PUBLICATION

Radioprotective effects of Mistletoe extract in Zebrafish embryos in vivo

Authors
Rim, C.H., Koun, S., Park, H.C., Lee, S., Kim, C.Y.
ID
ZDB-PUB-190306-16
Date
2019
Source
International Journal of Radiation Biology   95(8): 1150-1159 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Koun, Soonil, Park, Hae-Chul
Keywords
mistletoe, radioprotectant, radiotherapy, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Amifostine/pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/radiation effects
  • Mistletoe*
  • Plant Extracts/pharmacology*
  • Radiation-Protective Agents/pharmacology*
  • Zebrafish/embryology
PubMed
30836032 Full text @ Int. J. Radiat. Biol.
Abstract
Radioprotectors can enhance the efficacy of cancer radiotherapy, but their clinical use remains uncommon. The present study aimed to assess the radioprotective potential of mistletoe extract (commercial name: Abnoba Viscum), a well-known complementary cancer medicine, in zebrafish larvae.
Wild-type AB zebrafish embryos at 4 hours-post-fertilization were exposed to 5 Gy 9-MeV electron beam irradiation after being treated for 1 h with 4 mMl/L amifostine or 0.2 mg/ml Abnoba Viscum A, F, M, or Q. Primary endpoints were abnormality-free survival and abnormality-free rates among survivors at 5 days-post-fertilization.
The crude abnormality-free survival rates were 33.7%, 49.0%, 38.8%, 43.9%, 38.1%, and 52.6%, whereas abnormality-free rates among survivors were 36.4%, 49.6%, 37.8%, 45.6%, 52.0%, and 62.8% for the control(with no pharmacologic treatment), amifostine, Abnoba Viscum A, F, M, and Q groups, respectively. Abnormality-free survival rates in the amifostine and Abnoba Viscum Q groups were significantly different from those in the control (p = 0.040 and 0.012, respectively), with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.90 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-3.51] and 2.20 (95% CI: 1.19-4.08), respectively. Abnormality-free rates among survivors in the amifostine and Abnoba Viscum M and Q groups were significantly different from those in the control group (p = 0.048, 0.042, and <0.001, respectively), with an OR of 1.79 (95% CI: 1.00-3.20), 1.82 (95% CI: 1.02-3.26), and 2.98 (1.67-5.33), respectively.
Abnoba Viscum Q has at least a similar radioprotectivity effect to that of amifostine. Mistletoe extracts have been clinically applied for a long time and their effectiveness and feasibility have been verified. Abnoba Viscum Q might be a new candidate radioprotectant to enhance cancer radiotherapy efficacy.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping