Loranthus (Chinese mistletoe) leaf

Loranthus is a genus of mostly parasitic plants that grow on the branches of woody trees. It belongs to the family <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loranthaceae" title="Loranthaceae" >Loranthaceae</a>, the showy mistletoe family.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loranthus#cite_note-0" >[1]</a> In most earlier systematic treatments it contains all mistletoe species with bisexual flowers, though some species have reversed to unisexual flowers, while most modern systematists treat it as a monotypic genus with the only species Loranthus europaeus Jacq. - the summer mistletoe or European yellow mistletoe. In contrast to the wellknown European or Christmas mistletoe (Viscum album L., <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santalaceae" title="Santalaceae" >Santalaceae</a> or Viscaceae) this species is deciduous. The systematic situation of Loranthus is not entirely clear, and some showy mistletoes in Asia may be true parts of this genus.

L. ferrugineus,is a variety traditionally used for the management of hypertension.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loranthus#cite_note-1" >[2]</a> Moreover, it has been found that particularly this species has blood pressure lowering properties in normotensive rats[3}. In addition, enhancement of vascular endothelium derived nitric oxide function reflected by its cholinergic, prostaglandin agonistic activity[4]. Research also has shown that the plant posses a sufficent antioxdant activity a wide range of oxidative factors [5].

A part from L. ferrugineus cardiovascular activities, reports also revealed that the plant also contains componenet that can induce a dose-dependent contractile response in isolated Guinea pig ileal preperation. Refelecting its cholinergic potential that can serve a remedy in constipation and other intestinal ilments [6,7].