Zur Kenntnis der Inhaltsstoffe vonViscum album,IV. Biologisches Verhalten einzelner Proteinfraktionen

Abstract

Protein fractions isolated from V. album (mistletoe) show marked cancerostatic effects in extremely low doses, which are several orders of magnitude below those known so far. Furthermore cancerostatic and toxic effects are described which also belong to the most potent known, but are essentially independent of the cancerostatic activity. Some of these protein components show high antigenic activity. Less than 10 micrograms per rabbit induced rapid antibody formation. Denaturation phenomena were extensively investigated since the biological activity is strongly affected by isolation and storage conditions. Very mild denaturation reduces the cancerostatic effects or transforms them into toxic ones. Several findings suggest the cancerostatic activity interferes with the cellular information mechanism on the basis of a selective inhibition at the level of DNA.