Search for Tissue Specific Plant Lectins A Preliminary Report

Extract of the seeds ofAnona reticulata, Camellia sinensis, Bauhinia acuminata, Cassia tomentosa, Malus sylvestris, Trigonella foenumgraecum, Cephalandra indica, Lawsonia inermis, Anacardium occidentale, Mangifera indica, Nephelium litchi, Citrus lemoni, Aegle marmelos, Quassia amara, Mimusops elengi, Achras sapota, Datura stramonium, Thevetia nerifolia, Persea americana andCycas circinalis, were screened for lectin activity by haemagglutination and haemagglutination inhibition assays. Lectin-like activity was detected only in the seeds ofMangifera indica and Perseaamericana. The conventional methods for the isolation of lectins could not separate the haemagglutinins from the extracts. The properties of these agglutinins suggest that they are not lectins.