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Abstract
The effects of several preparations of Iscador, a commercially obtainable extract
of mistletoe, Viscum album L., on cell proliferation and cell viability was studied. Iscador Quercus was shown
to inhibit cell proliferation of: human fibroblast cell lines, mouse tumour cell lines,
human carcinoma tumour cell lines and a human lymphoblastic tumour cell line. Iscador
Quercus, Iscador Ulnus and Iscador Malus were about equally cytostatic to mouse 3T3
fibroblasts. Iscador Pinus was somewhat less cytostatic. Iscador Quercus had a very
direct cytotoxic effect on MOLT 4 tumour cells as assessed by trypan blue dye exclusion.
The cytostatic and cytotoxic properties of Iscador could be annulled by heating Iscador
for 30 min. at 90°C. Iscador reduced the cloning efficiency of ASG and CHO cells in
a dose- and time-dependent manner. From the cloning efficiency experiments it can
be concluded that a small percentage of CHO cells is insensitive to high concentrations
of Iscador at short incubation times.
The importance of these findings in relation to the cytostatic and cytotoxic compounds
possibly present in Iscador is discussed.
Key Words
In vitro
- Fibroblasts - Tumour cell lines - Cell culture - Iscador -
Viscum album L
