Journal of Ethnopharmacology 94 (2004) 109–116 Phoradendron liga (Gill. ex H. et A.) Eichl. (Viscaceae) used in folk medicine: anatomical, phytochemical, and immunochemical studies Beatriz G. Varela a,1 , Teresa Fernández b , Rafael A. Ricco a , Paula Cerdá Zolezzi b , Silvia E. Hajos b,c , Alberto A. Gurni a , Elida Alvarez b,c , Marcelo L. Wagner a,d,∗ a Cátedra de Farmacobotánica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioqu´ ımica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Jun´ ın 956 Piso 4to. (1113), Buenos Aires, Argentina b Cátedra de Immunologia-IDEHU, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioqu´ ımica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Jun´ ın 956 Piso 4to. (1113), Buenos Aires, República Argentina c Member of the Research Career, CONICET, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioqu´ ımica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Jun´ ın 956 Piso 4to. (1113), Buenos Aires, República Argentina d Museo de Farmacobotánica “Juan A. Dom´ ınguez”, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioqu´ ımica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Jun´ ın 956 Piso 4to. (1113), Buenos Aires, República Argentina Received 26 August 2003; received in revised form 16 March 2004; accepted 26 April 2004 Abstract Phoradendron liga (Gill. ex H. et A.) Eichl. is a Viscaceae widely distributed in Argentina. It has been commonly used in folk medicine as a substitute of the European mistletoe (Viscum album L.) to decrease high blood pressure due to their external similarity. In this study, the anatomical features as well as micromolecular and macromolecular analysis of this species are reported. Anatomical study has shown that Phoradendron liga presents as anatomic features: papillous cuticle, clusters in leaves and stems, and isodiametric stone cells only in stems. The analysis of flavonoids showed that this species produces C-glycosylflavones and 3-desoxyproanthocyanidins. Protein study showed a protein pattern with components ranging from 14 to 90 kDa and the presence of related epitopes between the species was demonstrated by cross recognition using anti-Phoradendron and anti-Viscum antisera of both species by Western blot assay. In addition, a galactose specific lectin (L-Phl) was isolated form Phoradendron liga extracts. These results are part of a comprehensive project on Argentine hemiparasite species destinated to be applied to quality control of commercial samples and disclosed their potential use as a potential source for immunomodulatory compounds. © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Anatomical study; Flavonoids; Immunogenic components; Lectin; Phoradendron liga; Viscaceae 1. Introduction The American genus Phoradendron Nutall (Viscaceae) comprises a large number of bushy hemiparasitic species, which occur in several tropical and subtropical zones of both hemispheres. In our country, most of the species are used in folk medicine as a substitute of Viscum album L. (Viscaceae), Abbreviations: HPTLC, high performance thin layer chromatography; LPh, galactose specific Phoradendron-lectin; PMSF, phenylmethylsulpho- nylfluoride; PVP, polyvinyl pyrrolidone; SDS-PAGE, sodium dodecyl sul- phate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; TLC, thin layer chromatography ∗ Corresponding author. E-mail address: mlwagner@ffyb.uba.ar (M.L. Wagner). 1 Fellow from University of Buenos Aires. known as “European mistletoe”, in treatment of high blood pressure due to their external similarity. Phoradendron liga (Gill. ex H. et A.) Eichl. has a very wide geographic distribution area. It is known as “corpo”, “muérdago”, “injerto”, “yerba pajarito”, “palo tˆ ırei”, “ca’avó tˆ ırei”, and other common names. Up to now, few studies have been carried out on Phoraden- dron liga related to its botanical features (Varela and Gurni, 1995) and little is known about the biochemical properties. On the contrary, Viscum album has been extensively inves- tigated (Portalupi, 1987; Jurin et al., 1993; Hajto, 1986; Büssing et al., 1996). European mistletoe extracts are classi- fied as biological response modifiers and their immunomod- ulatory and anti-tumoral action extensively studied. Extracts of mistletoe have been shown to kill cancer cells in the lab- oratory and to stimulate the immune system (Khwaja and 0378-8741/$ – see front matter © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.04.027