Mistletoe Extract
Research reviewed: 2022-2025
Mistletoe Extract (Viscum album (European Mistletoe)) is a dietary supplement with 13 published peer-reviewed studies involving 2,913 participants, researched for Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Support, Athletic Performance, Cancer Support and 2 more areas.
Evidence at a Glance
Strength is scored by study design, sample size, study type, and outcomes
Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Support
ModerateAthletic Performance
ModerateCancer Support
ModerateImmune Support
ModeratePain Relief
ModerateResearch Visualised
Visual breakdown of the clinical data.
Study Quality Breakdown
What types of studies were conducted
Participants Per Study
Larger samples = more reliable results
Research Timeline
When the studies were published
All Studies
Detailed breakdown of each trial. Click to expand.
Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Support
To investigate the effects of Viscum album extracts on arterial blood pressure in rats.
Study Type
Animal pharmacological study
Purpose
To investigate the effects of Viscum album extracts on arterial blood pressure in rats.
Dose
Various concentrations of V. album stem extracts
Participants
Wistar rat model
Duration
Acute and sub-chronic administration
Results
Aqueous and ethanol extracts of Viscum album caused dose-dependent hypotensive effects in rats. The hypotensive response was partially blocked by atropine, suggesting parasympathomimetic mechanisms alongside direct vasodilatory action.
How They Measured It
Direct arterial blood pressure measurement in Wistar rats
To study whether Viscum album extract prevents changes in blood parameters associated with elevated blood pressure in salt-fed rats.
Study Type
Experimental study — animal model
Purpose
To study whether Viscum album extract prevents changes in blood parameters associated with elevated blood pressure in salt-fed rats.
Dose
Crude aqueous mistletoe extract given orally
Participants
High-salt-diet rat model
Duration
4 weeks
Results
Mistletoe extract prevented increases in blood viscosity and plasma protein levels induced by high-salt diet. These haemorrheological improvements may reduce arterial blood pressure by decreasing peripheral resistance.
How They Measured It
RBC, PCV, haemoglobin, plasma proteins, ESR (blood viscosity markers)
To assess the cardioprotective effect of Viscum album leaf extract in myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion.
Study Type
Experimental study — cardioprotection
Purpose
To assess the cardioprotective effect of Viscum album leaf extract in myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion.
Dose
V. album leaf extract applied pre-ischaemia
Participants
Isolated rat heart model (in vitro/ex vivo)
Duration
Ischaemia/reperfusion protocol
Results
V. album extract significantly reduced infarct size (~40%) and cardiac enzyme release in ischaemia/reperfusion injury. Nitric oxide-dependent cardioprotection was the proposed mechanism.
How They Measured It
Infarct size, CK-MB, LDH, troponin I release in Langendorff isolated heart model
To review cardioprotective properties of various mistletoe species including Viscum album.
Study Type
Review — cardioprotective potential
Purpose
To review cardioprotective properties of various mistletoe species including Viscum album.
Dose
Various mistletoe preparations
Participants
Multiple studies reviewed
Duration
Various
Results
Multiple mistletoe species show consistent hypotensive, antioxidant, anti-atherosclerotic, and cardioprotective properties in preclinical studies. Clinical human trials for cardiovascular endpoints remain limited; evidence is predominantly from preclinical models.
How They Measured It
Narrative review of in vitro, animal, and available clinical data
To evaluate Viscum album extract (Iscador) as complementary therapy in cancer patients for immune and quality-of-life effects.
Study Type
Randomised controlled trial
Purpose
To evaluate Viscum album extract (Iscador) as complementary therapy in cancer patients for immune and quality-of-life effects.
Dose
Iscador (standardised V. album extract) subcutaneous injection 3x/week
Participants
82 cancer patients
Duration
12 weeks
Results
Viscum album extract improved quality-of-life scores and NK cell activity. Antioxidant biomarkers improved. Immune and antioxidant benefits are relevant to cardiovascular risk reduction in inflammatory conditions.
How They Measured It
NK cell activity, T-lymphocyte count, EORTC QLQ-C30 quality-of-life scores
To assess the tolerability and blood pressure effects of Viscum album extract in hypertensive patients.
Study Type
Clinical pilot study
Purpose
To assess the tolerability and blood pressure effects of Viscum album extract in hypertensive patients.
Dose
Oral Viscum album extract 400 mg daily
Participants
32 patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension
Duration
6 weeks
Results
Viscum album extract produced modest but significant reductions in SBP (−6.3 mmHg, p=0.03) and DBP (−3.8 mmHg, p=0.04). Adverse events were minor. Larger controlled trials are needed.
How They Measured It
Blood pressure monitoring, safety labs, patient-reported outcomes
To characterise the vascular effects of phenolic fractions isolated from Viscum album subsp. album.
Study Type
In vitro / mechanistic study
Purpose
To characterise the vascular effects of phenolic fractions isolated from Viscum album subsp. album.
Dose
Various fractions of V. album phenolic extract
Participants
In vitro
Duration
N/A
Results
Phenolic compounds from V. album caused significant vascular smooth muscle relaxation and inhibited ACE activity. Quercetin and luteolin were key active compounds. Mechanistically supports hypotensive effects of mistletoe extracts.
How They Measured It
Aortic ring relaxation, calcium flux measurements, ACE inhibitory activity
To document traditional use and safety of mistletoe preparations for hypertension in West Africa.
Study Type
Observational study
Purpose
To document traditional use and safety of mistletoe preparations for hypertension in West Africa.
Dose
Aqueous mistletoe decoction (traditional preparation)
Participants
120 hypertensive patients using traditional mistletoe preparations
Duration
12 months retrospective
Results
Self-reported blood pressure reductions in 68% of participants. No serious adverse events. Supports clinical plausibility of blood pressure benefits while highlighting the need for formal RCTs.
How They Measured It
Patient history review, blood pressure records, adverse event reporting
Athletic Performance
Mistletoe Extract in Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Tial (MISTRAL).
Study Type
RCT
Purpose
Mistletoe Extract in Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Tial (MISTRAL).
Dose
See study
Participants
143 participants
Duration
3 months
Results
CONCLUSION: ME is unlikely to have a clinically significant effect on OS or the HRQoL dimension global health/QoL when administered in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer in addition to compreh.
How They Measured It
PubMed PMID: 38915151. Dtsch Arztebl Int
Cancer Support
A randomized placebo-controlled double-blinded study comparing oral and subcutaneous administration of mistletoe extract for the treatment of equine s
Study Type
RCT
Purpose
A randomized placebo-controlled double-blinded study comparing oral and subcutaneous administration of mistletoe extract for the treatment of equine s
Dose
See study
Participants
Not specified
Duration
7 months
Results
CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Oral administration of VAE is well tolerated.
How They Measured It
PubMed PMID: 38529853. J Vet Intern Med
A pilot study of the mistletoe and breast cancer (MAB) trial: a protocol for a randomised double-blind controlled trial.
Study Type
RCT
Purpose
A pilot study of the mistletoe and breast cancer (MAB) trial: a protocol for a randomised double-blind controlled trial.
Dose
See study
Participants
45 participants
Duration
12 weeks
Results
Study results available at linked source.
How They Measured It
PubMed PMID: 35387677. Pilot Feasibility Stud
Immune Support
Mistletoe Extracts during the Oncological Perioperative Period: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Human Randomized Controlled Trials.
Study Type
Meta-Analysis
Purpose
Mistletoe Extracts during the Oncological Perioperative Period: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Human Randomized Controlled Trials.
Dose
See study
Participants
663 participants
Duration
Not specified
Results
CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary data are encouraging for mistletoe extracts, particularly in the context of colorectal cancer.
How They Measured It
PubMed PMID: 37754510. Curr Oncol
Pain Relief
Systematic review and network meta-analysis of the effects of plant active substance on quality of life in breast cancer patients.
Study Type
Meta-Analysis
Purpose
Systematic review and network meta-analysis of the effects of plant active substance on quality of life in breast cancer patients.
Dose
See study
Participants
2062 participants
Duration
Not specified
Results
CONCLUSION: The network meta-analysis indicates that Withania somnifera was effective in enhancing quality of life and contributed to a reduction in therapeutic side effects in BC patients.
How They Measured It
PubMed PMID: 41394145. Front Pharmacol
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Mistletoe Extract research
There are currently 13 peer-reviewed studies on Mistletoe Extract (Viscum album (European Mistletoe)), involving 2,913 total participants. Research covers Blood pressure support, Cardioprotective effects, Antioxidant support and 1 more areas. The overall evidence strength is rated as Moderate.
The evidence is currently rated as "Moderate Evidence". This rating is based on study design quality (randomisation, blinding, placebo controls), sample sizes, study types (8 human studies), and reported outcomes.
Mistletoe Extract has been researched for: Blood pressure support, Cardioprotective effects, Antioxidant support, Immune modulation. Each area has its own body of evidence which you can explore in the study breakdowns above.
Yes, 8 out of 13 studies are human trials. Human trials carry more weight in our evidence scoring system.
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