Viscothionin purified from mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum Ohwi) induces insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells

摘要

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Mistletoe (Viscum album), an evergreen parasitic plant, has been widely used as an oriental phytomedicine to treat diabetes mellitus. However, it is unknown which mistletoe constituent exerts the beneficial effect against the disease. In this study, we examined the hypoglycemic activity of mistletoe and investigated whether the polypeptide viscothionin, purified from mistletoe, was responsible for the activity.