Homoeopathic Viscum album (10-3) is More Cytotoxic to in vitro Culture of Human Breast Cancer Cell Line than to Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

BackgroundBreast cancer has been considered a public health problem and homeopathic treatments are becoming increasingly recommended due to its ways of action and absence of adverse effects. MCF-7 is an adenocarcinoma of human breast cell line useful as preclinicalmodel to screen therapeutic agents such as ultra-diluted Viscum album, an European plant which extract is commonly used in cancer therapy. AIMS MCF-7 and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) were used to evaluate the in vitrocytotoxicity of homoeopathic Viscum album 1x10-3(VA3X). Methodscells were cultured for 24 hours in controlled environment (37.5oC and 5% CO2) in 96-well plates. After this time, VA3X was added to the culture medium in concentrations varying from 10 to 100 L/mL.A control group was maintained with culture medium only. Cells were cultivated for 48 hours in these conditions for evaluation of cell viability by MTT assay. ResultsHigher cytotoxicity was observed in MCF-7 when compared to MSC, as the lower concentration of VA3X was capable of inducing tumor cell death and not healthy cell death. The MTT assay results were that 42 L/mL of VA3X reduced MCF-7 cells viability to 50% and 62 L/mL reduced MSC cells to the same percentage, what means that tumor cells are more sensible to VA3X than heathy cells. ConclusionViscum albumpresented higher cytotoxic action on human breast cancer cell line culture than on mesenchymal stem cells. This medicine is extensively used against cancer, and the use of the homoeopathic form of it brings new possibilities as no or fewer adverse effects would be present.(AU)

The safety assessment of herbals with a new and ethical approach.

The increasing use of plant medicines (herbals) in Europe needs a shared methodology to determine the toxicity and the daily exposure level to these drugs. For this reason, the European regulatory agencies have undertaken a study that could meet popular uses and toxicological research in different countries of the Union. Here we list some examples of the most used herbal drug classes and we propose a decision-making process based on their characteristics, their content in active principles and on the basis of the present scientific pharmacological and toxicological literature. The proposed decision tree actually makes easier for the assessor to quickly and accurately evaluate the accredited indexes for risk and toxicity assessment based on the preclinical literature data and using the correct classification that some of them may have because they are already present in medicinal products or used as food.

Citotoxicidade do Viscum album L. em células de carcinoma epidermoide da cavidade bucal / Cytotoxicity of mistletoe (Viscum album L. ) in oral squamous cell carcinoma

O carcinoma epidermoide de cabeça e pescoço é uma doença bastante complexa com diversos fatores etiológicos, além de mudanças distintas das estruturas e bases moleculares as quais provocam determinados eventos que culminam no surgimento desses tumores. Globalmente, também é classificada como uma das doenças mais comuns desta região. Principalmente nos países europeus os extratos de Viscum album L. (VA) (mistletoe) vêm sendo utilizado como terapia coadjuvante, com resultados bastante promissores em diversos tipos de tumores malignos. Estudos in vitro demonstraram que vários tipos de VA são capazes de provocar efeitos citotóxicos em células de carcinoma, ativando a cascata apoptótica ou levando as células à necrose. Este estudo teve como objetivo verificar a ação de três tipos de extratos de VA, não estudados anteriormente: Iscador Qu Spezial, Iscador P e Iscador M, em células de linhagem de carcinoma epidermoide de língua (SCC9 e SCC25). A concentração de 0.3 mg/mL (IC50) dos fármacos foi capaz de levar essas células à apoptose. Foi concluído que os extratos de VA possuem efeito citotóxico nas células de carcinoma epidermoide de língua (SCC9 e SCC25), entretanto as SCC9 possuem maior resistência à ação dos fármacos. Iscador Qu Spezial e Iscador M possuem maior potencial citotóxico em ambas as células, quando comparado ao Iscador P.(AU)

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is a complex disease with several etiologic factors and different molecular changes that may trigger certain events; it is also globally one of the most common malignancies in this topography. Extracts from Viscum album L. (VA) (mistletoe) have been used as adjuvant therapies with promising results in several types of cancer, mainly in European countries. In vitro studies have demonstrated that various types of VA may have cytotoxicity in carcinoma cells, activating the apoptotic cascade or leading cells to necrosis. This study aimed to verify the effect of three types of VA extracts (Iscador Qu Spezial, Iscador P and Iscador M) in cell lines of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue (SCC9 and SCC25), not previously studied. A concentration of 0.3 mg/mL (IC50) of the drugs was capable to induce apoptosis. It was concluded that VA extracts have a cytotoxic effect on SCC9 and SCC25 cell lines, but while SCC9 cell line was more resistant to the action of the drugs. Iscador Qu Spezial and Iscador M have higher cytotoxic potential in both cell lines compared to Iscador P.(AU)

Domain versatility in plant AB-toxins: evidence for a local, pH-dependent rearrangement in the 2gamma lectin site of the mistletoe lectin by applying ligand derivatives and modelling.

Mistletoe lectin is a potent biohazard. Lectin activity in the toxic dimer primarily originates from the 2gamma-subdomain (Tyr-site) of the B-subunit. Crystallographic information on lectin-sugar complexes is available only at acidic pH, where lectin activity is low. Thus, we mapped ligand-binding properties including comparison to ricin's Tyr-site at neutral pH. Using these results and molecular dynamics simulations, a local conformational change was rendered likely. The obtained structural information is valuable for the design of potent inhibitors.