Effect Crude Extract of Viscum album (mistletoe) on Plasma Lipids : an insight into its possible Antihyperglycaemic and Antihypertensive Properties

Background: Reports on the hypoglycaemic property of mistletoe leaf is abundant in the literature. In this study; we have investigated this property in relation to the lipid profile in Wistar rats.Methods: Six groups of five rats per group were used for the study. Diabetes was induced with alloxan (60mg/kg. ip) and hypertension by high salt- loading. The treated groups received the crude extract (150mg/kg. oral) for 5 weeks in addition to normal rat feed; water ad libitum. Plasma glucose; total cholesterol; triglyceride and LDL-cholesterol levels were determined using standard procedures.Results: The diabetic and the hypertensive rats had about 30.8and 9.1increase in blood sugar levels respectively compared to the control. The extract (150 mg/kg. oral) produced about 84.2and 33.2(P0.05) decrease in blood sugar levels in the diabetics and hypertensives respectively. Also the total cholesterol; triglyceride; and LDL-cholesterol levels were increased in both diabetics and hypertensives (P 0.05). The LDL levels were lowered by the extract by about 21.4and 24.3(P0.05) in the diabetics and hypertensives respectively. Finally the extract also produced about 34.5and 8.3depression of blood pressure of the hypertensives and normotensives respectively.Conclusion: We suggest the reduction of plasma lipid fractions by the extract as being responsible for the antihyperglycaemic and antihypertensive activities of the mistletoe extract

Haematopoietic Agent(s) in the Crude Extract from the Leaves of Viscum album (Mistletoe)

Preliminary studies showed that the crude extract from viscum album leaves had an LD50 value of 420.70mg/kg mice. Thirty-six male albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups of 6 rats per group. The groups were: Group 1; the normal rats (controls) were fed with normal rat chow and given water ad libitum. Group 2; consisted of normal rats administered with the extract. Group 3; the salt-induced hypertensive group consisted of hypertensive rats that did not receive extract treatment. Group 4; the salt-induced hypertensives that received extract treatment. Group 5; the alloxan-induced diabetics that were not treated with the extract; and group 6; the alloxan-induced diabetics that received extract treatment. Treatments were by daily administration of the extract (150mg/kg; oral); for six weeks after which the animals in each group were sacrificed and blood samples collected in heparinized tubes for counting using an electronic cell counter (ADVIA TM 60 Haematology system by Bayer). Results showed significant increase in the RBC counts; PCV