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Lectins are proteins or glycoproteins of non immune origin which have a wide distribution in animals, plants, and microorganisms. Their medicinal role extends from simple antimicrobial action to anti- tumour properties.In view of the advancement in understanding the potential medicinal role of the plant lectins, a lectin from the leaves of Prunella vulgaris was isolated, purified, partially characterized and its antimicrobial activity evaluated. The lectin is specific for galactose and N-acetyl-galactosamine The molecular weight of the lectin as determined by SDS-PAGE was 32500 Da and that estimated from Sephadex G-100 gel filtration column was 65000 Da indicating that the purified lectin is a homodimer. The purified lectin also shows a significant antimicrobial activity against the infectious agents of some common diseases such as Salmonella typhi, Klebseilla pnuemonea and Escherhia coli.
About the author
La doctora Rabia Hamid, PhD en Bioquímica, es profesora asistente senior en el Departamento de Bioquímica de la Universidad de Cachemira. Actualmente su investigación se centra en las actividades antimicrobianas, antioxidantes y anticancerígenas de las lectinas vegetales y también de otros metabolitos secundarios de plantas medicinales de la región de Cachemira.
