IMMUNOMODULATING ABILITY OF GALACTOSIDE-SPECIFIC LECTIN STANDARDIZED AND DEPLETED MISTLETOE EXTRACT

Commercially available mistletoe extract standardized for the galactos ide-specific mistletoe lectin (ML-1; Eurixor(R)) and a chromatographic ally ML-1-depleted preparation (same charge no. and composition of rem aining components) were tested for their immunomodulating potency. In BALB/c-mice, regular subcutaneous administration of the optimal immuno modulating dosage (1 ng ML-1/kg body weight) could be shown to induce no influence on spleen weight, a non-significant increase of thymus we ight, a significant increase of thymocyte, peritoneal macrophage, peri pheral blood leukocyte, lymphocyte and monocyte counts, and a signific ant decrease of peripheral blood granulocyte counts. Administration of analogue volumes (concentrations) of ML-1-depleted extract, however, did not induce any immunopotentiation. Accordingly, it may be assumed, that the galactoside-specific lectin (ML-1) represents the main immun omodulating component in commercially available mistletoe extracts.