Table of Contents

1. Introduction: History of Mistletoe Uses 2. Viscum in the Context of its Family, Viscaceae, and its Diversity in Africa 3. European Mistletoe: Taxonomy, Host Trees, Parts Used, Physiology 4. Korean Mistletoes and Other East-Asian Populations 5. Mistletoes from Argentina. Ligaria cuneifolia var. cuneifolia as a Substitute for the European Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) 6. Cultivation and Development of Viscum album L. 7. The Biotechnology of Viscum album L.: Tissue Culture, Somatic Enbryogenesis and Protoplast Isolation 8. Chemical Constituents of European Mistletoe Viscum album L.) Isolation and Characterisation of the Main Relevant Ingredients: Lectins, Viscotoxins, Oligo-/polysaccharides, Flavonoides, Alkaloids 9. Biological and Pharmacological Properties of Viscum album L. From Tissue Flask to Man 10. Toxicology of Mistletoe and their Components 11. Adverse Effects during Therapy with Mistletoe Extracts 12. Overview on Viscum album L. Products 13. Pharmaceutical Quality Control of Mistletoe Preparations 14. Natural Versus Recombinant Mistletoe Lectin-1. Market Trends 15. The Magic Potion becomes Serious: Whole Plant Extracts vs. Defined Components

About the Author

Bussing, Arndt