title: Cytotoxic effect of mistletoe (Viscum album L.) extract on Jurkat cells and its interaction with doxorubicin.
abstract: Mistletoe preparations are frequently used by cancer patients because of their ability to stimulate the immunity and to improve the quality of life. Moreover mistletoe and its active substances (especially lectins) possess cytotoxic effect on various cancer cell lines. However, only little is known about its interaction with anticancer drugs. Therefore the cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing effects of aqueous mistletoe extract (VA) and its interaction with doxorubicin (DOXO) were investigated in Jurkat cells. The results show that VA extract as well as DOXO exert cytotoxic effects on Jurkat cells in a dose-dependent manner. Cytotoxicity of DOXO was much stronger (LC(50) = 11.68 ng/mL) than that of VA extract (LC(50) = 35.67 microg/mL). Their combination led to synergism only at those concentrations that were highly cytotoxic alone. Both substances (alone and in combination) induced DNA fragmentation in Jurkat cells. In conclusion, an aqueous extract prepared from mistletoe tops exerted cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing effects on Jurkat cells alone as well as in combination with DOXO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Kosice, Slovak Republic. lucia.sabova@post.sk
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sabová
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pilátová
authors.forename: Katarína
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Szilagyi
authors.forename: Rastislav
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sabo
authors.forename: Ján
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mojzis
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D014784:Mistletoe / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D004317:Doxorubicin