Like eggnog and snow, mistletoe is just one of those words best associated with Christmas - but a new study shows that, in fact, the popular kissing plant could be the way to fight against different liver conditions in the future.
For now, all the experiments regarding mistletoe's effects on the liver have been done on mice without any proof that the same could apply to humans; but, if it were the case, it could mean stronger health for those people who have issues with different liver diseases.
According to Science Daily, a new study called "Viscothionin Isolated from Korean Mistletoe Improves Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease via the Activation of Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase" and published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry by the American Chemistry Society has shown that mistletoe could be key for the fight against different liver diseases.
According to Science World Report, the plant that has been long considered one of the symbols of Christmastime is actually high on active compounds such as flavonoid and steroids, which can help fight obesity-related liver diseases, or at least do so in mice so far.
The plant, which is actually parasitic, is poisonous in itself - the compounds that can be consumed from it safely have to be extracted from the plant beforehand, as the entire thing can be deadly.
In any case, the particular compound that has been found to have positive effects on liver health (particularly on fatty liver) is only found in the Korean variety of the planet and it is called called viscothionin, since, once scientists applied it to mice with obesity, their liver and body weight ended up dropping, creating a lot of hope for future investigation regarding ways to fight the health issues related to the obesity epidemic.
This compound could be used in the future for medicine in the treatment of non-alcohol related fatty liver diseases, according to Science 20.
