latex yield. These data, discussed in relation to the biology of flowering parasitic plants, suggest that there is no urgency to eradicate Phragmanthera capitata for the moment.

The aim of this study was to determine if the mistletoe Struthanthus aff. polyanthus shows host specificity, and if host abundance and twig architecture influence this specificity in Cerrado (senso strictu). An area of 1.3 ha of natural savanna was sampled for the occurrence of the mistletoe. The twigs of the hosts were classified as vertical or horizontal, and the bark as smooth or rough. We sampled a total of 666 trees in the study site and 118 individuals (17.7%) hosted S . aff. polyanthus . The abundance of mistletoe was significantly affected by the bark type, but not by the twigs inclination. In the cerrado, S . aff. polyanthus seems to be a generalist, with a tendency to be more common on some hosts ( Kielmeyera coriacea , Pouteria ramiflora and Styrax ferrugineus ), prefering that with rough bark type.

The large mistletoe family, Loranthaceae, contains 75 genera, three of which are terrestrial root parasites. The remaining 72 genera are aerial parasites. Four basic haustorial system types are found in aerial genera: epicortical roots (ERs), wood roses, clasping unions and bark strands. The focus of this report is on genera in which ERs are present. Presence of ERs is based on our worldwide collection of haustoria and from literature sources. Our collections include 78% of all aerial genera and 72% of genera with ERs. Collections were analyzed using comparative morphological methods. Of the 72 aerial genera 40 (56%) have ERs and 75% of these are Old World. ERs are the most common haustorial type for Loranthaceae on every major landmass except Africa. Three ER types are described, basal, cauline and adventitious. Basal and adventitious ERs occur in both the Old and New World, whereas cauline ERs are exclusively New World. Adventitious ERs form in a few species in response to injury or epiparasitism. Significant differences occur between basal and cauline ERs in the extent and pattern of elongation, frequency of lateral root formation, and production of haustoria and shoots. Three patterns of axis extension of ERs are recognized, the monochasial sympodium, dichasial sympodium and monopodium. Marked differences in patterns of axis elongation occur between the Old and New World genera analyzed. In Old World taxa 94% of lateral roots contributed to a monochasial sympodium, whereas in New World taxa 84% of root extension was monopodial. Two strategies of resource procurement occur in genera with ERs; the “phalanx” strategy is found in species with basal ERs only, the “guerilla” strategy in New World species with cauline ERs. Species with ERs have the potential for clonal growth through fragmentation of stems, ERs, or both, but the extent of clonal growth in nature is unknown. The large number and wide distribution of genera with ERs add support to the hypothesis that the presence of ERs is an ancestral trait for aerial Loranthaceae.

Ethanol extract of flowers of Phrygilanthus acutifolius (Ruiz & Pav.) Eichler (Loranthaceae) inhibited the growth of both Gram (+) bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Enterococcus faecalis) and Gram (−) bacteria (Serratia marcescens, Acinetobacter sp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). This extract was bactericidal against Staphylococcus aureus and bacteriostatic against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Morphological evidence suggests that the extract causes the swelling of the bacterial body of Staphylococcus aureus, the disintegration of the cell surface and the cell death. Bactericidal activity was optimal at pH 7.5 and was not affected by different ionic strengths. The presence of Mg2+ in the culture medium of Phrygilanthus acutifolius diminished the sensitivity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain against the extract. Test results would tend to corroborate the folk belief that the flowers of this plant are efficacious against respiratory infections and would justify its further investigation.

The aqueous extract of Viscum album leaves showed a significant coronary vasodilator activity on the Langendorff's isolated and perfused heart model. The data obtained suggest that the aqueous extract of V. album contains some biologically active principles that may act as inducers of the nitric oxide/soluble guanylate cyclase pathway.

Mistletoe ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs) are excellent immunomodulators obtained from a hemi-parasitic plant Viscum album L. In the present study, we have characterized and cloned a 65 kDa heterodimeric RIP from Himalayan V. album . Himalayan mistletoe ribosome inactivating protein (HmRIP) possessed unique sugar affinity for l -Rhamnose, Meso-inositol and l -Arabinose besides Galactose and N -acetyl-Galactosamine. The lectin activity was stable to a broad range of temperature (4–65 °C) and pH (2.5–12.5). cDNA cloning showed that HmRIP is 500 amino acids long and shortest among mistletoe RIPs. Amino acid sequence analyses revealed important differences at the functionally significant sites. In the lectin subunit, two critical residues forming base of the 2γ sugar-binding cleft were deleted. Such differences lead to a different conformation of sugar-binding cleft giving rise to unique sugar-binding properties of HmRIP. Toxin subunit also showed a sizeable deletion of four residue segment in the antigenic epitope (83–103) determining its antigenecity. Due to striking differences at the functional sites associated with medicinal properties, HmRIP is a novel type II RIP. In the phylogenetic tree based on amino acid sequence of type II RIPs from six dicot families, mistletoe RIPs branched out from the RIPs of all other taxa and formed a distinct and distant group supporting independent evolution of Viscaceae among the angiosperms.

Although aqueous mistletoe extracts are widely used in complementary cancer therapy, the precise mode of action of their main therapeutic agents, the three mistletoe lectins (MLs), is poorly understood as they act both as cytotoxic agents and as immunomodulators due to their cytokine release by mononuclear cells. Thus, this study aims to investigate both the direct and the indirect effects of MLs on the growth of human melanoma cells in vitro. Proliferation of six human melanoma cell lines under ML treatment and additionally under the influence of cytokines induced by them (TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-6) was assessed by means of the tetrazolium derived reduction (XTT) assay. Furthermore, ML binding patterns were analysed and correlated with the biological effects. All three MLs inhibited melanoma cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner starting at very low ML concentrations (0.001-100 ng/ml) with ML-I being the most cytotoxic lectin (significant inhibition of ultra-sensitive cell line MV3 at 1 x 10(-13) ng ML-I/ml). Even if applied in a broad concentration range (0.0001-100 ng/ml) cytokines had no influence on cell proliferation at all. For ML-I, no association between binding intensity and cytotoxicity was observed, while for ML-II and -III an association between binding and toxicity was established. In conclusion, this study emphasises the direct anti-proliferative effect of the mistletoe lectins on melanoma cells with ML-I being superior to MLs-II and -III. The observation of an ultra-sensitivity of one cell line towards ML-I toxicity may serve as an explanation for the therapeutic success in anecdotal case reports and needs further investigations.

In the fir forest of Mount Parnis 67.67% of the overstorey trees were found infected by the mistletoe (Viscum album). The “6-class” rating system was used to quantify the degree of tree infection. The most intensive mistletoe infection was observed on old age trees. Extensive tree mortality was observed during the years 2000–2002. Low precipitation in two consecutive years (2000–2001) was an important parameter that affected tree mortality. Fir trees were attacked by the bark beetles Phaenops knoteki (Buprestidae) and Pityokteines spinidens (Scolytidae). Mistletoe is an important factor that reduces tree vigour and predisposes trees to beetle attacks during periods of low precipitation. Tree mortality was correlated with the degree of mistletoe infection. During a 5-year-period (1998–2002), mortality of trees with heavy and medium mistletoe infection was 44.44%, while mortality of trees with light infection was 9.5% and that of the non-infected trees 4.66%.

The hypoglycaemic and anti-hyperglycemic activities of dried leaves of Loranthus micranthus (Linn.) (Loranthaceae), parasitic on Persea americana, Baphia nitda, Kola acuminata, Pentaclethra macrophylla, Azadirchta indica, were evaluated in normoglycemic and alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats. Normoglycemic and alloxan-induced diabetic rats were treated (intraperitoneally) with 200 mg/kg of the respective methanolic extracts of Loranthus micranthus (Linn.), glibenclamide (positive control), and 20% (v/v) Tween 20 solution (negative control). The sugar levels of the withdrawn blood samples were determined by o-toluidine spectrophotometric method. The studies indicate that the crude methanolic extract of Loranthus micranthus (Linn.) exhibited statistically significant hypoglycaemic (P < 0.001) and anti-hyperglycemic (P < 0.001) activities in normoglycemic and alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats, respectively. The hypoglycaemic effect was found to be dose-dependent. The maximum effect of the mistletoe extract (400 mg/kg) from Persea americana on alloxan-induced diabetic rats was found to be statistically comparable with that of the positive control, glibenclamide, at 24 h after administration, with a percentage reduction of blood sugar levels of 82.59 and 83.34%, respectively. Acute toxicity tests of the methanolic extracts of Persea americana, Baphia nitda, Kola acuminata, Pentaclethra macrophylla, Azadirchta indica host trees in mice gave LD(50) values of 11650, 11650, 5900, 5900 and 5900 mg/kg, respectively, which are all within the practically non-toxic range. The methanolic extract of African mistletoe was found to be a good candidate for alternative and/or complimentary medicine in the management of diabetes mellitus. The leaves of the Eastern Nigerian species of the African mistletoe harvested from Kola acuminata, Azadirchta indica and Baphia nitda host trees exhibited comparatively better anti-hyperglycemic activities among the host trees studied.

The mistletoe Psittacanthus angustifolius Kuijt (Loranthaceae) severely parasitizes Pinus oocarpa Schiede in southern Mexico and Central America causing growth loss and increased mortality of severely infected trees. The objectives of this study were to use stem analysis to evaluate the impacts of P. angustifolius on P. oocarpa in terms of height and volume growth of individual trees in Honduras and to evaluate a five-class mistletoe rating system for predicting the effects of this mistletoe on the growth of P. oocarpa. Two study sites in Honduras were selected based on incidence and severity of mistletoe infection. Thirteen dominant or codominant trees from each of three true mistletoe rating (TMR) classes: 0, no infection; 2, moderate infection; and 4, severe infection were selected. Stem analysis was conducted on the 78 selected trees to determine their height increment, volume increment, and specific volume increment. To evaluate growth reductions, each infected tree was paired with a healthy tree from the same site by height at time of infection for periodic height increment, age for periodic specific volume increment, and by volume at time of infection for periodic volume increment. To evaluate the mistletoe rating system 95% confidence intervals were constructed to compare means for height and volume increments between mistletoe infection classes for the last year of growth. Growth losses of over 50% were observed in terms of periodic volume increment and periodic specific volume increment during the last 3-year period prior to sampling for trees in TMR class 4 from both sites. Analysis of the effectiveness of the mistletoe rating system for predicting growth losses produced inconsistent results between sites because duration of infection, which was not a component of the rating system, influenced growth losses.

Acacia raddiana populations parasitized by the mistletoe Plicosepalus acaciae (Loranthaceae) are suffering high levels of mortality in many parts of the Negev Desert. It has been hypothesized that xylem-tapping mistletoes are profligate users of water in order to maintain a high rate of uptake of important nutrients (especially nitrogen) from their hosts. According to this passive nutrient uptake theory, mistletoes could cause water stress and even mortality in hosts. However, a number of studies have indicated that mistletoes may actively take up nutrients via the phloem. In this latter case, mistletoe nutrient uptake need not be related to profligate water use, with minimal effects on the water status of their hosts. We investigated the effects of P. acaciae on A. raddiana in the light of these theories. Mistletoe water potentials were always more negative than those of their hosts. The degree of mistletoe infestation did not affect Acacia water status or mortality. In contrast to the results of most other studies, mistletoes had lower nitrogen concentrations (65% less) than their hosts. Consistent with the passive nutrient uptake theory, there was a significant negative correlation between mistletoe water potentials and mistletoe nitrogen concentrations. The ratio of phloem-mobile nitrogen to phloem-immobile calcium in mistletoes was significantly greater than one, which is consistent with the active nutrient uptake theory. However, N:Ca ratio in mistletoes was 39% of that of their hosts. These results indicate that this mistletoe takes up nitrogen by both passive and active routes, although neither is very effective. We found that host quality had significant effects on the mistletoe: mistletoe canopies were significantly larger on high nitrogen hosts, and mistletoe flower production was negatively correlated with host water status. Our results indicate that hosts can limit or have a negative effect on parasitic mistletoes and do not support the hypothesis that the mistletoe contributes to host water stress and mortality.

Metastasis, the spread of cancer in body, is a major cause of death. We have screened anti-metastatic activity of aqueous and dichloromethane extracts of several not previously studied Thai herbs, using an in vitro invasion test. This involves the in vitro invasion of HCC-S102, a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line derived from a Thai patient, through a reconstituted-basement membrane (Matrigel). The aqueous extract of a plant (Helixanthera parasitica) revealed a significant inhibitory effect on the cancer cell invasion, and showed antioxidant activity. The aqueous extract was partially purified by silica gel column chromatography, and the highest anti-metastatic activity fraction showed 83% inhibition of invasion with low cytotoxic effect. However, anti-metastatic activity was not associated with the antioxidant activity of the aqueous extract.

(+)-Catechin, 3,4-dimethoxycinnamyl alcohol and 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamyl alcohol were isolated from the barks of Loranthus globosus. All compounds showed significant antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities.