Impact of aqueous extract of Viscum album on different organisms

Abstract

The phytochemical and pharmacological potential of Viscum album extracts are widely used for the treatment of various diseases in many countries. The effect of aqueous extract from different mistletoe host trees (Abies alba, Acer saccharinum, Malus domestica, Pinus sylvestris) on model objects (Allium cepa and Drosophila milanogaster), bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus), and fungi (Aspergillus niger, Heterobasidion annosum, Inonotus obliquus) was evaluated. The influence of mistletoe extracts on A. cepa, D. melanogaster and basidiomycetes species H. annosum and I. obliquus was demonstrated for the first time. The study findings revealed that the impact of mistletoe aqueous extract exhibits considerable variation, influenced by multiple factors. These factors include the specific tree from which mistletoe is obtained, the concentration used, and the organism targeted. Mistletoe extracts caused the appearance of cells with pathologies in the meristematic tissues of A. cepa at different stages of the plant cell cycle. A clear cytostatic effect on A. cepa and D. melanogaster was shown, with the highest effect of mistletoe extract obtained from A. saccharinum. The main action of the solution on cells is probably manifested in the inhibition of cell division according to the results of the cytotoxicity assessment of aqueous extracts of mistletoe. Antibacterial activity of concentated mistletoe extract obtained from A. saccharinum was found only against S. aureus with zone of growth inhibition 11.0 ± 0.1 mm. In the assay on agar plates the tested extracts stimulated the mycelial growth of A. niger 1.85 times higher compared to the control, but inhibited the growth of H. annosum, I. obliquus at 65.5% and 62.2%, respectively. However, the biomass production of H. annosum was strongly dependent on the host mistletoe tree of the aqueous extract, and both the inhibition of mycelial synthesis of the wood-destroying fungus and its stimulating effect on mycelial accumulation were found. A negative effect (1.46 times decrease in biomass ) of H. annosum was found in the case of application of mistletoe extract obtained from A. saccharinum. The highest stimulation effect on fungus (1.53 times increase in biomass) was established by using mistletoe extract prepared from A. alba. In this study the main effects on living organisms used were indirectly caused by the host trees of mistletoe extracts. The overall negative impact was associated with the host tree Acer saccharinum.