Aislamiento y actividad biológica de lectinas obtenidas de semillas de frutas, granos y tubérculos de plantas andinas

Abstract

Abstract: The objective of the present study was to isolate new lectins from fruit seeds, grains, and tubers to determine their hemagglutination, anticoagulant, and antimicrobial activity in vitro. Lectins were isolated in crude aqueous extracts by using mechanical disruption and cold infusion with physiological saline solution. The extracts non-specifically agglutinated ABO system erythrocytes in different degrees. The results showed anticoagulant activity that totally or partially inhibited the formation of fibrin clots. Growth inhibition of ATCC strains (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212) showed procoagulant and antibacterial activity in some extracts. It is concluded that the extracts examined have lectins and that a significant portion of them possess anticoagulant, procoagulant, and antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.