Abstract

Lectins are proteins present in all living beings capable of interacting specifically and reversibly to carbohydrates or glycoconjugates form. They stand out in this family of lectins legumes, which are of special scientific interest because they have different biological functions. This study investigated the presence of a lectin in Brazilian seeds of Mucuna, proceeding with their isolation and evaluation of its antinociceptive effects, anti-inflammatory and antihemolytic activity. Saline extracts of Mucuna pruriens were investigated for the presence of hemagglutinating activity by serial dilution and applied to Sephacryl S-200HR columns and DEAE Sephacel HiPrepFF to purify their lectin. After assessing the purity and molecular weight by polyacrylamide agarose gel electrophoresis (PAGE), the hemolytic activity on human erythrocytes was determined, as well as its antinociceptive action by models of writhing induced by acetic acid and formalin, in addition to its anti-inflammatory activity by testing the paw edema induced by carrageenan. The results indicated that Brazilian Mucuna seeds had a lectin that was purified from seeds having molecular weight of 60.0 kDa and only able to agglutinate erythrocytes of rabbit. The lectin showed an antihemolytic effect on human erythrocytes by not causing hemolysis in these cells compared to the negative control. The administration of lectin in rodents intraperitoneally inhibited the writhing by 99% (2.5 mg/kg), induced by acetic acid, as well as in the method where the formalin nociceptive stimulus was reduced by 51% in stage one and 77% in stage two of the test, using 2.5 mg/kg lectin. The anti-inflammatory activity demonstrated a decrease in paw edema induced by carrageenan in 72% better result than indomethacin control where there was a reduction of only 48% of edema. The study supports the presence of a lectin in Brazilian seeds of M. pruriens with antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antihemolytic activities.

Key words: Plant lectin, Mucuna pruriens, purification, antihemolytic, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory.