Lectin from seeds of a Brazilian lima bean variety (Phaseolus lunatus L. var. cascavel) presents antioxidant, antitumour and gastroprotective activities

Int J Biol Macromol. 2017 Feb:95:1072-1081. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2016.10.097. Epub 2016 Oct 29.

Abstract

Lectins are proteins able to interact specifically and reversibly with carbohydrates. They are present in all living beings, particularly in legume seeds, which have many biological functions. The aim of this study was to isolate, characterize and verify antioxidant, anti-hemolytic, antitumor and gastroprotective activities in a lectin present in seeds of Phaseolus lunatus L. var. cascavel (PLUN). The isolation of lectin was performed by size exclusion chromatography on Sephadex G-100, which was isolated from a protein capable of agglutinating only human erythrocytes type A, being this the only inhibited haemagglutination n-acetyl-d-galactosamine. Its weight was estimated by PAGE is 128kDa. The lectin is thermostable up to 80°C and is active between pH 2-11. As 8M urea was able to denature the lectin. PLUN is a glycoprotein consisting of 2% carbohydrate and has antioxidant action with ascorbic acid equivalent antioxidant capacity (μMAA/g) of 418.20, 326 and 82.9 for total antioxidant activity, ABTS radical capture and capture of DPPH radical, respectively. The lectin has antitumor activity against melanoma derived cells at doses of 100 and 50mg/ml, reducing up to 83% tumor cells, and gastroprotective action, reducing up to 63% damaged area of ​​the stomach induced by ethanol.

Keywords: Antioxidant; Antitumour; Gastroprotective; Lectin; Phaseolus; Purification.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylgalactosamine / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / isolation & purification
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology*
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / isolation & purification
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Benzothiazoles / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Benzothiazoles / chemistry
  • Biphenyl Compounds / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Biphenyl Compounds / chemistry
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Erythrocytes / drug effects
  • Ethanol
  • Gastrointestinal Agents / chemistry
  • Gastrointestinal Agents / isolation & purification
  • Gastrointestinal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Hemagglutination Tests
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Molecular Weight
  • Phaseolus / chemistry*
  • Picrates / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Picrates / chemistry
  • Plant Lectins / chemistry
  • Plant Lectins / isolation & purification
  • Plant Lectins / pharmacology*
  • Protein Denaturation
  • Seeds / chemistry
  • Solid Phase Extraction / methods
  • Stomach / drug effects
  • Stomach / pathology
  • Stomach Ulcer / chemically induced
  • Stomach Ulcer / drug therapy*
  • Stomach Ulcer / pathology
  • Sulfonic Acids / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Sulfonic Acids / chemistry
  • Urea / chemistry

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Antioxidants
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Gastrointestinal Agents
  • Picrates
  • Plant Lectins
  • Sulfonic Acids
  • 2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid
  • Ethanol
  • Urea
  • 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl
  • Acetylgalactosamine