Monosaccharides and polyols from mistletoes (Viscum album L.) growing on two different host species

Abstract

Two subspecies of mistletoe (Viscum album L. ssp. album and ssp. abietis) growing on lime and pine trees, respectively, were investigated for the monosaccharides and polyols by GC-MS spectrometry. Arabinose, xylose, glucose, galactose, mannose, xylitol and inositol were determined in methanol extracts following the acidic hydrolysis. Sugar contents of the leaves were expressed as percentage on dry weight. Xylose content was the same (1.5%) in each species, whereas the other saccharides varied. V. album ssp. abietis (collected from pine trees) were found containing significantly higher percentage of glucose (29.0%) and galactose (44.0%) than V. album ssp. album (collected from lime trees) (9.0% and 17.0%, respectively). In contrast, mannose, arabinose and sugar alcohol percentages were higher in ssp. album. Mannose content was 3.5% for ssp. album whereas 1.0% for ssp. abietis. 3.0% arabinose were determined in the former and 2.0% in the latter. Xylitol and inositol percentages were 8.0% and 58.0% for ssp. album and 1.5% and 21.0% for ssp. abietis, respectively. These results indicate that saccharide composition of mistletoes depends upon the subspecies of the plant and the host tree.