The Effects of Aqueous, Alcoholic and Acetone Extracts of Viscum album on Fibroblast Cell Proliferation in Cell Culture

Studies have demonstrated the healing effects of Viscum album on sites of inflammation and injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Viscum album aqueous, alcoholic and acetone extracts on fibroblast cell proliferation in cell culture. Aqueous, alcoholic and acetone extracts of Viscum album were prepared. Fibroblast cells were obtained from the Pasteur Institute (Tehran, Iran) and kept under standard conditions. The cells were divided into control and test groups, and the groups were exposed to 1, 0.1, 0.01 and 0.001 mg/ml of aqueous, alcoholic and acetone extracts of Viscum album. The effect of the extracts on fibroblast cell proliferation was evaluated using MTT assay. The data were analyzed using ANOVA. The results indicated that fibroblast cell proliferation decreased significantly compared with the control group (P<0.001) when exposed to 1mg/ml of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Viscum album. However, fibroblast cell proliferation increased significantly compared with the control group (P<0.001) when exposed to 1mg/ml of acetone extracts of Viscum album.
Extract concentration of 0.1, 0.01 and 0.001 mg/ml had no significant effect on L929 cell proliferation. A high appropriate dose of acetone extract of Viscum album has stimulatory effects on L929 cell proliferation in cell culture. Therefore, it could play a significant role in the healing of sites of inflammation and injury