Analysis of the potential of Viscum album in the anticancer perspective of complementary medicine

Abstract

: Cancer is a growing threat to global health, with conventional treatments often associated with severe adverse side effects. Complementary therapy with Viscum album (mistletoe) is highlighted due to its therapeutic properties, including immunomodulation and antitumor effects. This study evaluates the impact of mistletoe as a complement in cancer treatment, focusing on improving quality of life, reducing side effects and the potential impact on tumor regression, in addition to preventing relapses, highlighting the need for additional clinical studies to validate its efficiency. This literature review examined 19 articles and one clinical case from the last 10 years across multiple databases, providing valuable insights into the therapeutic use of mistletoe in cancer treatment. Viscum album has components such as viscotoxins and lectins, which exhibit anticancer activity, promoting apoptosis and stimulating the immune system. Several studies indicate improvements in quality of life and immunological responses with the use of mistletoe, therefore, mistletoe is a promising complementary therapy that, when integrated with conventional treatments, improves the quality of life of cancer patients, despite the need for additional research to understand its mechanisms of action and effectiveness in different types of cancer.