Viscotoxin and lectin content in foliage and fruit of Viscum album L. on the main host trees of Hyrcanian forests

Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) on Hyrcanian forests' host trees exhibits varying levels of viscotoxins and lectins, with the highest concentrations found in December foliage. Notably, viscotoxin levels peaked at 9.25 mg/g dry weight in V. album on Carpinus betulus, while lectin content was highest (0.79 mg/g DW) in December foliage on Parrotia persica and C. betulus. Immature green berries contained significantly higher concentrations of both compounds than mature white berries. Four viscotoxin isoforms were identified across all samples, with A3 being the most predominant. This study highlights the seasonal and host-specific variability in bioactive compound production in mistletoe, offering insights into its potential medicinal properties.

Yousefvand, S., Fattahi, F., Hosseini, S. M., Urech, K., & Schaller, G. (2022). Viscotoxin and lectin content in foliage and fruit of Viscum album L. on the main host trees of Hyrcanian forests. Scientific Reports, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-14504-3