Is Viscum album safe to consume?
In certain European countries, the preparations made from European mistletoe (Viscum album, Loranthaceae) are among the most prescribed drugs offered to cancer patients. Although mistletoe plants and berries are considered poisonous to humans, few serious side effects have been associated with mistletoe extract use. The major pharmacologically bioactive components in mistletoe are lectins and viscotoxins, which have caused cytotoxic effects. Although mistletoe has been listed in many publications as an herbal medicine causing hepatotoxicity,25–27 few clinical cases of mistletoe-induced liver injury have been reported.High doses can induce delirium, hallucinations, bradycardia, hypertension and cardiac arrest. Nevertheless, there have been few reports of serious complications from accidental ingestion of a up to 20 leaves or up to 5 berries of American mistletoe.Mistletoe is a semiparasitic plant that grows on many types of trees, including apple, oak, maple, elm, pine, and poplar. It has been used for hundreds of years to treat medical conditions such as epilepsy, asthma, hypertension, headaches, menopausal symptoms, infertility, dermatitis, arthritis, and rheumatism.A few cases of severe allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock, have been reported. One review reported that treatment with mistletoe extract did not reduce immune system response. High doses of mistletoe extract damaged the liver in some cases, but the damage was repaired.
What is the common name for Viscum album?
Viscum album, also commonly known as European mistletoe and common mistletoe, is one of many species of mistletoe which is native to Europe, South-western Asia, and Nepal [147]. Viscum album, commonly known as mistletoe, is a semi-parasitic shrub that grows on various trees and is used in pharmacology as an anti-neoplastic agent to enhance immune response, with applications in managing conditions like malignant pleural effusion.In certain European countries, the preparations made from European mistletoe (Viscum album, Loranthaceae) are among the most prescribed drugs offered to cancer patients. Although mistletoe plants and berries are considered poisonous to humans, few serious side effects have been associated with mistletoe extract use.The findings showed that mistletoes can be very useful as medicinal agents in ameliorating health problems such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, arthritis, pain, cancer and a host of other ailments if properly studied and developed.Precautions and Considerations Pregnancy and Nursing: Pregnant or nursing women should avoid mistletoe extract unless advised by a healthcare provider. Medication Interactions: Mistletoe may interact with certain medications, particularly those affecting blood pressure or blood sugar levels.Mistletoes are parasitic plants that absorb both water and nutrients from a host tree. Healthy trees can tolerate a few branches infected with mistletoe. However, if the infestation is severe, trees can weaken, have stunted growth or dead branches, or die completely.
What is Viscum album used for in medicine?
Abstract. Viscum album L. European mistletoe (Loranthaceae), a semi-parasitic shrub, has been used as a traditional medicine in Europe for centuries to treat various diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disorder, epilepsy, infertility, hypertension and arthritis. Viscum album, commonly known as mistletoe, is a plant whose stems and leaves contain alkaloids, viscotoxins, and lectins, with the latter two being highly poisonous to animals when administered parenterally.Side effects from the use of mistletoe extracts include soreness and inflammation at injection sites, headache, fever, chills, nausea, and feeling very tired. A few cases of severe allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock, have been reported.Mistletoe is poisonous, although it is doubtful as to whether it will actually cause death. All parts of the plant are toxic (that’s berries, stem and leaves). The mistletoe plant contains Phoratoxin and Viscotoxin, which are both poisonous proteins when ingested.
What are the benefits of Viscum album?
Science and clinical trials: The research on Viscum album primarily focuses on its anticancer properties with clinical studies demonstrating that Mistletoe therapy may enhance quality of life, prolong survival, and induce tumour regression (2). Abstract. Viscum album L. European mistletoe (Loranthaceae), a semi-parasitic shrub, has been used as a traditional medicine in Europe for centuries to treat various diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disorder, epilepsy, infertility, hypertension and arthritis.
Is the Viscum album poisonous?
Mistletoe leaves, stems and berries are all poisonous. Leaves: oval, evergreen leaves which grow in pairs. Flowers: its small, white flowers are made up of four tiny petals and form in clusters of three to five. Dwarf mistletoes These plants can cause significant health issues in their host trees including growth loss, distortion, topkill, mortality and predisposition to attack by bark beetles. They only grow on conifers and are generally species-specific or infect closely related species.