title: A novel antimicrobial lectin from Eugenia malaccensis that stimulates cutaneous healing in mice model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present work reports the purification and partial characterization of an antibacterial lectin (EmaL) obtained from Eugenia malaccensis seeds as well as the evaluation of its effect in the daily topical treatment of repairing process of cutaneous wounds in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cutaneous wound was produced by the incision of the skin and use of lectin in the treatment of mice cutaneous wounds was evaluated. Surgical wounds were treated daily with a topical administration of EmaL and parameters such as edema, hyperemia, scab, granulation and scar tissues as well as contraction of wounds were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A novel lectin, with a molecular mass of 14 kDa, was isolated from E. malaccensis using affinity chromatography. The lectin (EmaL) agglutinated glutaraldehyde-treated rabbit and human erythrocytes; the lectin-induced rabbit erythrocyte agglutination was inhibited by glucose, casein, ovalbumin and fetuin. Also, Emal was very effective in the inhibition of bacterial growth, with the best inhibition results obtained for Staphylococcus aureus. Inflammatory signals such as edema and hyperemia were statistically less intense when EmaL was applied compared to the control. The histopathological analysis showed that the treated injured tissue presented reepithelialization (complete or partial) and areas of transition more evidenced than those of the control group, especially due to well organized pattern of collagen fibers presented in the granulation fibrous tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Presented results are a preliminary indication of the pharmacological interest in using EmaL as antimicrobial agent and in the repairing process of cutaneous wounds.
authors.affiliation: Departament of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Brustein
authors.forename: F V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Souza-Araújo
authors.forename: A F M
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.forename: R V S
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: P M G
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.forename: L C B B
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: A M A
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Carneiro-Leão
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Carneiro-da-Cunha
authors.forename: M T S
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Correia
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006097:Granulation Tissue / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D011817:Rabbits; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D027842:Syzygium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D037102:Lectins