Isolation and characterization of mistletoe extracts (Viscum album L.). I. Affinity chromatography of mistletoe extracts on immobilized plasma proteins.

The agglutinating effect of lectin from mistletoe (Viscum album L.) relative to erythrocytes and tumor cells is destroyed or reduced by plasma proteins. There is a competition between lectin receptors of plasma proteins, especially immunoglobulins and erythrocytes, as well as tumor cells. The preparation of insolubilized immunoglobin fractions allows one to separate lectin from the mistletoe extract. There exist chemical connections between the lectin fixed to the adsorbent and part of the toxic components.